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“Serving the Washington horticulture community since 1937.” |
WSNLA Convention
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2012 Conference Sponsors
Join this list of growing sponsors.
VIBRANT PLANTS, INC
WALP SNOHOMISH
COUNTY CHAPTER
STIHL NORTHWEST\
NW FARM CREDIT SERVICES
BLOOMING NURSERY
NC MACHINERY
VPC SALES
VAN KLAVEREN’S NURSERY
CARTER EVANS WOOD CONCEPTS
CEDAR GROVE COMPOSTING
RAGEN & ASSOCIATES
SKAGIT GARDENS
TAGRO
THE UNITY GROUP / HORTICA
INSURANCE & EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
ASSOCIATION BENEFITS
CORPORATION
Financial Sponsors
MCCOMB GARDENS
ROSSO GARDENS
2012 Sponsorship
& Tabletop Opportunities
Click here to find out how you can
promote your business at this annual event.
Contact WSNLA Headquarters
for more information.
WSNLA: (800) 672-7711
(253) 661-6055, info@wsnla.org.
WSNLA & WALP's Annual Conference,
held each year in January,
brings industry professionals together
for intensive education and fun.
Location and activities vary each year. |
Download the 2012 WSNLA Convention Brochure here.
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Friday, January 20
8:30 – 10:00 am
WSNLA Annual Business & Continental Breakfast Meeting
WALP Annual Business & Continental Breakfast Meeting
10:00 – 10:30 am
Tabletop Displays & Beverage Break
10:30am - Noon
General Session
Where We've Been, Where We're Going - Changes To the Industry
Keynote Speaker: Michael Stolp
Michael earned his masters degree in agricultural economics from Purdue University. His agribusiness experience includes working with Cargill and Cenex/Land O’Lakes. Today, Michael is Northwest FCS’ Vice President of Market Research and Development. In this role, Michael leads Northwest FCS’ Knowledge Center, Business Management Center, and is the primary facilitator for the BMC. Michael is a member of the Family Firm Institute and is a Certified Family Business Advisor. Michael grew up in Sprague, Washington, where his family owns a farm and ranch.
Noon – 1:30 pm
Awards Luncheon
The Awards Luncheon is WALP’s and WSNLA’s time to pay tribute to members and leaders for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the Association and the Green Industry over the past year. |
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1:45pm - 3pm
Landscape
Container Conifidential
Sponsored by Ragen & Associates.
What’s In It For You: Garden designer Wendy Welch shares some of what she has learned in 15 years of designing, installing, and maintaining container gardens. Gorgeous plant combinations of trees, shrubs, conifers, perennials, and annuals will inspire you. The dispelling of some long-lived mythogy about container culture - drainage, soils, water, fertilizer, longevity, etc. will empower you to plant successful, sustainable container gardens. If you think you know all there is to know about container gardening, Wendy may surprise you.
Presenter: Wendy Welch combines a passion for plants and good design with an ardent commitment to environmental stewardship in her landscape design practice. For more than 15 years, she has worked with residential clients throughout the Pacific Northwest to create, install, and maintain gardens that are uniquely suited to each garden owner. Welch’s deep knowledge of how plants truly perform in an urban environment and keen eye for color and dramatic compostion produce lively, sustainable landscapes that inspire and endure. |
1:45pm - 3pm
Business
The Business Owner’s Survival Kit – How To Get Control Of Your Business And Take Back Your Life. Sponsored by Association Benefits Corp.
What’s In It For You: These are difficult times in the Green Industry. You’re are under constant pressure from the realities of the economy, the difficulties of finding qualified staff, and the overwhelming weight of being responsible for the long-term success of your organization. And despite your best efforts, you always seem to be running from one crisis to the next, never truly finding the time to implement all the great ideas you know will grow the business. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way! This is not your standard "Rah-Rah You Can Do It!" or "Think Positive Thoughts And Good Things Will Happen To You" motivational speech. In fact, it’s quite the opposite! In this highly interactive program you’ll discover proven, in-the-trenches, easy-to-implement strategies that will help you: Identify and overcome limiting beliefs that prevent you from achieving real results; Create an environment for becoming hyper-productive without burning yourself out; Generate multiple streams of income while focusing on what you do best; Create systems to eliminate unnecessary work and inconsistent results; and Surround yourself with people who will support your goals and not drag you down.
Presenter: Ron Rosenberg is a nationally recognized, award-winning expert on marketing and customer service and a winner of the prestigious "International Marketer of the Year" award at the International Marketing Summit. He has authored several books and learning systems. Over 15,000 people have subscribed to his "Tricks & Tales" newsletter. His expert commentary has been featured in "The New York Times" and "The Washington Post", and in "Smart Money" and "Real Simple" magazines. He has been a guest on nationally syndicated radio shows including ABC Radio, Dateline Washington, and The Gary Nolan Show.
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1:45pm - 3pm
Nursery
Hot New Plants – Cutting Edge Garden Plants For Cutting Edge Retail & Design. Sponsored by TAGRO – City of Tacoma
What’s In It For You: Phoenix Perennials is among the first nurseries in Canada – and even the world – to offer new cultivars developed by the best international breeders. Session presenter Gary Lewis will give you the inside track on recent new cutting edge garden plants and talk about where plant breeding is heading in the future. He will discuss the role of new plants in the product mix of retail nurseries and in the plant pallet for exciting garden design. He will also answer the question "Is a new plant a good plant?"
Presenter: Gary Lewis holds a Masters of Science degree in Plant Ecology from the University of British Columbia – training which, with its focus on the botany and ecology of wild plants, greatly informs his horticulture. Gary became the owner of Phoenix Perennials in 2004. Since that time he has greatly expanded the nursery to include one of the largest and most exciting selections of perennials in Canada. Gary is the Canada Region Director for the Perennial Plant Association, the North America-wide industry association that brings gardeners the Perennial Plant of the Year. He is Image Bank coordinator for E-Flora BC, an online atlas of BC native plants. He also serves on the Perennial and Bulb Selection Committee of Great Plant Picks.
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3:30 - 4:00pm
Landscape
Tree Care Best Management Practices: Then and Now.
Sponsored by Carter Evans Wood Concepts
What’s In It For You: Standards and guidelines in tree care and landscape practices are constantly changing and developing, and Best Management Practices are regularly updated to ensure that professionals are able to keep current with industry standards. What was an accepted practice 30 years ago or even five years ago may no longer be considered appropriate as research continues to reveal more effective tree care practices. Attend this informative presentation about improved tools and techniques used in planting, pruning, fertilization, and pest management – keeping landscapers, arborists, and nursery professionals up-to-date with accepted standards for growing and managing trees.
Presenter: Bess Bronstein is an ISA Certified Arborist and horticultural consultant based on the Kitsap Peninsula in Kingston, Washington. She has been involved in the local horticulture community as an arborist, landscaper, designer, and educator since 1987. Bess has been an adjunct instructor for the Edmonds Community College horticulture program since 1989 and regularly teaches public and professional arboriculture and horticulture courses throughout the Puget Sound. |
3:30 - 4:00pm
Business
Double Your Memory In 60 Minutes.
What’s In It For You: If you have trouble remembering people’s names – or even your own name – then this is the program for you. One of the top-rated sessions at conferences across the country, this highly interactive and entertaining program will help you dramatically improve your memory in just 60 minutes! Thousands of people have learned simple techniques shared in this sessions that will help you remember names and faces and other important details, and recall them days or even weeks later! Here’s what you’ll learn:
• How to unlock your hidden memory potential.
• Five different techniques for remembering product and customer information .
• The four simple steps to remembering names and faces – for as long as you need to.
• How your new memory skills will translate to dollars on your bottom line.
Come prepared to have fun as you learn how to double your memory and create lasting impressions on your customers, co-workers, family, and friends!
Presenter: Ron Rosenberg. |
3:30 - 4:00pm
Nursery
Weird & Wonderful Plants Of The World: Botanically Intriguing Options For Retail & Design. Sponsored by Skagit Gardens
What’s In It For You: Countless fascinating garden plants exist at the fringes of cultivation, including many that have recently been introduced from the far-flung corners of the world. On this virtual tour of six continents you will discover a multitude of rare, uncommon, and underused perennials to add some botanical intrigue to the retail setting and your design work.
Presenter: Gary Lewis |
5:30 – 6:30 pm
WSNLA 75th Birthday Celebration Networking Reception/Dinner & "Landscaping Cake Wars" Contest
Sponsored by NC Machinery
Join us during this evening of fun and camaraderie as we celebrate WSNLA’s 75th Birthday! And it wouldn’t be a WALP/WSNLA Conference without some sort of competition. This year Conference goers will have an opportunity to participate in the Green Industry’s version of "Cake Wars" – designing that perfect Birthday Cake. If you thought last year’s "Team Bonsai" contest was a hoot, you won’t want to miss this adventurous, interactive, and competitive activity great for registrants and their family members. Refer to the registration form to sign up and participate. |
Saturday, January 21
7:30 – 8:30 am
Registration, Tabletop Displays, Continental Breakfast
8:30 – 10:00 am
"Displayer Presentations"
Back by popular demand, we are pleased to invite you to join our tabletop displays as they make brief presentations and share with us all of their fabulous products and services.
11:00am - Noon
General Session
"The Family Business: Traditions & Transitions"
Sponsored by The Unity Group/HORTICA Insurance & Employee Benefits
What’s In It For You: In the format of StoryCorps (a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share, and preserve the stories of our lives), landscape and nursery businesses who have successfully navigated themselves through their own succession plan will be highlighted telling their own stories. With the younger generation interviewing the older generation, each business will share their personal experience, providing both a personal and educational view point from both sides of the table.
Panelists: Will Bailey and Rod Bailey of Signature Landscape Services and Alder Springs Enterprises (respectively), Tony Rosso and Jerry Rosso of Rosso Gardens, and Pete Van Well, II, Pete Van Well, and Tom Van Well of Van Well Nursery. Moderator: Bill Collins.
Noon – 1:45 pm
"Legislative Update" Luncheon
With the 2012 Legislative Session scheduled to begin January 9th, you won’t want to miss this luncheon and hear from WALP/WSNLA Lobbyist Heather Hansen who will share with us the most up-to-date information on what continues to be an unprecedented budget crisis here in Washington State and undoubtedly the focus of the Session for legislators. She will also share with us the plans for the WALP/WSNLA Legislative Day scheduled for February 23rd and alert us to any proposed legislation that might impact our members in the Green Industry. |
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2:00 - 3:00pm
Landscape
Integrating Sustainability Into Your Landscape
Sponsored by Cedar Grove Composting
What’s In It For You: Your clients, large or small, residential or commercial, are all asset managers who need your help to manage risk, improve asset value, and reduce energy cost. Join our panelists to learn how to accomplish all three of these goals faster with proven sustainable practices. Topics will include identification and sourcing of materials, changing labor needs, managing customer expectations, and more. Please come and add your voice to this continually evolving topic!
Panelists: Will Bailey of Signature Landscape Services, Laurel Tomchick of EnviroStars. Moderator: Bill Collins. |
2:00 - 3:00pm
Business
"Life Is A Highway, But Which Exit Do I Take"
What’s In It For You: As business owners, managers, and employees, we learn to navigate life’s highway – the curves and the dead ends. But we often forget to think about what exit we are going to take.
• Can we reach our destination in the car (business) we are in?
• How will I know if we’re heading in the right direction?
• What happens if I can’t drive any longer? Who takes the wheel and will they get my spouse or family where I was taking them?
• Should someone take over the driving? Should I sell the car and buy the family train tickets (purchase agreement), simply let the car coast (buy/sell with income stream), or should I park it (close the business)?
• If we are heading for the coast (retirement), is our car (business) built to make it that far? How much money will we need once we get there – or, will we be able to trade our car for some swim trunks, a surfboard, and some fish tacos?
Whether you are hoping to pass this business along to family, a capable employee, or the right buyer, what is a fair price? How will the new owner finance your price? How much do you want to continue to be connected to the business? These are just some of the questions we will address in determining your "exit strategy".
Presenters: Jamie Imus has been a representative with COUNTRY Financial since 2007, when he transitioned from communications risk management to financial risk management. As a business owner, financial advisor, and insurance consultant, Jamie is qualified to explore creative exit strategies for your unique situation and business. Bob Sullivan, CLU has been a financial and insurance advisor for over 20 years, specializing in small and mid-sized business "non-qualified" planning strategies. Bob brought his experience and expertise to COUNTRY Financial since 2007 and has worked with Jamie and his clients to provide financial security. | |
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When registering online, please submit a complete registration form for ALL attendees. Thank you!
Download the 2012 WSNLA Convention Brochure here. |
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