Thank You for Making the 73rd IPPS Eastern Region Conference a Success!
The 73rd IPPS Eastern Region Conference has officially concluded, and we are beyond grateful for everyone’s contribution to this incredible event! This year, we welcomed attendees from 20 states and provinces, including 31 first-time attendees and 26 new members. The enthusiasm and collaboration showcased over the course of the week truly emphasized our core value: To Seek and to Share.
A special thanks goes to Matt Palmieri for his leadership over the past year as President of the Eastern Region. Shelby French has now taken on this role, and we are excited to see how she guides us forward with fresh ideas and initiatives, especially around supporting young adult members and new professionals.
We kicked off the week with a fabulous pre-conference tour, exploring some of Ohio’s most unique horticultural sites. Participants had the opportunity to visit the Mid-Ohio Food Collective’s urban farming projects, Acorn Farms, Franklin Park Conservatory, and Oakland Nursery, to name a few. These tours offered invaluable insights into innovative practices in urban farming, wholesale nurseries, and garden center management.
We’d also like to express our gratitude to our keynote speaker, Marie Chieppo, for her enlightening talk on redesigning the future of plastic plant containers and sustainable practices. Her presentation was a key highlight of the conference and sparked important conversations about the future of our industry.
This year’s conference would not have been possible without the hard work of our local site committee, led by Brian Decker of Decker’s Nursery. Thank you to all committee members for the countless hours you dedicated to planning and preparing. We also extend our sincere appreciation to Program Committee Chair Shelby French and the IPPS ER Foundation for sponsoring our delightful opening reception.
Our sponsors play an essential role in ensuring the success of our events, and we encourage all attendees to take a moment to thank them. Our international and national sponsors, including Ball, Bailey Nurseries, BASF, and Decker’s Nursery, made this week possible. Please continue to show your support for these partners who help us bring these impactful events to life.
As we wrap up, don’t forget to share your memories of the conference to our Facebook page and shared Google Folder (email Savanah for the link). We look forward to seeing everyone’s photos and stories! For those who were unable to attend, we missed you and hope to see you next year.
Thank you again to everyone who contributed to making this year’s conference a success. We look forward to continuing to Seek and Share as we embark on another exciting year ahead!