Margins in the landscaping business continue to shrink—and it’s harder than ever to grow the top line as well. Willoway Nurseries, a leading US wholesale supplier of nursery products, understands this better than anyone. This nursery, founded in 1954, grows wholesale trees, shrubs, perennials, and seasonal color crops and ships to retailers and contractors across 26 states. With a customer base of more than 1,200 independent garden centers and landscape contractors, this company has personally seen the effects of industry-wide shrinking margins and a need for drastic change in how they operate their business. To confront these challenges, Willoway needed a way to gain efficiencies and improve quality. They decided to open the books to communicate the realities of operating a business to their team and what it takes to be profitable.

At the Great Game of Business, results go beyond the financial numbers. Behind the numbers are stories and real individuals. We've asked actual, current employees from our 2018 All-Star companies what they had to say about how the Great Game has affected them personally. See the top comments below!

At the 26th Annual Gathering of Games, we had the opportunity to host Gregg Stebben from ForbesBooks Radio as he interviewed participants from this year's conference. In this interview, he highlights Amy's Ice Creams. Check out his interview with the Founder and President, Amy Simmons, to find out how this Texas company helps develop and educate employees for their future careers and personal lives.

What puts the-best-of-the-best in open-book management above the rest when it comes to an engaging workplace culture? We've asked this year's All-Stars how they have transformed their businesses to create a top-notch culture that promotes engagement and accountability throughout the entire organization. Check out what they said below!

At the 26th Annual Gathering of Games, we had the opportunity to host Gregg Stebben from ForbesBooks Radio as he interviewed participants from this year's conference. In this interview he highlights Kiolbassa Smoked Meats, a Texas company that has passed down traditional techniques three generations to current President, Michael Kiolbassa. Check out his interview below!

You may be wondering if the Great Game of Business is what your company is looking for. We've asked our All-Stars what their most crucial advice is for companies considering implementing the Great Game of Business. Here is what you need to know from the best of the best in open-book management if you're looking into implementing the Great Game.

Check out what drove the best of the best in open-book management to implement the Great Game as we asked companies from our 2018 All-Star Team, "Describe your Aha! moment. When did you know that the Great Game of Business was what your company needed?"

Check out what drove the best of the best in open-book management to implement the Great Game as we asked companies from our 2018 All-Star Team, "What motivated you to implement the Great Game of Business?"

At the 26th Annual Gathering of Games, we had the opportunity to host Gregg Stebben from ForbesBooks Radio as he interviewed participants from this year's conference. Check out his interview with David Stern below! Dr. Stern is CEO of Practice Velocity, an Illinois company providing software solutions for more than 1,200 urgent care clinics in all 50 states. This software includes computer tablet-based diagnostic record systems, specialized billing systems, practice management software and a patented record template system. Stern was not always in the software business. His career began in the medical field as a physician, where he discovered the need for this specialized software in the medical field and urgent care facilities.

Every year at The Annual Gathering of Games, we recognize the "best of the best" in open-book management with the All-Star Awards. At the 26th Annual Gathering of Games, the GGOB community celebrated the 18th All-Star Team and announced this year's All-Star Champions. Check out the flipbook to read case studies of each member of our Team, and join us in congratulating our 2018 All-Star Champions!