Winter Services Technician

Work description

Suncrest Gardens, Inc. (established in 1976) is a Peninsula, Ohio-area landscape contractor that also provides snow and ice management for commercial, institutional, residential-community, and other customer properties in northeastern Ohio. The company has a temporary, recurring seasonal need for 13 Winter Services Technicians (SOC/OES 37-3011.00, Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers) from December 1, 2026 through April 15, 2027. Our company is a returning participant in the H-2B program. However, this application is for a different position and a distinctly separate season from our prior H-2B filings. Our most recent historical filing was submitted under case number H-400-26001-522568 for the period April through November 2026. That filing was for the position of Landscape Laborer, which is tied to our spring, summer, and early fall landscaping operations. This instant request is for the position of Winter Services Technician, which is intended to meet our operational needs during the late fall and winter months. This position serves a completely different function within our business compared to our traditional landscaping labor needs during the warmer seasons. Historically, our company has consistently attempted to recruit and rely upon temporary U.S. workers to meet the demands of this seasonal position. While we have been successful in doing so in previous years, recent trends have demonstrated significant challenges in locating a sufficient number of qualified and available U.S. workers to fill these roles, particularly for winter maintenance work. As a result, and in order to ensure continuity of services for our customers, we are now seeking to supplement our workforce through the H-2B program for this distinct position. While both this position and our prior H-2B position were assigned the same Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Code, it is critical to emphasize that the job duties, operational timeframes, and labor needs are entirely different in nature. The Landscape Laborer role supports our operations during the landscaping season. Workers in this role are responsible for tasks such as landscaping and maintaining grounds of properties, sod installation, mowing, mulching, and sprinkler installation. This position is considered entry-level and is performed under supervision. Its primary purpose is to meet the labor-intensive needs associated with landscape installation and maintenance during the growing season. The current application, for Winter Services Technician, is focused solely on late fall and winter maintenance operations. This includes services that are essential to maintaining both commercial and residential properties during the non-growing season. Duties include fall and winter storm clean-up, including removal of branches, leaves, and other debris caused by seasonal storms; leaf blowing and removal as part of fall property maintenance; winter pruning and dormant-season trimming of trees and shrubs to prepare them for spring growth; snow and ice removal services, including shoveling snow from sidewalks, driveways, and parking areas; operating snow blowers and hand tools for snow and ice removal; and performing routine maintenance and minor repairs on snow removal equipment and vehicles. This role is likewise considered entry-level and requires supervision but is geared toward winter-specific property care and maintenance services that are not covered by our landscape laborer roles. Despite the shared occupational classification, the two positions are functionally distinct, serving entirely different purposes aligned with the seasonal nature of our business. The spring and summer Landscape Laborer position supports property beautification and upkeep during the active growing season, while the Winter Services Technician role supports critical property maintenance and safety during adverse winter weather conditions throughout the fall and winter. (Continued on attachment).