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Conference Agenda

Note: Agenda times and events are tentative and may be updated as conference plans are finalized closer to the conference dates.

All events at the Grand Amway Plaza Hotel will take place on the Historical Pantlind Side of the Hotel

Monday | August 26, 2024

Travel / Arrival Day

2:00PM - 6:00PM | Conference Check-in | North Concourse - 2nd Floor 
 
2:00PM - 4:00PM | Networking Room will be open to catch-up with fellow GardenComm members and meet New Conference Attendees | Networking Room | Imperial Ballroom - 1st Floor
 

4:00PM | GardenComm Board of Directors & Leadership Brainstorm Meeting |  Networking Room | Imperial Ballroom - 1st Floor

5:00PM - 8:00PM | Networking Room will remain open to catch-up with fellow GardenComm members and meet New Conference Attendees | Networking Room | Imperial Ballroom - 1st Floor

Dinner | On Your Own - Take advantage of the "Dinner Connect" board on GardenCommUnity if you are interested in finding a group to dine with. 
 

Tuesday | August 27, 2024

6:30AM - 8:00AM | Continental Breakfast | Networking Room | Imperial Ballroom - 1st Floor
 
6:30AM - 5:30PM | Networking Room Open | Imperial Ballroom - 1st Floor
 
6:45AM - 8:45AM | Early Morning Photo Shoot - Meijer Garden and Sculpture Park | Limited to 20 Attendees 
 
8:00AM - 10:00AM | Conference Check-in | North Concourse - 2nd Floor 
 
8:30AM- 9:30AM | Coffee Available | North Concourse - 2nd Floor

9:30AM-10:30AM  
 
  • Cannabis Communications: Insights for Horticultural Content Creators | Vandenberg Room A - 2nd Floor
  • Amazon Affiliates: Strategies to Boost Your Earnings | Vandenberg Room B - 2nd Floor
  • Garden Vlogs: Social Media Strategies for Growth | Governor's Room - 2nd Floor
 
10:40AM - 11:40AM
 
  • Unearthing the Hidden World: The Rhizosphere Revealed | Vandenberg Room A - 2nd Floor
  • From Fears to Cheers: A Guide to Short Form Social Media Content Creation | Vandenberg Room B - 2nd Floor
  • Avoiding Common Mistakes in Eco-Conscious Gardening Communications | Governor's Room - 2nd Floor

11:40AM - 1:45PM | Lunch On Your Own 

 
1:45PM-2:45PM 
 
  • Growing Your Personal Brand: How to Standout on the Social Media Landscape | Vandenberg Room A - 2nd Floor
  • Marketing Your Book: Proven Strategies from a Publishing Professional | Vandenberg Room B - 2nd Floor
  • Repurposing Your Content: Maximizing Reach Across Digital Platforms | Governor's Room - 2nd Floor
 
3:00PM - 3:15 PM | Welcome - C.L. Fornari & Board | Pantlind Ballroom - 2nd Floor
 
3:15 PM - 4:00 PM | First Timers Session | All Attendees Encouraged to Attend | Pantlind Ballroom - 2nd Floor
 
4:15PM - 5:15PM | PlantPOP:  Creating Beautiful Films About Plants and the People Who Love Them | Pantlind Ballroom - 2nd Floor
 
Dinner | On Your OwnTake advantage of the "Dinner Connect" board on GardenCommUnity if you are interested in finding a group to dine with.
 
 

Wednesday | August 28, 2024

6:30AM - 5:00PM | Networking Room Open | Imperial Ballroom - 1st Floor
 
6:30AM-8:00AM | Continental Breakfast | Networking Room | Imperial Ballroom - 1st Floor
 

8:00AM - 9:00AM

  • Assisted Plant Migration Helps to Expand Our Native Plant Palette for Climate Change | Vandenberg Room A - 2nd Floor
  • Plant Expeditions: Discovery and Insights for Horticultural Professionals | Vandenberg Room B - 2nd Floor
  • Personalizing Your Content: Navigating the Garden Content Journey | Governor's Room - 2nd Floor

     

9:10AM - 10:10AM

  • Moving Beyond Social Responsibility: Green Industry Businesses Look to Measure Sustainable Efforts and Global Impact | Vandenberg Room A - 2nd Floor
  • Digital Content Contracts: Navigating Garden Brand Partnerships for Social Media Creators | Vandenberg Room B - 2nd Floor
  • Horticultural Science: Connecting Audiences with Plant, Gardening, and Landscape Insights | Governor's Room - 2nd Floor
 
9:45AM - 10:45AM Coffee / Tea Available | North Concourse - 2nd Floor
 
10:20AM-11:20AM

  • Nature's Partnerships: Native Plants and Pollinators | Vandenberg Room A - 2nd Floor
  • Power of Pinterest: Reach New Audiences and Grow your Garden Business | Vandenberg Room B - 2nd Floor
  • Lessons from Our Ancestors: How Slavery Help Shape Today's Horticultural Practices | Governor's Room - 2nd Floor
  
11:30AM - 1:45PM Sponsors Luncheon | Pantlind Ballroom - 2nd Floor
 
  • 11:30AM - 12:00PM Sponsors Presentations
  • 12:00PM - 12:45PM Lunch Served
  • 12:45PM - 1:45PM Sponsors Presentations
 
1:45PM - 2:00 PM Break 
 
  
2:00PM - 3:00PM - New for 2025: New Plant Introductions presented by National Garden Bureau | Pantlind Ballroom - 2nd Floor
 
3:10PM - 3:45 PM
 
  • Food Insecurities: How Communicators Can Make an Impact   | Pantlind Ballroom
 
6:30PM - 9:00PM | Honors and Awards Banquet | Pantlind Ballroom - 2nd Floor
 
  • 6:30PM Check-In | Cocktails
  • 7:00PM Dinner
  • 8:00PM Honors and Awards

9:00PM-10:00PM  Banquet After Party | Pantlind Ballroom - 2nd Floor

 
 

Thursday | August 29, 2024

6:30AM - 8:00AM | Networking Room Open | Imperial Ballroom - 1st Floor

6:30AM - 7:30AM | Continental Breakfast | Networking Room | Imperial Ballroom - 1st Floor

7:30 AM – Buses depart

8:10 AM - 8:40AM – Private Garden

8:45 AM - Buses depart

9:00 AM -9:45 AM - Windmill Gardens, downtown Holland, MI

9:50 AM Buses depart

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Walters Gardens (snack and drinks)

11:05 AM - Buses depart

11:15 AM -12:20 PM - Garden Crossings – tour and shopping

12:25 PM - Buses depart

1:00 PM - Spring Meadow Nursery, welcome and lunch sponsored by Proven Winners®

1:30 PM -2:30 PM - Production tours

2:45 PM - Buses depart

3:00 PM – 3:30 PM - Ottens Garden

3:35 PM - Buses depart

3:45 PM – 4:15 PM - Anderson Garden

4:20 PM - Buses depart

4:40 PM – 5:15 PM - Saltsman Garden

5:20 PM - Buses depart

5:30 PM - 7:25 PM - Spring Meadow Trial & Display Gardens at Deppe Residence, including group photo, tapas stations and cocktails

7:30 PM - Buses depart, back to Amway Grand Plaza by 8:15 PM

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Friday | August 30, 2024

Check Out / Depart (or Optional Garden Tour)

8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Optional Garden Tour $75 Fee is not included in the All Access Pass. Spaces are limited for first 50 attendees - Register Now!

8:00 AM - Bus departs 

8:15 AM - Michigan State Grand Ideas Garden (GIG) –bagels and coffee

9:30 AM - Bus departs

10:00 AM - Fossel Grounds

10:45 AM - Bus departs

11:00 AM - Rebecca Finneran Garden

11:45 AM - Bus departs

12:00 – 3:00 PM - Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, lunch

3:15 PM - Bus departs

3:30 – 4:00 PM - Shannon Sprague Garden

4:15 PM - Bus departs

4:30 - 5:15 PM - Calvin University Ecosystem Preserve and Native Gardens

5:30 PM - Bus departs

6:00 PM - Arrive at hotel, dinner on your own

 


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