Mid-America Horticultural Tradeshow Conference attendees can look forward to a packed and diverse educational schedule at this year's event, scheduled for Wed., Jan. 15 to Fri., Jan. 17 at Chicago's Navy Pier. And with this year's sessions running in the mornings from 8:30 to 12 p.m., show-goers will have ample afternoon time to peruse the tradeshow floor.
"The Midwinter Conference is an important component to the Mid-Am Trade Show," noted Larry Thalmann, president of Mid-Am and Chalet Nursery and garden Shop in Wilmett, Ill., in a recent press release. "It offers a way for green industry professional to gain knowledge and sty on top of the latest industry information."
The 26 sessions slated for the conference will be divided into four tracks, with topics addressing tree planting, water gardens and business management as well as human resources issues. The conference aims to appeal to the multi-faceted audience who attends the seminars each year.
So far, the following speakers will lead discussions at the conference:
· Tough Times Don't Last, Tough People Do - Dr. Larry Helms, a popular Mid-Am spaker, will address human resource issues.
· Ferns for Today's Garden - Jim Nau of Ball Seed Co. and Dave MacKenizie of Hortech will discuss trends.
· Great Vines (and their uses) for the Chicagoland Landscape - Nau and MacKenizie
· New and Exciting Perennials - Lynn and Stephanie Cohen will introduce new options.
· Care and Maintenance of Shrub Roses - Jeff Epping of Olbrich Botanical Gardens
· 21st Century Garden - Beautiful Ornamental Grasses - Rick Darke of Rick Darke Consulting, Writing and Photography
· Time Management - Derrick Lord of Health & Welfare Benefits Corp.
· The Well-Designed Mixed Garden - Tracy DiSabato-Aust, awrd-winning garden designer, author and lecturer explains how to bring plants together in artful design based on her book.
· Romancing the Customer…Because Business is About Relationships - Rick Segel of Rick Segel & Associates will talk about retail strategies.
For more information on the Mid-America Horticultural Tradeshow and Midwinter Conference, call 847/526-2010 or email mail@midam.org. Log on to the web site at www.midam.org.
The author is Managing Editor - Special Projects for Lawn & Landscape magazine and can be reached at khampshire@lawnandlandscape.com.