2009 CONFERENCE SPEAKERS

HortEast has scheduled a variety of speakers for the 2009 show - garden centres, landscapers and designers, arborists, nursery and greenhouse operators, students, and more will find great value from this years program.

Opportunities will be available to earn credits for certification renewal (CHT, CLD, and CLP), as well as continuing education units (CEU) with the International Society of Arborists.

Click here to download the 2009 HortEast Registration Brochure.

Cliquez ici pour la version française de la brochure d'inscription de HortEast 2009. Des services de traduction de l’anglais au français seront disponibles pour toutes les conférences. 

Keynote Speaker: Jim Paluch (JP Horizons)

Keynote Seminar: "Everybody Wins" Monday November 24th, 9:00am - 10:00am (Trade Show Floor Seminar Room) In this energizing presentation Jim will create an awareness around attitudes, and choice points that help every individual realize their impact on the company’s success. It’s simple, you personally succeed and reach your goals when the company reaches its goals. Whether you are the owner, manager, crew leader or front line employee it is critical to realize the connection between our personal purpose in life and the vision of the company. Together the group will laugh think and be inspired as they consider the opportunity to be either a Builder or a Destroyer and realize that each choice point on the way to a goal can make all the difference. Landscape Workshop: "Working Smarter" (held in conjunction with the "Landscape Contractors and Managers Workshop" from 1-5pm) Monday November 23rd (5-7pm) (Rooms A, B & C) 2 hour hands on workshop for foremen, supervisors, crew leaders and managers on the concepts of working smarter. Participants will not only learn the lean concepts that have energized hundreds of landscape firms throughout North America, but they will also interact with their peers in group activities. Each leader will leave inspired and prepared to put the tools to use and help their crews move forward on the path of continual improvement. Click here to download the Landscape Workshop flyer and registration form! Jim Paluch's keynote seminar is sponsored by Nova Tree.

Jim Paluch will also be offering a series of FREE Webinars leading up to the HortEast Show for delegates and exhibitors!

Great Time for Business Webinar Series: The Power of Commitment - April 23 (2:00pm Atlantic Time, 2:30pm NL Time) Energizing Employees - June 18th (2:00pm Atlantic Time, 2:30pm NL Time) Creating Success By Taking Action – July 16th (5:00pm Atlantic Time, 5:30pm NF Time) Customers Focused Sales – September 17th (5:00pm Atlantic Time, 5:30pm NF Time) Financial Awareness Wins – November 19th (5:00pm Atlantic Time, 5:30pm NF Time) Tenacity To Finish Strong – December 17th (5:00pm Atlantic Time, 5:30pm NF Time)

Visit http://www.jphorizons.com/webinars/assoc_webinars.htm to register for the upcoming Webinars or for more information please call Rebecca at 1-866-383-4711 or email rebecca@canadanursery.com. We know that you will find great value from participating - so register today to book your space!

Biography - Jim Paluch

Jim Paluch loves to speak. But, more than speaking, he loves to listen and it has been his outstanding listening skills used in working with hundreds of organizations over the past 18 years that have helped him become an unforgettable and inspirational public speaker. Jim understands people and knows how to create an environment where they can learn and have fun at the same time. While some speakers make you laugh, some make you cry, and some make you take a good hard look at yourself, Jim Paluch does all of the above and much more while you feel like you have just had a brainstorming session with an old friend. With an energizing and down-to-earth delivery, Jim is able to captivate every audience regardless of its makeup and send individuals away with knowledge to implement for immediate results in their business and personal lives. His dynamic presentation on Builders and Destroyers has been acclaimed as “life changing” and pivotal for organizations around the country.

Jim graduated from the Ohio State University with a degree in Landscape Architecture in 1983. As he began his career he also became an avid student of positive thinking, absorbing every book and audio tape possible while striving to develop for future success. For the past 20 years Jim Paluch and his company, JP Horizons have provided innovative training solutions for the Green Industry and have worked with hundreds of leading companies including The Brickman Group, Skinner Nurseries, Vila & Son, High Grove Partners, Chapel Valley, Gibbs Landscaping and many state Nursery and Landscape organizations. Over the past two decades, Jim Paluch has literally changed the lives of his conference, seminar and coaching clients have turned to him to educate and energize employees.

Jim’s has three highly acclaimed books that have been classified as Motivational Novels and have together sold nearly 500,000 copies around the world.

As creators of the Working Smarter Training Challenge Jim and his team are passionate about the concepts of Lean Manufacturing and have implemented its fundamental practices into a 52-week in-house training program … the process to improve your processes.

Frank Kershaw Frank Kershaw received his Master’s of Science form the University of Toronto and a diploma of Horticulture from the University of Guelph.  Prior to his recent retirement, he worked thirty plus years in the parks, horticulture, and environment fields as a director with the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto and the City of Toronto.  He has also worked abroad which has contributed to his knowledge of plants from different parts of the globe. Frank was one of the founding members of the Canadian Wildflower Society and has served on numerous horticultural advisory committees.  He has taught gardening courses at The Toronto Botanical Garden, the Royal Botanical Gardens, and lectured widely to garden groups, university and college audiences.  He has been a horticultural consultant to a number of garden books and his published articles have appeared in Canadian Gardening, Family Circle, TLC for Plants, Wildflower and Trellis magazines.  Over the years he has been a popular garden presenter at events in Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa, North Bay, Quebec and Bermuda.  He has also appeared numerous times on various TV shows.

In 1997 Frank was the recipient of The Garden Club of Toronto’s “Award of Honour” for outstanding contribution to horticulture.  In February 200, he made a presentation on behalf of the City of Toronto, to the Nations in Bloom contest in Japan, wherein Toronto won first place for cities over one million population.

Frank has led numerous garden tours throughout North America, Bermuda, Caribbean and elsewhere, where he has visited and photographed several thousand gardens.  His passion for gardening and animated lecture style has made him a popular garden personality.

Tuesday November 24th, 10:00am - 11:00am (Rooms A, B & C): Innovative Garden Design - Learn how through the use of hard and soft garden materials, you can add your own special look to the garden. Garden art, reflecting mirrors, the application of trellis creations and other artistic features can give the garden a signature look of innovation.

Tuesday November 24th, 2:00pm - 3:00pm (Rooms A, B & C): Small Garden Design - This presentation will key on smaller urban properties where garden space is restricted. Such spaces provide challenges to accommodate various garden functions and the aspirations of the gardener. Developing a coherent theme and design tricks to make the garden seem larger than it really is will also be explored. Plants suitable to tight spaces and ongoing maintenance will be covered in this popular topic.

Gary Johnson University of Minnesota, St. Paul MN Gary Johnson has been Professor of Urban and Community Forestry at the University of Minnesota since 1992.  He has more than 20 years experience in the nursery and landscape professions, was superintendent of grounds at Illinois Wesleyan University and has been an International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist since 1988. Wednesday November 25th, 9:00am - 10:00am (Rooms A, B & C): Entombed Roots and Brief Landscape Lives - Urban trees contribute significant environmental and aesthetic benefits as long as they are long-lived, healthy and in good condition.  Deep entombment of root systems is a primary tree health predisposing agent that is minimizing the useful lifespan of urban landscape trees.  This session will focus on the extent of the problem and the common effects on tree health, condition and longevity.

Wednesday November 25th, 10:00am - 11:00am (Rooms A, B & C): Making Dysfunctional Root Systems Functional: Stopping the Problems Before It's Too Late - Pot-bound nursery stock, stem encircling or stem girdling roots, j-rooted plants...all common dysfunctional root systems that predispose trees to other biotic and abiotic problems.  Most of the problems can be reduced or eliminated at the nursery or at planting time.  This session will focus on practices that either cause or correct the problems, including container production practices, root pruning and gravel beds.

One CEU credit will be offered for each of Gary's seminars through the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).

Tuesday November 24th, 10:00am - 11:00am(Trade Show Floor Seminar Room): Perennial Retailing - Long gone are the days of of arranging perennials for sale in alphabetical order. Today's consumers are in search of solutions and suggestions to specific garden conditions. Carefully planned and creative displays can help address this need and also greatly add to the shopping experience. Join Paul as he discusses the need and how to add drama and excitement to your perennial sales yard.

Tuesday November 24th, 4:00pm - 5:00pm (Rooms A, B & C): Creative Containers, the appeal, the potential and the possibilities - Container gardening continues to remain a strong interest with gardeners of all ages. It allows individuals with gardens of all sizes to add and have visual appeal throughout the year. Join Paul as he shares his passion for plants and pots to demonstrate how you could add seasons of excitement and sales to you business through the use of containers.

Tuesday November 24th, 2:00pm-3:00pm (Trade Show Floor Seminar Room): "Growing A Successful Landscape Company": Tackles common problems in green businesses including:
- Lack of business planning
- Lack of estimating
- HR difficulties
- Inefficient operations due to lack of systems
In this workshop, we describe, in detail, an operating system that will allow landscape companies to plan, budget, and implement systems that will increase profits and improve an owner’s lifestyle.

Tuesday November 24th, 4:00pm-5:00pm (Trade Show Floor Seminar Room): "Technology to Improve Operations and Profitability"
A variety of examples of how technology can improve productivity will be discussed including:
- Office-to-field communications
- Design
- Budgeting
- Estimating & Jobcosting software
- GPS systems
- Timekeeping & accounting
- Internet marketing

Erwin Meier-Honniger Switzerland Past President of the International Garden Centre Association, and owner of a successful Garden Centre in Switzerland. Erwins' family business combines a Garden Centre as core business, a Nursery producing exclusively for this garden centre and a landscape department. Currently 140 employees are working in our company that was founded in 1894.

Erwin attended the Horticultural College Geneva Switzerland and has managed his family business as 4th Generation together with his father since 1995. From 2001-2005 he was the President of the Swiss Garden Centre Association, since 2005 has been on the Corporate Executive Committee JardinSuisse (Swiss Horticultural Association) and between 2006-2007 was the President of the International Garden Centre Association (IGCA).

Wednesday November 25th, 9:00am-10:00am (Trade Show Floor Seminar Room): "Trends in the European garden centre industry: Who would think that Europe’s leading eco garden centre group is French? What’s the clou about the restaurant hype in UK’s garden centres? What about the German flagship garden centres? How are our competitors from outside the traditional industry running their garden centre concepts (Tesco, IKEA, etc.)?

Wednesday November 25th, 3:00pm-4:00pm (Rooms A, B, C): "More sex, drugs and rock & roll in the garden centre industry":
What should a garden centre learn from an innovative, women driven UK sex shop? What should a garden centre learn from the hospitality industry? What should a garden centre learn from the Japanese way of life?

Peggy Gates-Hammond, Private Banker Royal Bank of Canada Peggy Gates-Hammond brings more than two decades of experience in financial and professional services to her role as Private Banker. She provides comprehensive financial management and wealth planning strategies for clients, their families and their businesses throughout Halifax and Nova Scotia. Prior to joining RBC, Ms. Gates-Hammond worked extensively in the areas of tax and estate planning for a professional services boutique firm. She is a Chartered Accountant, Certified Financial Planner, and Trust and Estate Practitioner, and holds a Business degree from Saint Mary’s University. She has also completed intensive income tax training through the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Her significant career has honed Ms. Gates-Hammond’s ability to serve her clients through all stages of their financial lives. Working with a relatively small client base allows her to act as a true financial partner, and she works with her clients and their families as well as their legal, tax and insurance advisors to develop a customized strategy that acts as a “road map” for achieving their financial goals.

Wednesday November 25th, 10:00am - 11:00am (Trade Show Floor Seminar Room): “How to succeed with Business Succession Planning: Your guide to transitioning your business”: You've spent years building & growing your business; it's become a great source of pride. Now you're looking to the next stage in your life & considering how to prepare both you & your business for this transition. Whether you're planning to gradually step away from your business, explore personal interests or pursue new business ventures, having a business succession plan that clearly outlines your intentions & goals helps make this transition easier for you, your family & your business.

Nova Scotia Agricultural College

Monday November 23rd, 1:00pm - 5:00pm (Rooms A,B,C): Landscape Foreman Workshop - "Landscape Site Leadership 101" This workshop will provide the information that every crew leader should know to effectively implement various landscape operations including installation and maintenance procedures. Short information sessions followed by interactive exercises will focus on:
- Site safety
- Project management - dealing with resources
- Time management
- On the job training

Click here to download the Landscape Workshop flyer and registration form!

Continuing Education Credits (CEC's)

			Certification (CHT/CLP/CLD) renewal credits: Each hour of seminars you attend will get you 1 CEU credit.
			CEU Credits: Each seminar offered by Gary Johnson will qualify for one CEU credit through the International Society of Arboriculture.