Executive Vice President’s Message

Sow the Seeds of Success

at Green & Growin’ 23

Believe it or not, it’s that time of year again! Time to make plans for Green & Growin’ 23, the Southeast’s largest green industry trade show, scheduled for Jan. 16-20 in Greensboro. Visit www.greenandgrowin.com to register for discounted early-bird registration starting on Nov. 14, and take advantage of the event’s wide variety of programs and activities.

General Education

This year’s program includes two keynote speakers who are well known to the nursery and landscape communities. On Jan. 17, Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping, will Richard “Rick” Lawhun provide the Tuesday lunchtime NCNLA Executive keynote, “More Than Just a Vice President Job: How to Be a Great Team Player.” And on Jan. 18, Kim Eierman, author and founder of EcoBeneficial, will give the Wednesday lunchtime keynote, “Taking Landscapes to the Next Level: From Leveraging Ecosystem Services to Changing Cultural Norms.” Make plans to join us for these entertaining and educational presentations. Lunch will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis before the talks begin. If you prefer to do your own thing for lunch, however, you can still join us for the presentations and earn a Continuing Education Unit (CEU) from several different licensing boards — just be sure to have your badge scanned when entering the ballroom. The educational tracks on Tuesday and Wednesday have been revamped again this year to focus more on the topics our attendees want. Tuesday includes four tracks: management principles; business operations; landscape operations; and pests, weeds and diseases. The four Wednesday tracks cover landscape operations, urban forestry and arboriculture, turf management, and irrigation. Select from a total of 48 educational sessions across these topics, offering CEUs in a variety of license areas, including landscape contractor, irrigation contractor, pesticide applicator, landscape architect, arborist and more.

Specialty Classes and Certifications

This year’s offerings include:

• NC Commercial Pesticide Applicator Training

School: Due to the state/federal holiday on

Monday, Jan. 16, this 1½ day class will instead be offered on Tuesday and Wednesday this year. The pesticide applicator’s licensing exam will be offered by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture on Wednesday afternoon.

• Designing the Environmentally Responsive

Landscape: A Nature Inspired Approach: Two of your favorite instructors, Bill Stack and

Richard Ludwig, return with a new course offering you won’t want to miss. This eighthour Monday workshop focuses on weaving ecologically sound concepts into traditional residential landscape design. You’ll also receive basic graphics instruction to help communicate ideas efficiently and boldly on paper.

• Sowing the Seeds of Success with Lighting Design:

This new three-hour workshop on Monday morning will be led by Jason Shanabarger of

Unique Lighting. Explore different techniques to create a variety of lighting effects — from subtle to dramatic — to create the atmospheres your customers desire.

• Principles of Pruning: From Theory to Topiary:

Another of your favorite instructors, Bryce

Lane, is back to lead this four-hour hands-on

Monday afternoon workshop, which will equip landscape professionals with practical pruning information, including theory, tools, technique and timing. Learn why, how and when to prune plants, and explore unique and historical pruning techniques to help create and maintain landscapes.

• NC Certified Plant Professional (CPP) Exam:

The CPP exam will be offered on

Monday afternoon. The CPP designation illustrates a fundamental knowledge of soils, fertilization, turfgrass management, planting techniques and landscape design. Show your customers and colleagues you have the expertise, skills and talents needed to succeed in the green industry by earning this designation.

Marketplace

The 150,000-square-foot trade show floor will be open Thursday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM, and Friday, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM. Visit with more than 300 exhibitors, and be sure to stop by the 2,200-square-foot Demonstration Area, where SiteOne Landscape Supply will be offering hands-on demonstrations, twice on Thursday and again on Friday. The demonstrations will provide great opportunities to take breaks from walking the show floor and learn some new skills.

Complimentary lunch will also be provided in the Demonstration Area, so you won’t need to scatter in search of food trucks or offsite restaurants—stay engaged with your colleagues and customers on the trade show floor, and enjoy lunch on us!

President’s Reception

Join us Thursday evening at 8:00 PM for the President’s Reception, hosted by Caterpillar. Network with your friends and colleagues as we recognize the incoming NCNLA president, as well as past presidents of NCNLA, NCAN and NCLGMA. Food, drink and entertainment will be provided, so be sure to join us and party through the night!

Green & Growin’ 23 has something for everyone, so make plans to join us Jan. 16-20 in Greensboro.

As always, stay well and stay passionate about the industry you love!

Rick

COMPLETE IRRIGATION SYSTEMS

*With 100 Years Combined Experience*

2310 NC Hwy 801 N // Mocksville, NC 27028 800-422-3560