I’m coming to you from my home away from home Oregon. Being here visiting nurseries has me reminiscing about one of the earliest annual GardenComm conferences I attended, right here in Portland. I’ll never forget Nicholas Staddon making a presentation and asking me to talk off the cuff about one of my dad’s newest plant introductions; no pressure! Lol
Over the years GardenComm, in particular the annual conference, opened the door for many opportunities; the networking expanded my sphere of influence which connected me to work partners I would otherwise never met. Their talents helped me diversify and strengthen the marketing arm of my business, UpShoot. I gained a book deal with my Garden-pedia co-author Pam Bennett, as well as meeting consumer and green industry editors where I secured writing work, was a contributing editor, a guest editor and an advisory board member.
I’ve gained friends who are more like family such as Kelly Norris (who I met in OK at the first timer’s event) and Ryan McEnaney (LAC chair). Here we are at Cultivate with my son Robert (who is also a writer and GardenComm member). They don’t call me Mama Maria for nothing!
I have no doubt that my involvement in GardenComm helped me grow (bad pun intended) personally and professionally and was an important factor in me keeping relevant in the green industry through my professional transition and beyond. And that my friends helped in part put me on the radar and eventual path to proudly partner with Spring Meadow Nursery to bring the Proven Winners® ColorChoice Flowering Tree Program to market.
With that, if you have not yet committed to attending the 75th annual conference in Minneapolis, MN, I highly encourage you to join us! Even if you’ve looked over the schedule, take another glance. We have added more to this year's event including: set times for regional meetings, the First Timers Newbie Event. We've also added new speakers and educational sessions including; a panel discussion on Content Marketing with C.L. Fornari, Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp and Perla Sofía Curbelo Santiago, podcaster Bevin Cohen, and content manager, Lucy Mercer. There's still more to come so watch for further announcements in the weekly news and our social channels.
If you have any questions about the conference, please reach out to staff at info@gardencomm.org and get answers straight from the source!
Whew. That’s a lot I know but that’s because things are moving and shaking at GardenComm! Hope to see you in person soon! Until then, happy gardening!
Upcoming Events
Cultivate 2023 | Columbus, OH
July 15-18
Cultivate'23 is the largest horticulture trade show in North America! It is happening July 15-18, 2023 at the Columbus Convention Center. Thanks to AmericanHort, GardenComm members are eligible to receive the AmericanHort member discount pricing when registering for Cultivate'23.
Register Now! 2023 GardenComm Annual Conference August 1-5, presented by Endless Summer® Hydrangeas
What do garden tours, educational sessions, trade shows, networking, top garden center owners and operators, media awards and honors all have in common? GardenComm's 75th Annual Conference presented by Endless Summer® Hydrangeas! Join us live in Minneapolis, MN, August 1-5th, for this major milestone conference. Together with Platinum Sponsors, Proven Winners Color Choice®, we've put together an industry experience you can't find anywhere else. Check out the website for more details and watch the preview video below for a sneak peek of what's in store for you in Minneapolis.
