The Empire State Green Industry Show, to be held at the Rochester (N.Y.) Riverside Convention Center Jan. 7 to 9, 2009, will feature many educational sessions and events tailored for nursery and landscape professionals. Hosted by the New York State Nursery and Landscape Association (NYSNLA), New York State Arborists – ISA Chapter, Inc. (NYSA), and New York State Turfgrass Association (NYSTA), the show also gives attendees the opportunity to network with professionals from different industry backgrounds.
Education tracks, featuring nursery, landscape, arborist and turf sessions, will offer CNLP, ISA, DEC credits and more. Key green industry vendors will showcase their products and services at the 200-booth trade show. Those interested in exhibiting can view a map of available booth space on the show web site. The 2007 booth price remains in effect for the 2009 show and includes conference registration for two representatives. To reserve exhibit space, contact Jill Cyr at show@nysta.org.
According to Kim Tiberia, NYSNLA executive director, “We are looking forward to the January Empire State Green Industry Show and encourage our members and association friends to attend. We have many special events planned for nursery and landscape professionals and it is a wonderful opportunity to network with peers, share information and meet many people from other green industry organizations.”
New York State Nursery and Landscape Association members, green industry friends and partners are invited to attend the NYSNLA Annual Membership Dinner Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. at the Clarion Riverside Hotel. During this event, the NYSNLA board, staff and members come together to formally induct the 2009 State Board of Directors, recognize the accomplishments of members and honor attendees for their dedication to the green industry.
Throughout the evening, the Nurserymen’s Foundation, which makes scholarships available to college students who show promise and interest in the nursery and landscape industry, will conduct their live and silent auction. The Foundation also supports all educational activities held by the association throughout the year and strives to promote and improve landscaping, nursery and related trades. To pre-register or for more information, contact Kim Tiberia at 518/694-4430.
Many CNLP certified education sessions will be presented by prominent nursery and landscape industry professionals. Featured speakers include Suzanne Wainwright-Evans, ornamental entomologist and owner of Buglady Consulting. She will discuss how to recognize and utilize beneficial insects and plants in the landscape.
NYSNLA Vice President, Donna Moramarco, CNLP, will review how to create a continual revenue stream with “Four Seasons of Container Gardening.” Brian Eshenaur, Western New York Ornamental IPM Specialist with Cornell University Extension, will present, “Innovative Weed Management Techniques in the Nursery and Landscape.”
Round table luncheon discussions, which were introduced at the last show, proved to be very popular with attendees and have been brought back this year. On Jan. 7, from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., registered participants will be given the opportunity to meet with expert facilitators, have lunch and exchange ideas with colleagues. Sample forums include, “Business Strategies to Deal with the Current Economic State,” facilitated by Kim Tiberia, NYSNLA Executive Director; “Pest Management Issues in the Landscape,” facilitated by Rick Harper, IPM Extension Resource Educator, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester County; and “Labor Issues: H2a, Wages, Competition for Workers, Ideas on How to Reduce Labor” facilitated by Tom Suffoletto with Concord Nurseries, Inc.
There is a $20 fee for the required lunch portion of this program and a complete list of topics is included in the attendee brochure.
Another forum back by popular demand is the “NYSDEC Panel Discussion and Breakfast” scheduled for the morning of Jan. 9. Participants are invited to have breakfast with three New York State Department of Environmental Conservation representatives and have questions answered on a variety of topics including neighbor notification, lawn care contract implementation and fuel tank inspections. There is a $15 fee for the required breakfast portion of this program.
The opening reception of the trade show will be held on Wednesday from 4:15 p.m. to 7 p.m. and refreshments will be served. Live demonstrations have been scheduled on Thursday including weed identification at the Cornell University, New York State IPM booth; tree pruning by Rex Bastian, Ph.D., Vice President of Field Education and Development, The Care of Trees; and insect identification at the Cornell Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic booth.
The Empire State Green Industry Show has been endorsed by Cornell University, SUNY Delhi, SUNY Cobleskill, New York State Association of Cemeteries, Nassau Suffolk Landscape Gardeners Association, Cornell Cooperative Extension and the New York State Association for Superintendents of School Buildings and Grounds.
Attendee and exhibitor registration is now available on line. For more information on the 2009 Empire State Green Industry Show, call the show office at 800/873-8873, 518/783-1229, or visit our web site at www.nysta.org.