Speakers
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UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
Dr. Bahder specializes in insect vector ecology, specifically in vector discovery of new and emerging pathogens that cause economic loss in agricultural and ornamental cropping systems
Bast Brothers Garden Center
Allison Bast is the co-owner of Bast Brothers Garden Center in Mullica Hill, NJ, where she and her husband, Bert, combine their love of plants and design to create a destination for gardeners and home enthusiasts alike.
Greenery NYC
Rebecca Bullene is the founder of Greenery NYC and an award-winning leader in the field of biophilic design. A former employee of Brooklyn Botanic Garden, she credits her time there with igniting a deep passion for integrating plant life into the indoor built environment.
BUMA SOLUTIONS
Doug has owned, led, and consulted with numerous organizations that have experienced remarkable growth and development, resulting in sales increases of 100-400%, the largest growing to over $30M in annual sales.
BUMA SOLUTIONS
Owner of Buma Company, with over 10 years of experience building and growing businesses in the landscape industry.
National Interiorscape Network (NIN)
Vicky has been developing and giving Tech-Training programs for the Interiorscape industry and private companies for over 40 years.
Cerbo's Parsippany Greenhouses
Tyler is general manager and 4th generation at Cerbo's Parsippany Greenhouses, a 40 acre wholesale yard and container growing facility, established 1913.
University of Florida
Adam Dale, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of turfgrass and ornamental entomology. As the turf and ornamental entomologist, he is responsible for researching economically important pests of turfgrass and ornamental plants, and disseminating the results through management recommendations to extension faculty across the state.
UF Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center
Braham Dhillon, Ph.D., is a molecular plant pathologist working on fungal pathogens of palms, other woody plants and crops of agricultural significance.
Garden Media Group
Katie is the second president of Garden Media Group, a women-owned and run public relations firm specializing in the home and garden industry and celebrating more than 30 years in business. Author of the annual Garden Trends Report, she travels the world scouting and presenting garden trends to audiences from Italy to Chicago.
UF Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center
Dr. Gordon’s research and extension programs focus on the biology, behavior, and control of structural pests, including cockroaches, bed bugs, and termites, with a focus on the impacts of indoor arthropod pests on human health.
Architectural Supplements/ASI
Jean-Pierre Maaike Sijmons is vice president of sales with ASI. He is a seasoned biophilic design advocate with over 30 years of experience
University of Texas
Now at the University of Texas, Jeff McManus doesn’t just grow landscapes—he grows leaders. For nearly 25 years, he transformed Ole Miss from an overlooked campus into the most beautiful in the nation, earning recognition from Forbes, The New York Times, Huffington Post, PGMS, Newsweek, and USA Today.
University of Florida
Dr. Mica McMillan is the Assistant Professor of Palm Horticulture at the Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center. She has worked as a researcher in the agriculture, turfgrass and media industries focused on developing chemistries to improve plant and soil health.
Miller Marketing and Training
President of Miller Marketing and Training. In 2023, Interior Plant Scapes celebrated 40 years of “Creating Ambiance and Beautiful Spaces” for Southwest Florida’s most prominent businesses.
UF Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center
Dr. Miller specializes in invasion ecology with a focus on understanding mechanisms through which biological invasions impact native ecosystems.
UF Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center
Dr. Moore’s research, teaching, and extension programs focus on sustainable nutrient management solutions for ornamental plants.
One Big Green
Iryna Pakhomova is a seasoned entrepreneur and innovator with more than 18 years of experience in the plantscaping industry. She began her career by founding a full-service interior landscaping company, offering a comprehensive range of products and maintenance solutions.
Planterra
Shane Pliska is president and CEO of Planterra. He oversees the company’s three divisions of corporate plantscaping, floral and display production, and events services. Shane is active with community non-profits and serves on the board of the West Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce.
Down to Earth Garden Center & Landscaping
Sarah Polzin of Down to Earth Garden Center, located in small-town Wisconsin, has worked full time in her family business since 2019, combining her passion for creating sustainable business systems and encouraging employee growth, resulting in a thriving small business community.
DREAMSCAPES
Rachel is an accomplished visual merchandiser with a passion for creating beautiful, immersive gardens. Formerly a visual merchandiser at Buchanan’s Native Plants, one of Houston’s premier garden centers.
Natura
Heather Ruiz's HR experience includes recruiting, training and development, employee engagement, and department management.
UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center
Dr. Schiavon's research and extension programs focus on environmentally compatible strategies for turfgrass management.
SALISBURY GREENHOUSE
Rob Sproule is the Co-Owner and Visionary of Salisbury Greenhouse, a renowned Top 100 Independent Garden Center in Alberta, Canada. He's an internationally recognized industry strategist, a prominent speaker, leadership coach, and author of four gardening books.
Monrovia Nursery Company
Katie Tamony is the Chief Marketing Officer and Trend Spotter for Monrovia Nursery Company.
Buglady Consulting
Suzanne Wainwright-Evans is a horticultural entomologist specializing in integrated pest management. Suzanne has been involved in the Green Industry for more than 30 years with a primary focus on biological control and using pesticides properly.
