FNGLA's January 2015 Greenline

January 2015 | Volume 36, Issue 1

FNGLA’S MONTHLY PUBLICATION: DIGITAL MONTHLY ISSUE LOCATED AT HTTP://GREENLINE.FNGLA.ORG

Start the New Year with Success at TPIE

The economic outlook for 2015 is continued growth, higher employment and increased consumer spending. Are you ready to take advantage of these positive forecasts? Regardless of your business segment in the nursery and landscape industry, the Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition (TPIE) offers excellent programs and resources to increase your business success in 2015 and beyond.

With a sold-out exhibit hall, TPIE has nearly 400 exhibiting companies in more than 800 booths spaces showcasing the newest and best-selling plants, products and services. Add the expertise and latest information the booth personnel have to share, and just walking the trade show floor makes TPIE an excellent business tool to get your 2015 off to a smart start! From your mobile device, visit http://m.tpie.org to stay up-to-date on show happenings and events.

But wait, there’s more! As consumer spending increases, it’s more important than ever to understand consumer trends and mind sets. No one knows this topic better than Christine Boland, international trends analyst who specializes in retail, fashion and social trends and how to apply them to individual business.

Christine is the TPIE Opening Session keynote speaker on Wednesday, January 21 at 9 a.m. Admission to the TPIE Opening Session is included with a TPIE badge.

Look for additional trend and value-added selling ideas at the TPIE Create Theater where floral designers from the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) offer idea-loaded workshops, twice a day, each day of the show. The Create Theater is also the spot to see what’s trending at TPIE as The Garden Center Group presents the top 15 TPIE Cool Products as voted by show Continued page 3

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PRESIDENT’S LETTER

Sandy Stein FNGLA 2014-2015 President

2015 Brings TPIE, New Business Opportunities & Escalating Industry Sales!

“Without customers, you don’t have a business. You have a hobby.”

– Don Peppers & Martha Rogers I love January. It begins the ascension upward toward what will be our industry’s nowreality “Spring Sales” where for our business (and I suspect for many container plant- based businesses) approximately 66% of our sales are made.

And to start the year off right, here once again comes TPIE! The Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition is a spectacle – a spectacle of what is newest in interior foliage, spring-color, pottery, retail packaging, merchandising, educational experiences and more. It is truly a one-stop showcase reflecting where the best and the brightest are creatively taking this huge segment of our industry – and demonstrating just how far we have evolved.

Walking the show floor is a treat, with everyone dressing our products in their finest attire. With the new show layout, which started just last year, buyers are funneled past every possible product they might need over the coming year.

In our industry, as with many industries, trade shows are an irreplaceable means of developing new business relationships. If it were not for trade shows, and specifically TPIE for our business, we would be forced to spend far greater dollars searching out new customers and using both our time and dollar resources to travel to all areas of the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean Islands, just to name a few, trying to develop new business. For existing and potential customers, TPIE affords an ideal setting to source product for the coming year and beyond.

Buyers get to speak with existing vendors and find

new suppliers and products to further develop their businesses. It’s a win-win for everyone.

The educational experiences FNGLA offers can substantiate the time and travel costs for some buyers.

Our business was privileged to be a stop on last year’s TPIE “Road Show” and the tour had a substantially positive impact on our business. Those attending this year can choose either the Garden Center tour or the Interiorscape Tour, each with its own opening educational classroom experience. Traveling by bus to either Garden Centers or Interior Foliage production nurseries, each is somehow unique in their product selections and presentations. For the nursery tour, representatives from each business have a captive audience of eager buyers to showcase their products, to introduce their staff, and to allow attendees to see the operations of which they feel so proud. Check out the FNGLA website to see all the particulars of this year’s TPIE and to find information about signing up for these educational opportunities, as well as everything else under the TPIE sun.

Here’s to an awesome 2015. May this year continue to bring escalating sales and ever-increasing opportunities to become more than we are individually and collectively. The FNGLA staff and its Board of Directors look forward to serving you another year and we welcome your input and participation. Please use the contact information on the website www.fngla. org to reach any of our staff or you can reach me at sstein@junglenursery.com.

Sandy Stein The Jungle Nursery (Miami) sstein@junglenursery.com

The Best FNGLA Summer Meeting for 63 Years: FNGLA’s Annual Convention Save the Date – June 12-13, 2015 Bienvenido a Miami Tropical! | Welcome to Tropical Miami!

Westin Colonnade, Coral Gables, Florida

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FNGLA HAPPENINGS Special Thanks to our

Show Sponsors TPIE Happy Hour & Lanyard Sponsor

Continued from page 1

attendees! This is unveiled on Thursday, January 23 at 2 p.m.

For more in-depth and face-to-face learning, grab a seat on the TPIE Road Show, which takes place on Tuesday, Jan. 20!

Offering a garden center track as well as an interiorscape track, the TPIE Road Show starts with overview sessions to set the stage and then travels to garden centers or nurseries, depending on the track you selected. The TPIE Road Show includes sessions by professional presenters, coach travel to the tour stops, lunch and exclusive time with industry experts and colleagues.

Business success often depends on business connections.

TPIE delivers those not only on the trade show floor and in learning sessions, yet through fun activities such as the TPIE Happy Hour which is in the Fountain Courtyard outside on the convention center on Thursday, Jan. 21 from 5 – 6 p.m. Sponsored by Suntory, this dynamic event mixes fun and entertainment with a laid back atmosphere for casual conversations and shared ideas. Many profitable business deals had their genesis at the TPIE Happy Hour!

If you have yet to register, you can still do so! For just $30, a show badge includes three days of the show, TPIE Opening Session, continuous learning sessions, 400 vendor companies and thousands of plants, products and people to see and meet. Add the TPIE Road Show to your pre-show experience for just $150 additional.

The best hotel rates and availability are available through TPIE’s housing company, Eventsphere. Use TPIE’s online housing reservation for the up-to-date availability and pricing. Shuttle buses run from TPIE’s host hotels to the convention center on all three show days. Access TPIE’s 2014 Photo Gallery: https:// plus.google.com/photos/101900735408609469622/ albums/5973654788995014417.

Opening Session Sponsors

Innovations Lounge

Create Theater presented by AIFD Thursday Sessions Sponsor

Exhibitors’ Showcase

Tradeshow Bags

General Sponsor

Rest Stations

TPIE is another signature event produced by FNGLA and its members with its proceeds used to serve the industry.

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FNGLA HAPPENINGS More TPIE Happenings: Maximize Your Investment at the Show!

Your TPIE badge gives you entrance to all three days of the world’s most comprehensive tropical foliage event, admission to the TPIE Opening Session, continuous learning sessions, 400 vendor companies in 800 booths and thousands of plants, products and people to see and meet. Extend your experience with TPIE’s Road Shows, just $150 for a day of learning, tours and networking:

For Retail Garden Center Professionals

Tom Shay, Profits Plus, will provide insight on where the customer is in the marketplace today. Hear how garden centers can sell more plants when they take their eyes off the sale and focus on the customers’ needs.

Then, Internationally known for his work in garden center and retail nursery design and space planning, Ernest Wertheim, Wertheim/van der Ploeg & Klemeyer will take attendees for a walk through a garden center before you get on the bus. From the entrance to the checkout, Ernest will share successful ways to layout a store and tips and lessons learned from his many years of industry experience.

Once “on the go,” attendees will visit three local garden centers: • Since 1996, Flamingo Road Nursery has provided a friendly and knowledgeable staff and a full line of plants, pottery, and garden accessories. Featured at this stop will be event planning. Hear how adding a Harvest Festival to their fall season has made it the most profitable time of year for them. Special sessions on event planning and the care and handling of plant deliveries will take place here.

• Living Color Garden Center has been serving the South Florida community since 1990, and offers 5 acres of plants, outdoor seating, garden supplies and accessories to beautify home and gardens. Living Color’s team will share with attendees some unique ways to display plants which can result in increased sales and offer their customers creative ideas to use in their garden centers.

• Don’t miss the last stop of the day: attendees will see how the GardenWorks team has repurposed a corner gas station transforming the space into a successful garden center. Offering a great selection of native and exotic plants, garden supplies and garden services to local residents and business owners alike, their goal is to provide the best customer service.

A special grower showcase will be offered at this stop.

For Interiorscape Professionals

Dr. James DelPrince, Mississippi State University, will cover innovative marketing and design ideas for work spaces and special events. Then, Kathryn O’Donnell, Botanicus Interior Landscaping will provide a vision for the future of interior landscape.

Take the morning lessons into action visiting Homestead area nurseries, the first step in creating stellar interiorscape projects.

• Farm Life Tropical Foliage was founded in 1985 on five acres of land in the heart of the Redlands district in South Florida. Today, Farm Life’s production area is 18.5 acres of shadehouses, 10 acres of marl field and three acres of large trees and palms in in-ground grow bags. As one of the favorite stops on TPIE’s Road Show, attendees will hear about their in-house pest management program. You’ll leave with a better understanding of what it takes to consistently grow and ship top-notch material.

• Plants in Design has been in continuous operation for more than 25 years utilizing state of the art greenhouses, computerized irrigation systems and robotics. In fact, Plants in Design may be the most technologically advanced facility of its type. Through on-going communication with hybridizers and laboratories worldwide, their goal is to respond to customers’ requests for timely access to new hybrid varieties with distinctive look of novel colors and shapes.

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FNGLA HAPPENINGS Attend Complimentary Workshops at TPIE Take advantage of informal, free workshops provided by the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD), all with a foliage focus. Presentations take place on the show floor as part of the Create Theater happenings and feature many of the plants and products found on the TPIE show floor.

Wednesday, January 21 – Plant Design Trends Sponsored by University of Florida, IFAS 11 a.m. – A Touch of Glass A hot design trend is the use of glass as containers, terrariums, table décor and more.

Designers will feature multiple creations combining glass and plants for ideas easy to use and easy to see through!

2 p.m. – TPIE’s Foliage Designer Duel!

Who will win as three top AIFD designers use plants and products they borrow from TPIE exhibit booths to create designs which capture current trends as applied to foliage and tropical plants? En garde!

Thursday, January 22 – Plants with A RePurpose Sponsored by Delray Plants 10 a.m. – Plant Props: Thrift Store Finds Repurposed Old drawers stacked become a living wall of plants; burned out light fixtures can beam with plants, glass cake stands become terrariums. See the creative metamorphoses the designers come up with as they repurpose the old and make it new with plants.

1 p.m. - Plants Redux Designers will share ideas on taking plants which are overgrown, stretched or not viable as a standard, to be incorporated into a new means to sell. Whether used as novel elements of a container garden, trimmed in an avant garde style or even turned upside down for a hanging effect, you’ll rethink the traditional look needed to sell a plant.

Friday, January 23 – The Art of Plants Sponsored by Rockledge Gardens 10 a.m. - Art Brought to Life Fabric, Painting, Photograph. Each of these visual art medium will be the starting point as designers use plants to interpret the artistic qualities of each element. Be inspired to borrow the themes for store merchandising and interiorscape projects.

12:30 p.m. - Interactive Arts Meet Plant Art Whether music, painting, dance or plant design, the arts bring more than beauty to our lives.

They touch a place in our soul which enriches and is worthy of sharing. Enjoy this unique, dynamic presentation combining several mediums of interactive art with the art of plants.

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FNGLA HAPPENINGS FNGLA Addresses The Need For Qualified Employees at TPIE One of the biggest concerns we hear from members is the need for qualified employees – and where to find our future leaders.

FNGLA is linking employers with a host of potential employees at the 2015 TPIE show in Ft. Lauderdale, January 21-23.

Job Board

FNGLA will feature a traditional Job Board in its membership booth #2500 during the show. Come by to post open positions you would like to fill at your company. Job seekers are encouraged to post their resumes too! FNGLA staff will be available at the booth to facilitate the postings and answer questions.

Career Fair

Introduce your company to tomorrow’s leaders at TPIE’s Horticulture Career Fair Friday, January 23, 2015. Career tabletops open at 10 a.m. with presentations starting at 11 a.m. Nearly 300 high school horticulture students from around Florida take part in this annual event.

New this year, table spaces are available for any company wishing to set-up a display to connect with these students. Contact Amy DiBella at Adibella@fngla.org to reserve a spot. Following the event, students are invited to learn about Florida’s nursery and landscape industry by visiting the TPIE show floor.

FFA Career Development Events

Although not taking place at TPIE, each year nearly 350 students demonstrate their horticultural skills at the Florida FFA Career Development Events (CDEs) in Floriculture and Nursery/Landscape. The 2015 events takes place Saturday, March 7 at the University of Florida Mid-Florida Research and Education Center in Apopka. Booths will be available for you to attract the best and brightest horticulture students from around the state.

For more information on FNGLA’s career events, contact Amy DiBella at FNGLA or call 407-295-7994.

As positions open up and qualified candidates become harder to source, FNGLA is expanding its efforts to connect both qualified professionals and the next generation to potential employers.

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FNGLA HAPPENINGS Know an FNGLA Hero? Nominations for FNGLA Industry Awards Now Being Accepted!

FNGLA is so fortunate to have many hard-working volunteers who generously and happily share their time, expertise and resources with fellow members to help build a better Association and a better industry. Make sure the folks who go above and beyond for FNGLA receive the recognition they deserve. Nominate them for one of FNGLA’s prestigious industry awards and help FNGLA put the spotlight on an FNGLA Hero.

FNGLA seeks nominations for annual industry awards in the following categories: FNGLA Hall of Fame; Wendell Butler Award; FNGLA/Farm Credit Young Nursery Professional of the Year; Outstanding Chapter President; Outstanding Chapter Secretary/ Treasurer; Outstanding Volunteer; and, Outstanding Educator.

Visit http://www.fngla.org/recognition/industry-awards/ for a description of the various awards, as well as the nomination forms.

You can also find a list of previous FNGLA industry awards winners at this site. For more details, contact Linda Adams at ladams@fngla.org or call 800-375-3642.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

PREREGISTER ONLINE AND SAVE!

February 13 & 14, 2014 at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds

Don’t leave your business to chance What’s new in the field.

Refresh your relationships.

Plant the seeds for growing your business.

FNGLA

®

FLORIDA NURSERY, GROWERS AND LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION

Leading Florida’s Green Industry

Northeast Chapter FNGLA | 904.292.1117 | nefngla.org

FNGLA’s Floriculture Field Days Takes Place May 13 & 14, Orlando!

Plan to attend the next FNGLA’s Floriculture Field Days: May 13 & 14 in Orlando! Florida’s spring season is an ideal time to evaluate plants for garden performance and test their resilience. Breeders will bring their newest varieties to Central Florida to test their durability against the heat and humidity. The program will feature new varieties at all three locations: Walt Disney World’s nursery; Harry P. Leu Gardens; and, University of Florida’s Orange County Extension Service.

Looking to increase your knowledge of designing with color and textures?

FNGLA’s Floriculture Field Days is a great place to learn the latest design techniques and maintenance as well as an ideal venue to interact with the leaders of the Floriculture, Landscape and Garden Center segments of the industry. A day and a half program will offer both classroom and trial time.

FNGLA HAPPENINGS

FNGLA Highlights Plants and Certification at HOA/Condo Show In December, members of FNGLA’s Marketing and Certification committees promoted Florida-grown plants and FNGLA Certified Professionals to property managers, condos, apartments and homeowner associations at an industry show in Ft. Lauderdale.

Thanks to Deb Joneck of Florida Coast Equipment and Wes Parrish of Parrish Nursery for fielding the many questions at the booth and to Robert Shoelson, FCLC, of Getting Green Plant Services for serving on the show’s Ask The Expert panel.

Questions ranged from how to choose a landscape company to the best plants for their properties. The booth attracted many attendees thanks to plants from Parrish Nursery and succulent dish garden giveaways from Lukas Nursery.

This event was an opportunity to get in front of yet another market for FNGLA’s member products and services.

Looking for sponsorship opportunities? Position your business as a leader to this key audience. Great sponsorships are available: http://www.fngla. org/events/floriculture-field-day/Sponsorship.aspx. Choose to have an exhibit table to display your business products or capture higher visibility as an exclusive event sponsor of one of the conference happenings which includes the opportunity to briefly address the group at the event. For details on participating, log on to https://www.fngla.org/events/floriculturefield-day/. For details on sponsoring, contact Linda Reindl, lreindl@fngla. org. Your participation will help increase awareness and strengthen the professionalism of the industry.

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INDUSTRY NEWS More Great Things from the University of Florida/IFAS

By Jack Payne jackpayne@ufl.edu UF/IFAS has 14 academic departments and two schools, so I spend a lot of time finding the right people to lead them. Finding a new chair for the Department of Environmental Horticulture was easy, because I already employed an ideal candidate in Ft. Pierce.

Sandy Wilson has done outstanding research and teaching, she has boundless enthusiasm, and she has what it takes to lead.

Dr. Wilson is known for her work on the invasive potential of ornamental species. Because I’m the senior vice president of agriculture and natural resources at UF, that’s exactly the kind of work I believe is so crucial for Florida. We must help industry identify opportunities for profit while protecting natural resources that help make Florida such a great place to live – and to visit.

She’s also an expert ornamental propaGator (our UF computers automatically capitalize Gator in any context!), an active participant in industry events, and a Friend of Ben. Her dedication to the land-grant mission of research, Extension and teaching make her a valuable asset to IFAS and to stakeholders.

I always say you can expect great things from IFAS, and here’s what you can expect from Sandy: • More attention to garnering national awards for our students and faculty.

• Efforts to increase undergraduate and graduate student enrollment.

• Advocacy for more resources so the department can do more for the industry. She began talking about the need for more faculty to complement the 30-member department before she even moved to Gainesville!

• A continued commitment to solid science.

• Leadership involvement in the industry. She was the most recent guest speaker at the FNGLA Frontrunners Chapter meeting, introduced herself to a number of the industry vendors at the recent FNGLA Landscape show in Orlando, and is looking forward to attending the Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition in January. She’ll continue to serve on the board of the American Society for Horticultural Science as vice president of education and is an active member of the International Plant Propagation Society, in addition to a number of other plant organizations.

It’s important for us to have someone like Sandy who has such a strong relationship with FNGLA. Your input helps keep our research relevant. Her hire also demonstrates our gratitude for industry support in the form of research funding, scholarships, letters of support for grant applications and use of nursery lands for demonstration projects.

Although Sandy is more noted for building a large teaching botanical garden at the Indian River Research and Education Center, her yard in her home in Ft. Pierce contains a diverse mixture of leftovers from student projects: firebush, Simpson’s stopper and wild coffee.

Please welcome Sandy. She can be reached on her mobile phone at 772-834-7619 or by email at sbwilson@ufl.edu. The department website is http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/.

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FNGLA MEMBERSHIP IS A GOOD BUSINESS DECISION MEMBER BENEFITS & DISCOUNTS Commercial Vehicle Discount

Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc. provides FNGLA members special discounts on the purchase of any new Isuzu commercial vehicle from any Florida Isuzu dealership.

Credit Card Processing Discounts

Integrity Merchant Solutions offers members special FNGLA group benefits including: no hidden fees, free cost comparisons, no early termination fees, ability to use your old equipment, and working with all card types and offering check processing and gift card programs.

Employment Law Hotline

This Law “Hotline” offers advice to FNGLA members needed assistance with wage & hour, OSHA, I-9 issues and workers’ compensation retaliation claims.

Group Life Insurance

Take advantage of discounted rates on group life insurance for yourself, family members and your employees. The program features Guaranteed Issue Amounts up to $50,000 with no medical exams required.

Promotional Benefits & Visibility

FNGLA’s growers, retail garden centers & landscape professionals are enrolled in the Fresh From Florida campaign promoting Florida’s plants throughout the Southeast and giving you access to Fresh From Florida member benefits.

Online Marketing

PlantANT.com offers FNGLA members five complimentary plant listings in the newly relaunched FNGLA Locator now hosted online by PlantANT. FNGLA members with more than five listings qualify for a 5% PlantANT discount. You can also track your results with real time statistics and upload images with PlantANT’s smartphone app. Access PlantANT at www.fngla.org/ locator.

Online Marketing

Use PlantFinder’s PlantSearch online system to increase your exposure to plant buyers and suppliers. FNGLA members can receive an Online Plant Booth at www.PlantSearch. com to manage online listings and pictures. FNGLA members can choose both print and online advertising with member discounts or up to 5 free online listings. FNGLA members and loyal PlantFinder advertisers also receive free PlantFinder banner ads and 5 listings (Total Monthly Value up to $72.50). Get started today! Call 800-627-3819 or email info@plantsearch.com.

Payroll Processing Discount

Tired of being treated like a number? You can outsource your company’s payroll without giving up the flexibility and personal attention you need. MasterPay USA will keep you in compliance and make payroll easy. FNGLA members are eligible for an exclusive 15% discount on published payroll processing prices. The discount is immediate and on-going -- not an introductory rate.

• FREE Direct Deposit and Web Access • Automated payment of all Federal, State & Local payroll taxes • Garnishment administration with electronic Child Support Payments

More Programs, More Details on the flipside!

INDUSTRY NEWS PLANET Announces Rebranding Initiative for 2015

Florida Water StarSM Teams With FANN

In an effort to strengthen their voice, PLANET, the Professional Landcare Network, has announced a rebranding initiative which will include the launch of a new association name to be announced in late February at their “Great Escape” conference in the Bahamas.

They’re committed to developing a concept for a new brand that will help them aggressively advocate for and promote the industry in a way to benefit all their member companies.

Even though the new brand will be unveiled in February, PLANET won’t officially begin using it until April 2015, giving the industry and its members time to learn about and implement the new brand.

For more details on this happening, visit https://www. landcarenetwork.org/PLANET/About-Us/About-Us/PLANET/ About-Us/PLANET-Rebranding.aspx.

Florida Water StarSM (FWS) Accredited Professional training and testing will be a part of the 2015 Native Plant Show in Kissimmee, hosted by the Florida Association of Native Nurseries. This is yet another example of industries working together toward a common goal of water conservation. Training is April 8 with an optional exam April 9, 2015.

This comprehensive water conservation program focuses on Florida-friendly landscape alternatives and irrigation requirements that can have a major impact on water usage. The day-long program includes a half day on irrigation and a half day on landscape.

Continuing education credits can be earned for FNGLA, Irrigation Association, Registered Landscape Architects and Volusia County’s irrigation license.

Space is still available for the February 3, 2015 FWS program hosted by the City of Palm Coast.

St. Johns River Water Management District has contracted with FNGLA to administer the FWS Accredited Professional exams in irrigation and landscape. To date, 178 irrigation and landscape professionals have earned the Accredited Professional designation.

Complete information about the Florida Water StarSM program can be found at www.floridawaterstar. com or contact Deirdre Irwin at the St. Johns River Water Management District at dirwin@sjrwmd.com.

For more information on the February 3 or April 8 programs, contact FNGLA’s Merry Mott at mmott@ fngla.org.

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INDUSTRY NEWS Florida Agriculture Literacy Day: April 21 The 12th annual Florida Agriculture Literacy Day is scheduled for Tuesday April 21 and a new non-fiction children’s book developed for it will highlight Florida’s livestock and poultry industries.

The book, the title of which is ‘Drive Through Florida: Livestock and Poultry,’ features an animated red truck that takes students on a tour of Florida’s beef, dairy, poultry, swine, equine, sheep and goat industries.

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and Florida Agriculture in the Classroom (FAITC) invite farmers, growers, ranchers, Farm Bureau members, Florida cattlemen and cattlewomen, University of Florida IFAS extension and 4-H agents, master gardeners, FFA teachers and students and agriculture industry representatives to read in elementary classrooms around the state in honor of the event.

The book is geared to upper elementary students - third, fourth and fifth grades. Readers are encouraged to read on Agriculture Literacy Day, but they don’t have to. They can read until the end of the school year. The book and materials will be provided to readers for free thanks to funding FAITC receives from sales of the agriculture specialty license plate called the ‘Ag Tag.’ Teachers and agriculture industry representatives interested in participating, please check FAITC’s website, www.agtag.org, to order materials beginning February 2015. The deadline to register for materials is Tuesday April 7 for those who are reading on Florida Agriculture Literacy Day two weeks later. Readers are asked to schedule their classroom visits first, and then order materials on the FAITC’s website.

Florida Agriculture in the Classroom is a non-profit organization that educates Florida teachers and students about where their food, fiber and fuel comes from using lessons, materials, grant programs and other projects. For more information on this exciting event, contact Lisa Gaskalla at 352-846-1391 or email gaskalla@ufl.edu.

AmericanHort’s Next Level Conference: February, Ft. Lauderdale Managing the business end of your business is the best way to ensure it survives and thrives. Experience AnericanHort’s Next Level Conference February 3 - 5 in Ft. Lauderdale where you can learn to define your business goals, connect with innovate peers and put your plan into action.

Next Level is an elite, three-day conference focused solely on helping you make the most of your business. From development sessions led by some of the nation’s most admired business experts and thought leaders to more casual gatherings designed to help you network with and learn from your peers, Next Level will provide you with extraordinary insight, empowering ideas, and a plan you can put into action once the conference is over.

Whether you’re most interested in marketing, leadership, managing a family business, planning for the future, or building a better team, Next Level will get you there, and ensure both your horticulture business and your bank account stay green.

Learn more at http:// http://yournextlevel.org/.

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CERTIFICATIONS SAF Offers Pest & Production Management Conference, Orlando Mark your calendar and plan to attend SAF’s Pest & Production Management Conference, February 19-21 in Orlando at the Rosen Plaza Hotel on International Drive.

Top plant pathologists will share the latest info on best practices and concerns like: • Neonics and pollinators • Bacterial outbreak prevention • Early PGR use • Precision irrigation technology Schedule highlights include: • Four educational tracks with multiple sessions on production, pests, pathogens and weeds • Hands-on workshops using real tools and live samples • Table Top Showcase of production tools and services • Optional Growing Operations Tour (additional fee) The SAF member rate is $385.

Nonmembers pay $435.

The Society of American Florists is the leading organization representing all segments of the floral industry. SAF is proud to provide marketing, business and government services to its members, including growers, wholesalers, retailers, suppliers, importers, educators, designers and allied organizations.

For more details on the conference, visit http://www.safnow.org/ppmc.

Make 2015 Your Year To Become FNGLA Certified!

Training classes and testing opportunities abound in early 2015 to give you the best opportunity to earn your FNGLA Certification. Regardless of your business mix or expertise, FNGLA has a certification program for you!

FNGLA Certified Horticulture Professional (FCHP) Preparatory classes for FCHP – which is a broad-based written certification exam that tests your knowledge in everything from plant biology through plant maintenance – begin across the state in January.

Ft. Myers, Ft. Pierce, Homestead, Orlando, Palm Beach Gardens, Plant City, Sarasota and St. Petersburg will each host a training class. The test is then given online. See FNGLA’s “Certification Preparation” website at http://www.fngla.org/certifications/preparation.

FNGLA Certified Landscape Technician (FCLT) and Landscape Maintenance Technician (FCLMT) These hands-on landscape exams for technicians focus either on landscape installation (FCLT) or landscape maintenance (FCLMT).

Several exams are scheduled. For more information, contact FNGLA’s Merry Mott at mmott@fngla.org Saturday, February 7: FCLMT-Maintenance Exam, SeaWorld Horticulture, Orlando Saturday, February 14: FCLT-Installation Exam, Pinellas Technical College, St. Pete Saturday, February 21: FCLT-Installation Exam, SeaWorld Horticulture, Orlando Friday, April 24: FCLT-Installation Exam, UF Ft. Lauderdale REC, Davie Plan to earn an FNGLA certification to increase your knowledge and professionalism – and that of your employees.

FNGLA’s Certification Showcase: TPIE Plan to visit a special Certification Showcase while at the Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition January 21-23, 2015 in Ft. Lauderdale – manned

by FNGLA Certified Judges and Certification Committee Members.

Not only can you learn more about how to bring additional education and professionalism to your company, you can actually practice several of the exams – including Plant Identification, Job Evaluation and Irrigation.

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MEMBER NEWS Brickman and ValleyCrest Are Now BrightView Brickman and ValleyCrest recently announced BrightView as the future name of their combined organization. Following the announcement of Brickman and ValleyCrest’s merger in June of last year, this represents the next step for the $2 billion landscape services firm and its 22,000 employees in continuing to shape the landscape industry.

The name BrightView suggests the bright views, or beautiful landscapes, the organization designs, builds and maintains on its clients’ properties. Additionally, it speaks to the bright view the organization will offer its team members in the form of opportunity and career advancement, as well as a continued commitment to excellence in service delivery for its clients and their customers.

Although a forward-looking name, BrightView also honors the organization’s legacy brands, founders, shared values and all the people who contributed to Brickman and ValleyCrest’s combined 140 years of success. This is done by carrying forward the ‘B’ from Brickman and the ‘V’ from ValleyCrest. A new logo system will also be revealed that acknowledges the legacy brands and reinforces their position as a dependable, adaptable and proactive partner to their clients.

“BrightView is more than a name; it indicates what is to come. BrightView reflects our optimism for the future and our drive to create greater value for our clients. It embodies our excitement to leverage the strengths of our combined company to enhance how we care for our people, our clients and our communities. It also enables our team members and clients to take pride in trusted relationships and solutions that matter,” said BrightView CEO Andrew Kerin.

Isuzu Commercial Trucks Offers Big First-Half 2015 Special Pricing For FNGLA Members In recognition of their FNGLA partnership, Isuzu Commercial Trucks has extended FNGLA members an $800 discount on top of their special promotion pricing: Isuzu FNGLA Member Special Incentives include: 2014 Gas = $2250 + $800 FNGLA = $3050 total savings 2014 Diesel = $3250 + $800 FNGLA = $4050 total savings 2015 Gas = $1250 + $800 FNGLA = $2050 total savings 2015 Diesel = $1750 + $800 FNGLA = $2550 total savings Or, you can opt for one of their special finance/lease plans with rates starting as low as 0.99% for 36 months. Trucks must be delivered by the end of June to qualify. See your local Isuzu dealer or call Florida’s New District Sales Manager Matt Mesick, FNGLA’s new point person, at 678-763-3537 for complete details.

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Matt Mesick moves from District Service & Parts Manager to District Sales Manager and is FNGLA’s new point person.

NEW MEMBERS

Welcome New Members The following are new FNGLA members: from November 22, 2014 - December 21, 2014 FRONTRUNNERS Michael Sciardi (Student) 3800 SW 15th St Gainesville, FL 32608 904-318-9267 MANASOTA Automated Conveyor Company, Inc. Jeff Van Hoose 5200 Gulf Dr #203 Holmes Beach, FL 34217 941-737-0678 Mullett Brothers Landscape & Brick Pavers Bryan Morris 1177 Cattleman Rd Sarasota, FL 34232 941-342-9907

MIAMI-DADE Mann Investment & Export, Inc. Maria Mann-Moreno 1624 NE 177th St North Miami Beach, FL 33162 305-332-5981 Stockton Group Graziela Pedreira 20900 NE 30th Ave Suite 607 Aventura, FL 33180 305-682-1211 OUTSIDE FLORIDA Weeks Roses Dawn Miller 30135 McCombs Rd Wasco, CA 93280 661-758-5821

PANHANDLE First Choice Automotive Inc. Dan Jaquish 5500 NW St Pensacola, FL 32505 850-341-1514 Keith Sylvest,Coastal Machinery NOLES-SPELL, LLC Mark Noles 1520 Michigan Ave Lynn Haven, FL 32444 850-248-0973

City of Cape Coral Kraig Hankins (Supportive) PO Box 150027 Cape Coral, FL 33915-0027 239-574-0746 Springtime Farms Sabreena Williams 13301 State Rd 80 Moore Haven, FL 33471 863-983-9627

ROYAL PALM Neumann Landscaping LLC Chris Neumann 1005 Ridge St Naples, FL 34103 239-304-8012

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Calendar of Events

Contact Us

See and submit events at http://www.fngla.org, under calendar

FNGLA

9:

Mejores Prรกcticas de Manejo de las Industrias Verdes GI-BMP, Wildwood Community Center, Wildwood

Phone: 407.295.7994 Toll-free: 800.375.3642 Fax: 407.295.1619 E-mail: info@fngla.org Web: www.fngla.org

10:

Winter 2015 Ornamental & Turf Pest Management Workshop, Orange County Extension Service, Orlando

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

14:

Scouting and Management of Citrus Insect Pests, UF-IFAS Southwest Florida Research and Education Center, Immokalee

GREENLINE EDITOR

14-16:

MANTS, Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD

21- 23:

Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition, Broward County Convention Center, Ft. Lauderdale

28-30:

2015 Gulf States Horticultural Expo, Arthur R. Outlaw Convention Center, Mobile, AL

January

February 3:

Turfgrass Academy 2015 Series begins, UF/IFAS Osceola County Extension, Kissimmee

3-5:

AmericanHort: The Next Level, Hyatt Pier 66, Fort Lauderdale FL

Ben Bolusky

Jennifer Nelis jnelis@fngla.org

2014-2015 STATE OFFICERS

President Sandy Stein The Jungle Nursery 29100 SW 162 Ave Homestead, FL 33030 (305) 246-5324

President-Elect Billy Butterfield AmeriScapes Landscape Management Services, Inc. PO Box 568762 Orlando, FL 32856-5041 (407) 872-0855

Past President Mike Marshall Marshall Tree Farm 17350 SE 65th St Morriston, FL 32668-4508 (352) 528-3880

Secretary/Treasurer Robert Shoelson Getting Green Plant Services & Betrock Information Systems PO Box 840107 Pembroke Pines, FL 33084 (954) 680-1819

Connect with us: About FNGLA This publication is produced by the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA) as a service to its members. The statements and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Association, its staff, Board of Directors, Greenline or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers or their identification as members does not constitute an endorsement of the products or featured services.

The mission of the Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association is to promote and protect the success and professionalism of our members.

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Read the latest FNGLA news inside & visit Greenline online at http://greenline.fngla.org