Growers And Suppliers Exchange Solutions And Ideas At GreenhouseConnect 2015

By Janeen Wright|November 10, 2015

The 2015 GreenhouseConnect, held October 26-29 at the Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego, Calif., brought 17 growers together with more than 30 suppliers for two days of one-on-one discussions geared toward finding solutions to problems and generating new ideas. And while attendees on both sides accomplished much, it wasn’t all about business. The Greenhouse Grower event offered plenty of opportunities for mixing socializing with peer-to-peer networking when attendees weren’t in meetings.

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During a grower roundtable held just prior to the kickoff of GreenhouseConnect, Smith Gardens’ Executive Vice President Lars Nilsen shared how the company’s new Cultivating the Future initiative is helping attract young people to careers in the horticulture industry.
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Jim and Wendy Whitehill of C. Raker & Sons were two of the many grower representatives who mixed business with pleasure at the event.
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Two days of face-to-face meetings between growers and suppliers allowed for discussions about growers’ needs and concerns while offering plenty of time for suppliers to answer additional questions.
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Meals during the event offered plenty of opportunities for attendees to not only refuel but also mix socializing with peer-to-peer networking.
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The grounds of the Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego were the perfect backdrop for Greenhouse Connect 2015 with a championship golf course, several old fountains and plenty of sunshine.
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Michael and Dana Doyle of White’s Nursery & Greenhouses relax during the opening reception held Monday night.
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Jennie Smith of Kemin Industries and Gregg Langermeier of Meister Media Worldwide were among the many attendees that took advantage of several networking opportunities during GreenhouseConnect 2015.

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During the event, growers and suppliers were able to quickly get down to the issues that mattered most with 50 minutes of uninterrupted meeting time, something that is difficult to do at a tradeshow or at certain times of the year when the greenhouse is busy. Growers also used the meeting times to share their challenges, concerns and expectations with suppliers.

The Grower Roundtable, a kick-off event held Monday afternoon prior to the opening reception, featured presentations by Lars Nilsen, executive vice president of Smith Gardens, and Marshall De Leon, executive recruiter for The Plus Group.

Nilsen discussed how Smith Gardens’ new Cultivating the Future initiative is helping to attract young people to careers in horticulture through work with local schools and community colleges. De Leon shared with growers some of the challenges he sees with placing growers for employment in the industry and for operations to retain them after their employment. The Grower Roundtable also provided a platform for growers to share ideas, insights and best practices with their peers.

All in all, the 2015 Greenhouse Connect was the perfect venue to bring top industry players together to facilitate the success of their businesses.