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Industry Insider: Sustainability
June 7 @ 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Join AmericanHort and our panel of experts from all sectors of the horticulture industry as we highlight industry-wide topics in this Industry Insider program focused on Sustainability and is exclusive to AmericanHort members.
As members of the green industry, we are proud to be champions of sustainability and stewards of the land, resources, and overall environment – and the proof is seen in how we run our businesses. Attendees to Industry Insider: Sustainability will gain knowledge on innovative sustainability techniques that they can incorporate into everyday operations in ways that are environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable for our businesses. We will also discuss the trends, technology, and terminology of sustainability.
The main topics to be discussed include:
- Growing Media
- Irrigation Management
- Battery-Powered Landscaping Equipment
- Plantable and Compostable Containers
- Building Energy Savings
At the end of the program, you will also be given the chance to share and brainstorm with your peers in breakout rooms led by our expert panelists.
This program is provided for FREE and is exclusive to AmericanHort members.
Meet Our Panel of Sustainability Experts
Dr. Brian Jackson, Professor, North Carolina State University
Dr. Jackson is a Professor and the Director of the Horticultural Substrates Laboratory at NC State University and currently holds an 85% Teaching and 15% Research Appointment. Brian teaches 4 to 5 courses per year and his research program focuses on the development and utilization of soilless growing media in horticultural crop production systems. Brian is a well-respected voice who writes and speaks frequently about various topics and current developments in the growing media industry. He also works very closely with the Growing Media industry in North America and around the globe to develop new soil products for the professional and retail market.
Danny Mishek, President, SelfEco
Being in manufacturing for over 18 years, Danny Mishek was ready to make his own product. He wanted to create a product that would make the future brighter and he wanted to make it in the U.S.A. And so SelfEco was born. SelfEco was created from a 3rd generation manufacturer with the intention to capitalize on past knowledge and technology to produce products that were Earth-friendly and sustainable. SelfEco was built on the passion to make things and to mindfully manufacture with the intent to compost, recycle, or reuse products. Danny is proud of the way that SelfEco incorporates traditional manufacturing with forward thinking and processing to create a revolution in how green products are purchased, utilized, and disposed of.
Bob Gunn, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Seinergy
Bob Gunn founded Seinergy to test new market opportunities while challenging some outdated utility models. When the cannabis industry exploded, Seinergy was poised to connect growers and help utilities hit the ground running by applying custom energy grant funding to the nascent and rapidly evolving industry. Prior to Seinergy, Bob was an economist at Snohomish Public Utility District as an energy efficiency planner and evaluator. Bob completed his MBA at Bainbridge Graduate Institute (now Presidio Graduate School), and his BA in economics from Colorado College; he is a Certified Energy Manager through the Association of Certified Engineers. Bob is an analyst at heart, rooted in the electric utility industry, and loves numbers, spreadsheets, and energy efficiency.
Roger Phelps, Corporate Communications Manager, STIHL Inc.
Roger Phelps joined STIHL Inc. in 2001 and is currently the Corporate Communications Manager. He is responsible for telling the STIHL story through integrated event marketing, sponsorships, associations, and public relations, as well as digital and social media with the goal of increasing the visibility of and affinity for the STIHL brand and over 10,000 STIHL dealers. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy and served 10 years in the U.S. Navy attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He has served on the National Association of Landscape Professionals Foundation Board of Directors, and currently serves on the National Association of State Park Directors Leadership School Board of Regents.
Dr. Paul Cappiello, Executive Director, Yew Dell Botanical Gardens Dr. Paul Cappiello is the Executive Director of Yew Dell Botanical Gardens in Crestwood, KY, and former Associate Professor of Horticulture at the University of Maine. He holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental planning and design from Rutgers University and a Masters and PhD in horticulture from the University of Illinois. Dr. Cappiello is highly regarded as a lecturer, writer, plant collector, teacher, researcher, garden designer and gardener. He is known internationally for his work on selection, introduction, and evaluation of new ornamental plants for the landscape.
