GENERAL EDUCATION SCHEDULE
A heartfelt thank you to the TNLA Education Committee for crafting this year’s exceptional educational program for the Lone Star Hort Forum!
2024-2025 TNLA Education Committee Members:
Chairman, Greg Fox, Clean Scapes, LP
Luis Andrade, Irrigation Station
Jared Barnes, Ph D, Stephen F Austin State University
Rebecca Dubiski, Landscape Art
Kirt Faulkner, TCNP, TCWSP, KBW Supply
Dr. Charlie Hall, Texas A&M University
Chris Hobbs, Austin Wood Recycling
James Plyler, Native Texas Nursery
Catherine Simpson, Texas Tech University
Marce Ward, TMCNP, Calloway’s Nursery
PLATINUM SPONSOR
KEY CONTRIBUTING
INVESTMENT PARTNER
MESSAGE FROM TNLA EDUCATION CHAIRMAN GREG FOX, CLEAN SCAPES, LP
“On behalf of the TNLA Education Committee, I’d like to thank everyone for attending the Lone Star Hort Forum take full advantage of this excellent lineup of experts and educational opportunities to learn as much as you can!”
SAPPHIRE SPONSORS
RoomLocationsforGeneralEducationBreakoutSessions
Cultureof PerformanceDelaneyII
TNLALeadership BootcampDelaneyI
PlantTrends,Tips &Updates-Cross TimbersI&II
WaterInnovations-PheasantRidge
BusinessStrategies -LlanoEstacado
AllExhibits,Coffee&KeynotesincludingLeadershipBootcampGraduationTexasGrande
CAN’T MISS KEYNOTES & EVENTS: INSPIRING INSIGHTS YOU’LL WANT FRONT ROW FOR
MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2025, 8:00 AM - 9:10 AM
ECONOMIC FORECAST FOR 2025 WITH DR. CHARLIE HALL, TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY (TEXAS GRANDE)
MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2025, 5:10 PM - 6:30 PM OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION (TEXAS GRANDE)
TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2025, 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
TNLA AWARDS FESTIVAL (INCLUDES BREAKFAST/TEXAS GRANDE)
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2025, 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM TNLA FOUNDATION RAFFLE PRIZE DRAWING (TEXAS GRANDE)
JOINTHEBUZZOFOURLIVEPODCAST
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2025, 8:10 AM - 9:10 AM
NAVIGATING THE TEXAS GREEN INDUSTRY'S H-2A AND H-2B IMMIGRATION WORK PROGRAM (LIVE PODCAST) WITH MODERATOR: CURTIS SMITH, TNLA AND PANELISTS: DEVIN GUINN, AQUAGREEN GLOBAL, LLC, ANTONIO VERGARA, MUNDO VERDE IRRIGATION AND LANDSCAPING, SPONSORED BY FORWARD.US Delaney
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2025, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
DECISION FAIL: TOP STRATEGIC DECISION-MAKING MISTAKES (AND HOW SMART LEADERS AVOID THEM) WITH BRETT HOOGEVEEN, BETTER CULTURE INCLUDES TNLA FOUNDATION LEADERSHIP BOOTCAMP GRADUATION + BRUNCH (TEXAS GRANDE)
TNLALeadership BootcampDelaneyI
BusinessStrategies -LlanoEstacado
Floor Plans
Cultureof PerformanceDelaneyII
PlantTrends,Tips &Updates-Cross TimbersI&II
Registration
WaterInnovations-PheasantRidge
AllExhibits,Coffee&Keynotes,AwardsFestivalincludingLeadershipBootcamp Graduation-TexasGrande
WATER INNOVATIONSPheasant Ridge
9:30 am - 10:30 am
Current State of Water - Robert Mace, Ph.D., Texas Meadows Center for Water and the Environment
10:45 am -11:45 am
Smart Strategies: BMPs for Efficient Landscaping & Irrigation Design, Installation, and MaintenanceWhitney Milberger, BGE Inc.
12:35 pm - 1:35 pm
Performing Water BudgetsDJ Seeger, Seeger Water
1:50 pm - 2:50 pm
Water Panel Discussion -
Moderator: Curtis Smith, TNLA, Panelists: Chris Hobbs, Austin Wood Recycling, Greg Fox, Clean Scapes, LP, Remmington Holt, Amarillo Land Services
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Water Conservation in Texas Landscapes + Research on Drought Resistant TurfDean Minchillo, Texas Water Resources Institute
4:10 pm - 5:00 pm
Greywater Alternatives for Texas Landscapes - DJ Seeger, Seeger Water
11:45 am - 12:45 pm
LUNCH PROVIDED IN TEXAS GRANDE
BUSINESS STRATEGIESLlano Estacado
9:30 am - 10:30 am
Optimizing Loan Portfolio Management in Today’s Evolving LandscapePhil Peabody, Chief Lending Officer, Capitol Farm Credit
10:45 am -11:45 am
Top 10 Must Haves for Operational
Excellence: Systems and Processes You Need to SucceedTommy Cole, McFarlin Standford
12:35 pm - 1:35 pm
The Landscaper’s Guide to Sales & Marketing In The *New Normal* Economy - Jack Jostes, Ramblin Jackson
1:50 pm - 2:50 pm
Brand Your Sales Process to Get the Owner Out Of Sales - Jack Jostes, Ramblin Jackson
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Scaling Up to the Next LevelIvan Giraldo, CEO, Clean Scapes, LP
4:10 pm - 5:00 pm
RETAIL PANEL DISCUSSION: Visioning to 2025: Understanding Necessary Changes to Product Assortment to Drive Customers to Your Store - Moderator: Marce Ward, TMCNP, Calloway's Nursery Panelists: Josh Bracken, TMCNP, Nicholson-Hardie McKenna Jenkins, TMCNP, Alldredge Gardens
CULTURE OF PERFORMANCEDelaney II
9:30 am - 10:30 am
Emerging HR Trends in 2025 -
Cyndi Mergele, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, RSM US LLP
10:45 am -11:45 am
Employee Handbook Best Practices in 2025 - Michael DePonte, Jackson Lewis P C
12:35 pm - 1:35 pm
Unlocking Success: Benefit
Benchmarking for Competitive Advantage
Lisa Blanton, SHRM- SCP, Austin Alliance Group
1:50 pm - 2:50 pm
Coaching Conversations & Performance
Feedback -
Lisa Blanton, SHRM- SCP, Austin Alliance Group
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Recruiting in 2025 - Tousley Leake, Clean Scapes, Erin Ledding, TCNP, Calloway's Nursery
4:10 pm - 5:00 pm
Trends in Texas HR LawBrandy Chambers, Perkins Coie LLP
MONDAY, JANUARY 6,
PLANT TRENDS, TIPS & UPDATESCross Timbers I & II
9:30 am - 10:30 am
Progress Report: Applied Research Initiatives for the Texas Green IndustryPaul Winski, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
10:45 am -11:45 am
Exploring the Plant, Greenspace and Human Health ConnectionDr. Jay Maddock, Texas A&M University
12:35 pm - 1:35 pm
Pest Dynamics and varietal performance of Crape MyrtlesDr. Rafia Khan, Texas A&M University
1:50 pm - 2:50 pm
New Plant MaterialsAndrew King, Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Roots and Resilience: Enhancing Soil Health for Optimal Turfgrass Performance - Tony Provin, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
4:10 pm - 5:00 pm
11:45 am - 12:45 pm
LUNCH PROVIDED
Plant Breeding: How New Varieties Can Improve Your Profitability, Panel Discussion - Moderator: Paul Winski, Texas A&M Agrilife Extension, and Panelists from Texas Nursery Grower Operations including Jacob Clark, Green Lake Nursery, and Jim Berry, J Berry Nursery