10 Things You Need To Do Before And During Cultivate’16

Ivan Tchakarov (L) of Metrolina Greenhouses and Grower of the Year in 2014 with Darren Barshaw of Proven Winners

Ivan Tchakarov (L) of Metrolina Greenhouses and Grower of the Year in 2014 with Darren Barshaw of Proven Winners

Cultivate’16 is right around the corner. The four-day event, presented by AmericanHort, takes place July 9-12 in Columbus, OH, and features a full slate of educational sessions, local greenhouse and nursery tours, and a trade show with more than 600 exhibitors.

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As you prepare to make the trip to Columbus, here are 10 things you can do before and during this year’s conference.

1. Download The Cultivate App

No need to bring a laptop; the Cultivate’16 app is available for download for both iPhone and Android users and lets users navigate the show before leaving home. Get the day’s sessions, explore exhibitors, access session handouts, check out new products and varieties, and more.

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2. Create Your Own Agenda With The Map Your Show Planner

After logging in to Cultivate16.org/MYS, you can highlight and schedule all of the sessions and exhibitors you want to see at Cultivate. It’s an easy-to-use tool that’s there to help keep you on track and maximize your opportunities in Columbus.

3. Gather Handouts Online

Between the catalogs, business cards, information sheets, and more, there’s a reason why you end up with so many Cultivate bags every year. Fortunately, all session handouts will be available online this year. Registrants will be able to access these before, during, and after the show, which means prepping, learning, and refreshing can all be done from one’s computer, tablet, or phone. Access the handouts by going to Cultivate16.org/MYS and searching the sessions.

4. Be Sure To Attend Greenhouse Grower’s Evening Of Excellence

Greenhouse Grower’s Evening Of Excellence has become an annual tradition for Cultivate attendees. Last year’s event, where the Greenhouse Grower Medal of Excellence and Greenhouse Grower Grower of the Year Awards were announced, brought nearly 400 members of the floriculture industry together to recognize and celebrate achievement in growing, breeding, and marketing. The 2016 Evening Of Excellence will once again shine a spotlight on the top new varieties that emerged from this year’s California Spring Trials, as well as the head growers and greenhouse operations that are paving the way for a great future for the entire industry.

This year’s Greenhouse Grower Evening Of Excellence takes place Monday, July 11, in Union B (formerly Ballroom 2) of the Columbus Convention Center. Registration is now open, so RSVP today!

5. Sign Up For The Flower Run

When you pack your bags for Cultivate, don’t forget your running shoes. The first annual Luxflora Flower Run will take place on Sunday morning, July 10. The Flower Run celebrates Luxflora‘s mission to develop a visionary, influential floriculture network in which women leaders can create, inspire, and flourish. The 5k event is an opportunity for all floriculture professionals to come together to network, build relationships, and to have some healthy fun.

6. Meet AmericanHort’s New CEO

The AmericanHort Board of Directors recently named Ken Fisher as the organization’s next President and Chief Executive Officer. If you run into Fisher in the hallways, be sure to stop and say hello.

7. Get Valuable Insights From Keynote Speakers

Sunday’s opening keynote is “Inspired People Produce Results.” During this session, Jeremy Kingsley of AEI Speakers Bureau will discuss what leadership has meant over the last 40 to 50 years, how it’s evolved, and how data shows that leadership now is different from leadership in the last few years. Get a fast-paced collection of “how to” success principles based on a single, vital premise: your success as a leader hinges on your ability to inspire.

On Monday, don’t miss “Leading with Innovation: How to Future-Proof Yourself, Fearlessly Innovate, and Succeed in the New Normal.” Learn how to thrive in the new operating reality, create competitive advantage, and successfully leverage new leadership strategies to adapt to changing times.

8. Attend A Grower-Retail Roundtable

If you’re a grower-retailer, be sure to join your colleagues for a roundtable discussion on key issues facing garden centers today. Come prepared with questions you want answered and ideas you want to share during this swap-shop style session. This session will be moderation by Carol Miller, editor of Greenhouse Grower Retailing.

9. Catch Up On The State Of The Industry

Join expert Charlie Hall of Texas A&M University for an in-depth look at the positive momentum our industry currently has along with an eyes-wide-open look at the challenges we still face. Consumer demand, product and practice trends, economics, demographics, and your own business acumen all have roles to play in your business success.

10. Watch For The Greenhouse Grower Team!

Editors Laura Drotleff, Janeen Wright, and Brian Sparks will be making the rounds throughout Cultivate’16, attending educational sessions and walking the trade show floor. Follow Greenhouse Grower on Twitter for breaking news, and if you find someone from our staff, wave us down!

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