April 2023 - 8

INDUSTRY NEWS
experience year-on-year, " says Brian Sullivan, CEO, Indoor
Ag-Con. " This tremendous response from the industry -
particularly our growing international attendance - positions
Indoor Ag-Con as the global event for CEA and confirms the
growing importance and potential of vertical farming and
controlled environment agriculture. As we continue to evolve
and adapt to the changing needs of our community, we are
committed to delivering a high-quality event that provides
unparalleled education, networking, and business growth
opportunities for our attendees and exhibitors. We look
forward to an even brighter future for Indoor Ag-Con and the
entire indoor agriculture industry. "
FULL LINEUP OF 2023 AFE
WEBINARS IS AVAILABLE
The American Floral Endowment (AFE) has
released details for the 2023 monthly Grow
Pro Webinar Series. In these free webinars,
nationally recognized researchers, hosts, and
speakers offer " how-to " advice based on AFEfunded
and other research projects to help
the industry navigate through ever-changing
growing challenges.
Since May 2021, AFE has hosted these
webinars each month. The topics are current
and offer long-term opportunities for
growers to focus on increased profit, greater
sustainability, and improved labor efficiency.
In addition, each session features a live Q&A
discussion with industry experts.
The series is open to all, thanks to AFE
sponsors. In addition, each webinar is
recorded and posted to AFE's YouTube page
where it can be accessed 24/7. Viewers can
subscribe to get notified when each webinar
is posted.
" The feedback received on these
educational training sessions has been
overwhelmingly positive. The research findings
are directly impactful to industry businesses
and can be implemented immediately, " says
Terril Nell, AFE's research director.
Learn more and register for webinars at
www.endowment.org/growpro.
PROFILE PRODUCTS NAMES NEW CEO
Profile Products' Jim Tanner retired from his
position as CEO, effective March 31. Shane
Porzio, president of Profile Products since 2021,
has succeeded Tanner as president and CEO,
and as a director on the board of directors.
Prior to Profile Products, Porzio was senior
Jim Tanner
Shane Porzio
vice president and global head of the food
and performance materials divisions for
Vantage Specialty Chemicals. He also spent
22 years with BASF in positions of increasing
responsibility, with the last 11 years of his
career there in various senior executive roles
responsible for leading growth in emerging
markets and throughout the world. Porzio
received his Ph.D. in polymer science from
the University of Akron, a master's degree
from Wake Forest, and his undergraduate degree in chemistry and
anthropology from Beloit College.
" I want to thank Jim for all he has done as CEO, growing Profile
into the company it is today, and positioning it so well for growth
in years to come. I am honored and excited to have the opportunity
to lead this outstanding organization as we build on a strong
foundation, " Porzio says. " My focus will be on continuing to execute
on the strategy we have in place to deliver best in class products
while maintaining our long history of innovation focused on
advancing sustainability. I look forward to working closely with
our leadership team and employees to serve our customers, "
Porzio says.
In retirement, Tanner will join the board of directors of Profile
Products to further advise the team.
SAVE THE DATE FOR
NORTHEAST GREENHOUSE
CONFERENCE AND EXPO
The Northeast Greenhouse
Conference and Expo will be held
Nov. 8-9, 2023, in Manchester, New
Hampshire, at the DoubleTree by Hilton.
Educational sessions focusing
on advanced biocontrol, disease
8
APRIL 2023 GPNMAG.COM
management, business and marketing,
greenhouse vegetables, perennial
production, and sessions in Spanish
will be offered. Visit vendors at the
trade show with three dedicated hours
on each day of the program.
The biennial Northeast Greenhouse
Conference & Expo is co-sponsored
by New England Floriculture Inc. -
a group of grower representatives
from the Northeast, augmented by
university and cooperative Extension
staff in each state who specialize in
greenhouse crops and management.
Exhibit space and sponsorship
opportunities are available. Visit
negreenhouse.org/sponsor.html for
more information.
http://www.endowment.org/growpro http://www.negreenhouse.org/sponsor.html http://www.GPNMAG.COM
April 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of April 2023
