Solty and Sons is an important part of Ontario’s horticulture heritage. The respect achieved by the company came about in a number of ways. It took decades of consistent professionalism to create the respect, some of which was built outside business activities. Nick Solty contributed significantly to the company’s reputation through his volunteer service with Landscape Ontario. Solty served as LO president for 2002 and 2003. The intensity of his commitment has hardly slowed since he stepped down.

Nick and Frank Solty found themselves on the spot in 1994, the year their father Leslie Solty Jr. passed away. Keenly aware that third generations in family businesses have a company-wrecker reputation, Nick Solty got involved with LO soon after his father’s death. He felt it was one step to promote the firm’s new blood and visibility. “We knew our name had to be out there.

“I was invited to speak at a Toronto chapter meeting. Public speaking was a big challenge for me.” Nevertheless, Solty stepped up to the plate, and was soon asked to sit on the chapter board. He credits Joe Melo and Frans Peters as role models during that period.

Solty found he liked chapter involvement. “I really enjoyed meeting people with the same interests. When you are working together to build the association, you also build friendships.” In fact, Solty and Bob Adams founded the Georgian Lakelands chapter in 1996. “We would not let it fail.” Both visionaries continue to serve on the chapter board, and Solty is proud that the group is strong today. Nick Solty is also proud to have recruited Terry Kowalski, another Georgian Lakelands leader. He says they talk almost daily, mostly about chapter business.

Solty is effective at bringing new volunteers into the LO family. As an example, one prospect would not join LO, despite Solty’s hard work to recruit him. Even after showing him the benefits, membership in LO did not appeal to the potential recruit. Solty finally spurred the prospect to action by musing, “You probably don’t even qualify for membership, anyway.” The ploy worked. Convincing the new member to take the next step, a volunteer role, was fruitless until Solty asked, “How long does it take you to walk through Congress?”

“Two hours,” Solty’s recruit answered.

“Well, it literally takes me three days to walk the floor. Once you volunteer, people know who you are, and they want to speak with you. You talk to everybody, your name gets around and it makes you feel good.” Solty’s strategy converted a committed non-participant to a valued member and volunteer, currently serving in a leadership role on a chapter board.

“We take lots of pride in the Georgian Lakelands chapter, especially when members move up to serve at the provincial level. When Bob Adams and I both served on the executive board, it was huge.”

Today, when it comes to recruiting, Solty challenges owners of mature companies to cite a single reason why they should not join. “Those companies have already received so many direct benefits from LO’s activity, there is no way to justify non-participation,” he says.

Looking back, Nick Solty regrets that Leslie Solty Jr. did not see his achievements as an LO volunteer. But he regards the work as a tribute to his father’s memory. That tribute continues on, as Nick Solty inspires new volunteers to become involved with the LO family.

Caption: Nick Solty is friendly and sincere, qualities that surely boost his effectiveness as a volunteer.