January 2025 - 8

HEADLINES/CALENDAR
10 Ways to Thrive in 2025
By Celina Young, marketing communications specialist
The year 2025 holds immense potential for the horticulture
industry. Here are 10 ways to empower yourself and your team
to perform better, grow faster and prepare for the future.
1. Invest In Your Workforce: Elevate Employee Engagement
with Certification
Empower your team with the AmericanHort Greenhouse
Technician certification. This comprehensive program equips
new hires, upskills existing employees and prepares your top
talent for leadership roles. Developed alongside industry experts
and refined with feedback directly from growers, this certification
is a turnkey training opportunity.
Looking Ahead: Stay tuned for the Greenhouse Section
Grower Certification coming this month.
2. Mark Your Calendar: Cultivate'25 Is July 12-15
Start your summer planning now and get ready to join the
green industry in Columbus, Ohio, at Cultivate'25. Network
with colleagues, discover cutting-edge trends and gain valuable
insights to propel your business forward. Real connections and
real results are found at this leading industry event.
3. Leverage the Power of Community: Join a Roundtable
Discussion
Connect with fellow AmericanHort members through
Roundtable programs. Discuss industry challenges,
share
successes and learn from each other's experiences. These online
gatherings are a fantastic way to stay informed and build
meaningful connections.
4. Grow Your Career with Grow Forward Programs
Enhance your work performance by signing up for Grow
Forward programs, designed specifically for young and emerging
professionals. These interactive sessions offer practical insights,
career strategies and networking opportunities to foster success
within the industry.
5. Spark Inspiration and Learning: Host a Women in
Horticulture Interview Watch Party
Motivate your team with the Women in Horticulture
interview series. Gather your associates for an educational and
inspiring session featuring accomplished women in the green
industry. Discuss key learnings from their stories, overcome
challenges together and empower your team.
6. Advocate for Your Industry: Engage with Elected Officials
Make your voice heard! Participate in Voter Voice, a tool that
allows you to easily contact your U.S. representatives with prewritten
messages from AmericanHort on key legislative issues.
8 | LAWN & GARDEN RETAILER | JANUARY 2025
This simple yet impactful action demonstrates the importance
of the green industry to your state's leaders.
Empowerment Through Advocacy: Take it a step further.
Invite your representative or senator for a company visit during
congressional recess. Showcase your operation and explain how
policy decisions directly impact your business. This personal
touch can make a significant difference. Contact AmericanHort
for planning assistance.
7. Shape the Future: Attend the Impact Washington FlyIn
Summit
For a deeper dive into advocacy, participate in the Impact
Washington Fly-In Summit this fall. This biannual event
organized by AmericanHort allows you to meet with policymakers
face-to-face, share your experiences, and influence decisions that
affect your business. You'll be equipped with key talking points
and details to have meaningful conversations.
8. Elevate Emerging Industry Leaders: HRI Leadership
Academy and HortScholars
Support the development of future industry leaders by
encouraging emerging talent in your organization to apply for
the HRI Leadership Academy. This intensive program equips
participants with the skills to excel and lead businesses into
the future.
Or, if you know a college student passionate about horticulture,
encourage them to apply for the HortScholars program at
Cultivate'25. HortScholars gain valuable insights, connections
with industry leaders and career advancement opportunities.
Application deadlines are in early February.
9. Secure the Future: Support Research and Scholarships
with HRI
Support the future of horticulture by making a tax-deductible
that address
critical
for
promising
donation to HRI. Your contribution can fund relevant research
projects
scholarships
contribution makes a difference.
10. Connect with HR Peers and Share Best Practices
Join the HR Peer Sharing Group to connect with industry
peers, share best practices and discuss challenges. These
monthly discussions provide a valuable platform to learn from
experts, ask questions and gain insights to help you better
manage your team.
Get involved with AmericanHort and unlock a world of
resources to help you and your business thrive in 2025. Explore
our programs, access industry news, benefit from discounts and
much more. Visit americanhort.org to learn more.
industry challenges or support
horticulture
students. Every
http://www.americanhort.org
January 2025

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2025
