2022 Seed Your Future Leadership Meeting

Our Seed Your Future Leadership Meeting is now open for RSVP's. All members of the National Leadership Cabinet and Advisory Council are invited to attend. Please review the information below and RSVP in the right hand column.

Agenda

We are finalizing the agenda now. On March 23, 2022, the pre-meeting informal networking with UGA students begins at 11:00 am EST, followed by lunch at noon.

The meeting will commence at 1:00 pm EST and end at noon on March 24, 2022. Our agenda will include a tour and dinner on March 23, 2022, at the State Botanic Garden hosted by UGA.

Location

  • Meeting & Hotel – The University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel 
    1197 South Lumpkin Street, Athens, GA 30602-3603

COVID Protocols

  • UGA is recommending all individuals continue to socially distance themselves and wear masks.
  • UGA staff will disinfect the rooms after setting the room and they will also disinfect the room the night of March 23rd, when they go to clean the room in preparation for the 24th. Our group will be the only group using the reserved space for the duration of our meeting. 
  • We will spend portions of our meeting outside in the courtyard, weather permitted.

Logistical Details

Attendees pay their own travel and hotel expenses. 

Hotel

Airport

  • Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International airport is a two-hour drive to the University of Georgia.
  • Athens International Airport is 15 mins from our destination.

Ground Transportation

  • You will arrange for your own ground transportation for your arrival. You may choose to arrive on Tuesday evening, March 22 or Wednesday morning, March 23. If you arrive Tuesday evening, plan to travel directly to the hotel.
  • Transportation from the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International airport can be scheduled through Groome
  • UGA will provide transportation to the off-site locations.


Meeting Meals

  • Seed Your Future will be hosting all lunches during the meeting (breakfast is on your own at the hotel restaurants). If you have special dietary, physical, or sensory needs, we will ask you to share that information in a pre-meeting survey to accommodate your needs.
  • For attendees arriving on Tuesday, March 22, we will arrange an optional informal dinner at South Kitchen + Bar with all early arrivers. UGA will provide transportation to the restaurant and return to the hotel.
  • UGA will be hosting dinner at the State Botanic Garden on Wednesday, March 23, 2022.


WHEN
March 23, 2022 at 1:00pm - March 24, 2022
WHERE
University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel
1197 S Lumpkin St
Athens, GA 30602-3603
United States
Google map and directions
CONTACT
Jazmin Albarran · · 484-798-5934
24 RSVPS

Will you come?

National Leadership Cabinet

Anna C. Ball

Co-Chair. CEO and Owner, Ball Horticultural Company
Anna Caroline Ball is President and CEO of the 111-year-old Ball Horticultural Company, which specializes in all aspects of horticulture, including breeding, biotechnology, production,...

Paul B. Redman

Co-Chair. President and CEO, Longwood Gardens
Paul B. Redman is an award-winning leader of public gardens, known for his dedication to the beauty and sustainability of gardens, and to the...

John Dole, Ph.D.

Associate Dean & Director, Academic Programs North Carolina State Univ.
John M. Dole is Associate Dean and Director of Academic Programs at North Carolina State University and past Chairman of the Board of the...

Charlie Hall, Ph.D.

Ellison Chair in Interational Floriculture, Texas A&M University
Dr. Charlie Hall grew up in the industry on a nursery in western North Carolina. Although an economist by training, he is currently a...

Sarah Masterton

 Vice President, Education Longwood Gardens
Sarah joined Longwood Gardens in June 2017 as Vice President, Education, where she oversees the development, implementation, and coordination of Longwood's global education programs....

Terri McEnaney

President, Bailey Nurseries
Terri McEnaney became president of Bailey Nurseries in 2001. Along with six other fourth-generation Bailey family members, she is responsible for carrying on the...

Rodd Moesel

President and Co-Owner, American Plant Products and Services
Rodd Moesel and his wife, Dona, own and operate American Plant Products and Services in western Oklahoma City. The grandson of dairy farmers and...

Kate Santos, Ph.D.

Director, Research and Conservation, Longwood Gardens
Kate has a foundational background in botany as well as over 15 years of professional horticulture experience. She earned a doctorate in Environmental Horticulture...

Joseph A. Simone

CEO, President and Owner Fred C. Gloeckner & Company
Joe Simone is President/CEO and Owner of the Fred C. Gloeckner & Co. The Gloeckner Co has been in business since 1934 and distributes...

Eliot A. Wadsworth

Vice President, Marketing, White Flower Farm
Eliot A. Wadsworth is Vice President, Marketing of White Flower Farm. White Flower Farm is a family-owned nursery based in Northwest Connecticut. Since 1950,...

Ronda Hamm, Ph.D.

Global Academic Relations Leader for Corteva Agriscience
Dr. Ronda Hamm is passionate about providing enriching science and agriculture experiences for everyone. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Education...

Kerry Meyer

Program Director for Proven Winners
For the past 20 years, Kerry has worked as the Program Director for Proven Winners, the leading plant brand in North America. Her responsibilities...

Abel Guzman

Executive Director of College Pathways
Abel Guzman returned to The Wonderful Company in 2021 to serve as Executive Director of College Pathways. In a previous role at The Wonderful...

Michelle Castellano Keeler

Vice President of Mellano & Company
Michelle Castellano Keeler is currently Vice President of Mellano & Company, a flower grower and distributor based out of Oceanside, California. She has been...

Mark Schermer

Head of Flowers for Syngenta
PersonalMy name is Mark Schermer and I am married to MaryJane. Together we have 3 children, almost 4 grandchildren. 2 dogs and 3 cats,...

Kate Penn

CEO, Society of American Florists
Kate leads, directs and manages day-to-day activities for SAF and is responsible for developing the overall strategic positioning for the organization. She joined SAF...

Advisory Council

Charlie Hall, Ph.D.

Charlie Hall, Co-Chair, Advisory Council
Dr. Charlie Hall grew up in the industry on a nursery in western North Carolina. Although an economist by training, he is currently a...

Sarah Masterton

Sarah Masterton, Co-Chair, Advisory Council
Sarah joined Longwood Gardens in June 2017 as Vice President, Education, where she oversees the development, implementation, and coordination of Longwood's global education programs....

Jared Barnes, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Horticulture, Stephen F. Austin Univ.
Jared Barnes, Ph.D. started gardening when he was five years old, and since then he has enthusiastically pursued how to best cultivate plants and...

Mark Broxon

Executive Director, Proven Winners
For the past 14 years Mark Broxon has served as the Executive Director of Proven Winners, the leading plant brand in North America.  His...

Debi Chedester

Executive Director American Floral Endowment
Debi joined the American Floral Endowment (AFE) in 2008, and serves as the Executive Director overseeing scientific research projects, educational grants, and scholarships. She...

Marnie Conley

Vice President, Marketing, Longwood Gardens
Marnie Conley joined Longwood Gardens as Marketing Department head in August 2009. Marnie is responsible for managing all aspects of a holistic marketing operation...

Laura Drotleff

Reporter, Anne Holland Ventures, Inc.

Jeff Gibson

Landscape Business Manager, Ball Horticultural

Danielle L. Green

Past President, Associaton of Zoological Horticulture
As Director of Gardens and Grounds for Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens since 2012, Danielle L. Green is responsible for the development and management...

Aurelie Jacquet, Ph.D.

Ethnopharmacologist, Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Karla Kares

Marketing Coordinator, J.R. Peters, Inc.
Karla Kares spearheads the marketing and branding efforts for the blue crew at JR Peters, Inc. She works diligently to develop new concepts for...

Jamie Kitz

Director of Business Development & Philanthropy, Center for Growing Talent - Produce Marketing Association

Kimberley Lough

Agriculture Instructor, Lincoln Middle Urban Ag & FFA
Kimberley Lough was an Environmental Consultant before landing an Agriscience teaching position in a Title 1 middle school in southwest Florida 14 years ago....

Nora MacDonald

Associate Director of Membership and Member Programs, American Horticulture Society

Mary Meyer Ph.D.

Professor and Extension Horticulturist, Univ. of Minnesota
Dr. Mary Hockenberry Meyer is a professor and Extension Horticulturist in the Department of Horticultural Science at the University of Minnesota. She is a...

Mike Neff

Executive Director, American Society for Horticultural Science
Michael W. Neff has been the Executive Director of the American Society for Horticultural Science since 2000. He previously served ASHS as Director of...

Matt Rader

President The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
Matt is the President of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. He grew up in Mercersburg, a small town in south central Pennsylvania, where he attended...

Jennifer Schwarz Ballard, Ph.D.

Vice President of Learning and Engagement Programs, Chicago Botanic Garden
Jennifer Schwarz, Ph.D., serves as the vice president of learning and engagement for the Chicago Botanic Garden. In this role, she oversees the Garden’s...

Casey Sclar, Ph.D.

H.O. Smith Endowed Director, The Arboretum at Penn State
Casey began serving as the H.O. Smith Endowed Director in August 2022. He has a master of science degree and a doctorate in entomology...

Lisa Smith

Seasonal Color Manager/Horticulturist. Alan Horticultural
Lisa Smith works for Alan Horticultural as a Seasonal Color Manager and Horticulturist. She is a committee member of ILCA & the FLIP committee...

Jessica Turner-Skoff, Ph.D.

Treeologist, Morton Arboretum
Despite starting her early academic career studying and working with animals, Jessica's professional interest quickly became rooted in plants. Jessica has a diverse background...

Tom Underwood

Executive Director, Friends of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Mary Warshauer

President, National Garden Clubs Inc.
Mary Warshauer of Rumson, N.J., currently serves as the president of the National Garden Clubs Inc. As president, Mary supports and promotes “Plant America,”...

Jena Gizerskiy

Sales Manager-North America for Rosaprima
I am a Sales Manager-North America for Rosaprima, a company dedicated to growing the most luxurious rose varieties in the world. Rosaprima values: unequaled...

Chad Follis

Director of Educational Resources
Chad Follis joined Hummert International in 2021 as the Director of Educational Resources.  He started a mowing and landscape business at age 11 that...

Brenda Moore

Vice President of National Garden Clubs Inc.
Brenda Moore of Oak Hill, WV is the first Vice President of National Garden Clubs, Inc.(NGC). She currently serves as the liaison to State...

Broch Martindale

National Nursery & Greenhouse Strategic Account Manager
Broch Martindale National Nursery & Greenhouse Strategic Account Manager Growing up in the family greenhouse business is where Broch found his passion for plants...

Aidan Williams

Sales & Operations Manager, Por La Mar Nursery
Growing up in Southern California, Aidan Williams was raised in the Agricultural Industry since he was born. His grandparents, Ron and Pat Caird, started...

Colah Tawkin

Founder of Black in the Garden LLC & Underground Arborist
Colah is the juggernaut creator, producer, and voice behind the renowned Black in the Garden (LLC) podcast. Most recently she started a national tree...

Our Staff

Jazmin Albarran

Executive Director

[email protected]

(484) 798-5934