Washington Association of Landscape Professionals

What Washington Association of Landscape Professionals does

The Washington Association of Landscape Professionals (WALP) is a non-profit trade association founded in 1983 and headquartered in Washington State, serving landscape contractors, suppliers, and affiliate professionals across the state. The association operates through four regional chapters (King County, Snohomish County, South Sound, and Southwest Washington) and reports over 300 members and a reach of more than 1,500 landscape professionals through its publications and digital channels. WALP is governed by an elected volunteer board (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Associate Representative, Past President) with day-to-day operations managed by a lean paid staff consisting of an Executive Director and Finance & Administration (2 FTEs).

WALP's core offering is tiered annual membership — Contractor (C-1 up to $250K gross, C-2 $250K-$500K, C-3 over $500K), Supplier (S-1, S-2), and Affiliate (A-1 municipalities/architects, A-2 individual professionals, A-3 students) — with dues ranging from $50 to $875 and billing available annually, quarterly, or monthly. Beyond membership, the association delivers a portfolio of recurring products: the bi-monthly Northwest Landscape Professional (NWLP) Magazine, the weekly WALP Wednesday newsletter, the annual Northwest Landscape Industry Conference and Trade Show, the Landscape Technician BOOTCAMP (bilingual training aligned to the Landscape Industry Certified Technician Exterior exam), the ecoPro sustainable landscape certification, the Northwest Premiere Landscape Awards program, an annual Golf Tournament, and supporting services (online membership directory, job board, MemberConnect mentorship, Member X-Change equipment marketplace, and WALP Education Foundation scholarships).

Revenue is generated from four streams: membership dues (subscription/recurring), event registration and sponsorships (professional services), advertising in print/digital/conference channels, and job board/directory listings. Distribution is multi-channel: the walp.org website, NWLP Magazine, WALP Wednesday newsletter, social media on Facebook/Instagram/LinkedIn, annual in-person events, and the four regional chapters. Strategic partnerships with NALP (national affiliation), ecoPro (sustainability certification), and Lake Washington Institute of Technology (training venue/curriculum) extend the association's reach without proportional headcount growth.

Name

Washington Association of Landscape Professionals

Legal name

Washington Association of Landscape Professionals

Website

https://walp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

WALP is a non-profit Washington State trade association founded in 1983 that serves 300+ landscape contractors, suppliers, and affiliate professionals through tiered membership, certification, publications, annual events, and four regional chapters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues paid by landscape contractors (C-1, C-2, C-3 categories), suppliers (S-1, S-2), and affiliates (A-1, A-2, A-3 including municipalities, designers, educators, students). Dues range from $50/year (students) to $875/year (large contractors). Payment options include annual, quarterly, or monthly installments.
2. Event Registration and Sponsorships: Revenue generated from registration fees for annual events including the Northwest Landscape Industry Conference, Golf Tournament, and Landscape Technician Bootcamp. Additional revenue from event sponsorships, tradeshow booth fees, and conference advertising.
3. Advertising Revenue: Revenue from print advertising in NWLP Magazine (circulated to approximately 1,500 professionals), digital advertising on the WALP website, and WALP Wednesday e-newsletter. Also includes conference and tradeshow advertising opportunities.
4. Job Board and Directory Listings: Members and non-members can post job listings. WALP provides an online membership directory connecting consumers with qualified landscape professionals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

WALP is a non-profit statewide trade association that delivers tiered membership services, professional certification programs, training events, industry publications, and networking for landscape contractors, suppliers, and affiliates in Washington State. Revenue is generated through annual membership dues, event registrations, advertising in the NWLP Magazine and WALP Wednesday newsletter, and event sponsorships.

Product overview

WALP is a professional trade association offering a membership-based service portfolio rather than a single software product. The core offerings include: annual membership with tiered categories (Contractor, Supplier, Affiliate) providing access to networking, education, advocacy, and member benefits; the Northwest Landscape Professional (NWLP) Magazine as the official quarterly publication; the weekly WALP Wednesday newsletter; the annual Northwest Landscape Industry Conference with trade show and awards banquet; the Landscape Technician BOOTCAMP training program; Landscape Industry Certified and ecoPro certification programs; the Northwest Premiere Landscape Awards Program; the annual Golf Tournament; and the WALP Membership Directory and Job Board. Supporting offerings include the MemberConnect mentor program, Member X-Change platform, regional chapters, and Education Foundation scholarships. WALP is a member of NALP (National Association of Landscape Professionals).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WALP Membership Tiered professional membership for landscape contractors (C-1 up to $250K revenue, C-2 $250K-$500K, C-3 over $500K), suppliers (S-1, S-2), and affiliates (A-1 municipalities/government/designers, A-2 individual professionals, A-3 students), providing networking, education, advocacy, certification access, member directory, and discounts on events.
• Northwest Landscape Professional (NWLP) Magazine Bi-monthly print and digital magazine covering landscaping techniques, marketing, accounting, recruitment, industry trends, member profiles, and new products, circulated to members and the broader landscape industry.
• WALP Wednesday Newsletter Free weekly electronic newsletter providing landscape industry news, association updates, event announcements, professional business advice, certification information, and member benefits to opt-in subscribers.
• Landscape Industry Certified Program Professional certification program recognizing landscape professionals who demonstrate proficiency standards, administered in partnership with the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP).
• ecoPro Sustainable Landscape Professional Certification The first sustainable land care education and certification program in Washington State, awarded in partnership with ecoPro and recognized as a WALP professional designation.
• Landscape Technician Bootcamp One-day comprehensive hands-on training program covering 15 competency areas across Irrigation Installation & Repair, Landscape Construction, and Landscape Maintenance disciplines, based on the Landscape Industry Certified Technician Exterior exam curriculum.
• Northwest Premiere Landscape Awards Program Annual awards program judged by industry peers recognizing outstanding workmanship in landscape construction and maintenance, with recognition levels including Award of Merit, Award of Distinction, Grand Award, and Judge's Award.
• Northwest Landscape Industry Conference WALP's flagship annual event featuring educational sessions, a trade show, and the awards banquet, connecting landscape professionals for growth, learning, and networking with industry experts and peers.
• WALP Annual Golf Tournament Annual one-day golf tournament typically held in late July or August, providing networking opportunities, competition, sponsorship tiers, and a post-tournament reception for members and guests.
• WALP Membership Directory Online searchable directory of WALP contractor and supplier members, available to consumers and industry professionals to find qualified landscape, irrigation, maintenance, and hardscape service providers.
• WALP Job Board Listings Online job listing platform that allows WALP members and non-members to post and manage open positions within the landscape industry.
• WALP Regional Chapters Four local chapters — King County, Snohomish County, South Sound, and Southwest Washington — providing regional networking events, educational forums, and local activities to members.
• WALP Education Foundation Scholarships Scholarship program administered through the affiliated WALP Educational Foundation that funds students pursuing landscape and horticulture programs at technical or community colleges in Washington State.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 300 members comprising landscape contractors, suppliers, and affiliates across Washington State
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, minor and supporting.

• NALP (National Association of Landscape Professionals)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWALP is a member of NALP, an international association serving lawn care professionals, landscape management contractors, design/build professionals, and interior plantscapers. NALP provides members with marketing tools, business publications, legislative updates, and networking opportunities. WALP members can purchase NALP publications at discounted rates.
• Lake Washington Institute of TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWALP partners with Lake Washington Institute of Technology to host the Landscape Technician Bootcamp training program, providing hands-on training based on Landscape Industry Certified Technician Exterior exam curriculum.
• ecoProcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWALP recognizes ecoPro Certified Sustainable Landscape Professionals as part of its professional designation programs. ecoPro is the first program to provide sustainable land care education and certification to landscape professionals in Washington State.
• Cedar GrovemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle Sponsor for the 2026 WALP Annual Golf Tournament, providing exposure at one of WALP's premier annual events.
• Echo Falls Golf ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for the 2026 WALP Annual Golf Tournament held August 19, 2026 in Snohomish, WA.
• Hotel Indigo EverettmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for the 2027 Northwest Landscape Industry Conference, Trade Show & Awards Banquet scheduled for February 3-5, 2027 in Everett, WA.
• University of Washington Center for Urban HorticultureminorOthersListed as an educational resource for WALP members in the Resource Library.
• Washington State University Turf ProgramminorOthersListed as an educational resource for WALP members in the Resource Library.
• Washington State Department of AgricultureminorOthersListed as a state agency resource for WALP members in the Resource Library, providing information on pesticides and fertilizers.
• Bud Clary Auto GroupsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFront 9 Beverage Cart Sponsor for the 2026 WALP Annual Golf Tournament.
• HD Fowler CompanysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerGolf Cart Sponsor for the 2026 WALP Annual Golf Tournament.
• DurantamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle Sponsor for the Landscape Technician Bootcamp training program.
• STIHLsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLunch Sponsor for Landscape Technician Bootcamp and Hole Sponsor for Golf Tournament.
• MBA (Master Builders Association)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerWALP members have access to the MBA Retro Program offering safety incentives.
• Washington State Nursery & Landscape AssociationminorOthersListed as an affiliated association resource for WALP members in the Resource Library.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• AmericanHort: National trade association for the horticulture industry including landscape, garden retail, and nursery segments; broader than WALP but comparable in delivering certification, education, advocacy, and trade events to green-industry professionals.
• National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP): National-level umbrella trade association for the U.S. landscape industry; WALP is a NALP member and leverages NALP certifications (Landscape Industry Certified) and publications. Comparable because both deliver membership, certification, advocacy, and education services to landscape contractors, but NALP operates nationally while WALP is state-scoped.
• Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association (FNGLA): Larger state-level trade group covering nursery growers and landscape professionals in Florida; broader scope than WALP but comparable in delivering certification (FNGLA Certified Horticulture Professional), education, and advocacy to landscape members.

Regional players

• Oregon Landscape Contractors Association (OLCA): Pacific Northwest regional landscape contractor association based in Oregon; offers comparable membership, education, and certification services to WALP, serving a neighboring state with overlapping market dynamics.

Direct peers

• California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA): State-level landscape contractor trade association offering membership, certification, education, and awards; operates an analogous chapter structure and member-benefit model to WALP in a different state, making it a strong functional peer for benchmarking.
• Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA): Illinois-based landscape contractor trade association providing membership, certification programs, and annual awards/education events; closely mirrors WALP's operating model at a different state scale.
• Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado (ALCC): Colorado state trade association for landscape contractors delivering membership, certification, education, and industry awards; comparable to WALP in scope and service mix, differing primarily in state geography and chapter footprint.
• Arizona Landscape Contractors Association (ALCA): Arizona state trade association for landscape contractors providing membership tiers, certification, awards, and education events; structurally analogous to WALP with similar dues-based revenue model and chapter presence.
• Washington State Nursery & Landscape Association (WSNLA): Adjacent Washington State industry association covering nursery and landscape professionals; overlaps with WALP on contractor member base, education, and legislative advocacy in the same geography, making it the closest directly competing trade body.

Others

• Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBA): Washington State construction trade association that WALP partners with via the MBA Retro safety program; comparable as a regional construction-industry membership body serving overlapping small contractor audiences in Washington.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WashingtonAssociationOfLandscapeProfessionals
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/washington-association-of-landscape-professionals
• Instagraminstagram.com/wa_landscape_assoc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Washington Association of Landscape Professionals