The Edge June/July/August 2026

BOOTS ON THE GROUND

Advocacy Ambassador: Mark Kelbacher

By Jill Odom

ADVOCACY DOESN’T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT. MARK KELBACHER, OWNER of MissionGreen Services, based in Chicopee, Massachusetts, discovered this firsthand when he realized that decisions being made at the state capital often lacked input from licensed professionals and were directly affecting how he was able to operate his business and serve customers.

“Working with NALP has been instru mental in staying abreast on any new issues, not just in Connecticut, Massa chusetts and Rhode Island, where we service, but nationwide,” Kelbacher says.

“Rather than reacting after the fact, I felt it was important to be at the table before and offering practical insight from the field and helping lawmakers understand how policy plays out in the real world,” Kelbacher says. MissionGreen provides lawn care and pest control services to customers in Massachusetts, as well as Rhode Island and Connecticut. One particular piece of legislation that stood out to Kelbach er was when Connecticut banned the application of all pesticides registered with the EPA and labeled for use on lawns, gardens, and ornamental sites, on the grounds of public or private daycares and schools with grades K-8 in 2010. Kelbacher started getting involved in advocacy to prevent the expansion of this law to include K-12 schools. Kelbacher says advocacy doesn’t need to be political. You know your business better than anyone else does, so you just need to be willing to speak up. “Advocacy is really just simply telling your story and explaining how policies affect your work,” he says. “If we’re not speaking up, the opposition is.” He has been involved in the Connecti cut Environmental Council for the past 12-13 years and currently serves as the organization’s president. CTEC has served as the lead partner in holding the line against issues such as pesticide usage and the gas-to-electric transition. Kelbacher also serves on NALP’s government affairs council and is part of NALP’s Advocacy Ambassador Program. “The program provides structure, ed ucation and confidence for professionals who want to protect their industry and shape its future,” Kelbacher says. Kelbacher says one of the benefits of the Advocacy Ambassador Program is the training it provides members on how to come to the table with legislators and provide factual talking points.

MAKING THE INDUSTRY’S VOICE HEARD

As an advocate, Kelbacher helped defeat the CT House Bill 6263, which would’ve prohibited the use of handheld or backpack gas-powered leaf blowers in the state. He achieved this by engaging with legislators early on and explaining how the bill would impose new burdens without improving environmental concerns. In other cases, Kelbacher has been able to help find a compromise that would give business owners time to switch over to different products rather than an outright ban of neonics. “It’s showing in that we are willing to come to the table,” Kelbacher says. “We ultimately want to do what’s best for the residents of Connecticut and the environment.” Kelbacher adds that being involved in advocacy has made him a better opera tor and leader. “Advocacy has improved my under standing of regulations, strengthened my relationships with regulators, and re ally positioned my business as a respon sible, informed stakeholder,” Kelbacher says. “It’s also helped protect our ability to use the proven tools that we use, whether they’re products or blowers.” GOING ON THE OFFENSIVE Kelbacher stresses that the professionals who are out there doing the work every day need to be a part of the legislative conversations. “It’s not opposing environmental protection; it’s really about making sure that policies actually achieve their

intended goals, and without harming the professionals who are already doing it,” Kelbacher says. At the state level, landscape profes sionals can build relationships with their local representatives. He says the key to establishing these relationships is to engage early, be respectful of their time and serve as a resource. “Trust is built when lawmakers know you’ll provide honest, balanced informa tion,” he says. The time commitment for advocacy varies greatly. Kelbacher does admit that you have to carve out time for advocacy as he works to strike a balance between running the business, doing advocacy work and his personal life. He says once legislators understand the reality of how regulated and pro fessional the industry already is, most misconceptions disappear. He adds that real-world examples make a huge difference when explaining to lawmakers how a proposal affects businesses, employees, customers and municipalities. Rather than getting defensive, Kelbacher says he puts himself in the opposition’s shoes and strives to provide factual information. “Advocacy is about aligning environ mental goals with tools and practices that are realistic, enforceable and backed by science,” Kelbacher says. “If our voices aren’t heard, somebody else’s voices will be heard.” TE

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