Join us at the Fourth Annual TNLA Lone Star Hort Forum for an educational reset in 2025! With an updated schedule and expert speakers coming soon, this event is designed to give you a competitive edge. Immerse yourself in full-day education sessions at the DFH Hilton Lakes Executive Conference Center. Network with industry leaders over coffee, lunch, Awards Festival and at the Opening Night Reception. Choose from diverse breakout education sessions covering sales & technology, business, HR & leadership, grower & plant trends, and retail trends
To Attend the education sessions below, be sure to click the box for the LSHF Education Pass:
$300 for Members and $400 for Non-Members
Each session is worth 1 hour of TNLA CEUs
Monday, January 6, 2025
8:00 am – 9:10 am Welcome, Texas Grande
8:10 am – 9:10 am Economic Forecast 2025 with Dr. Charlie Hall, Texas A&M University, Texas Grande
9:10 am – 9:30 am Break with Exhibitors before education breakout sessions
9:30 am – 10:30 am Current State of Water, Robert Mace with Texas Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, Pheasant Ridge: Water Innovations
9:30 am – 10:30 am Optimizing Loan Portfolio Management in Today’s Evolving Landscape with Phil Peabody, Capitol Farm Credit, Llano Estacado: Business Strategies
9:30 am – 10:30 am Emerging HR Trends with Cyndi Mergele, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, RSM US LLP, Delaney II: Culture of Performance
9:30 am – 10:30 am Progress Report: Applied Research Initiatives for the Texas Green Industry with Paul Winski, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Cross Timbers I & II: Plant Trends, Tips and Updates
10:30 am- 10:45 am Break
10:45 am – 11:45 am Smart Strategies: BMPs for Efficient Landscaping & Irrigation Design, Installation, and Maintenance, with Whitney Milberger, BGE Inc., Pheasant Ridge: Water Innovations
10:45 am – 11:45 am Top 10 Must Haves for Operational Excellence: Systems and Processes You Need to Succeed, with Tommy cole, McFarlin Standford
10:45 am – 11:45 am Employee Handbook Best Practices, Michael DePonte with Jackson Lewis P.C., Delaney II: Culture of Performance
10:45 am – 11:45 am Exploring the Plant, Greenspace and Human Health Connection, Jay Maddock, Texas A&M University, Cross Timbers I & II: Plant Trends, Tips and Updates
11:45 am – 1:00 pm Lunch with Exhibitors, Texas Grande
12:35 pm – 1:35 pm Performing Water Budgets with DJ Seeger, Seeger Water, Pheasant Ridge: Water Innovations
12:35 pm – 1:35 pm The Landscaper’s Guide to Sales & Marketing In The *New Normal* Economy with Jack Jostes, Ramlin Jackson, Llano Estacado: Business Strategies
12:35 pm – 1:35 pm Unlocking Success: Benefit Benchmarking for Competitive Advantage, Lisa Blanton, SHRM- SCP, Austin Alliance Group, Delaney II: Culture of Performance
12:35 pm – 1:35 pm Pest Dynamics and varietal performance of Crape Myrtles with Dr. Rafia Khan, Texas A&M University, Cross Timbers I & II: Plant Trends, Tips and Updates
1:35 pm – 1:50 pm Break
1:50 pm – 2:50 pm Water Panel Discussion, Moderator Curtis Smith, TNLA, Panelists: Chris Hobbs, Austin Wood Recycling, Greg Fox, Clean Scapes, LP, Remmington Holt, Amarillo Land Services Pheasant Ridge: Water Innovations
1:50 pm – 2:50 pm Brand Your Sales Process to Get the Owner Out Of Sales with Jack Jostes, Ramlin Jackson, Llano Estacado: Business Strategies
1:50 pm – 2:50 pm Coaching Conversations & Performance Feedback, with Lisa Blanton, SHRM- SCP, Austin Alliance Group, Delaney II: Culture of Performance
1:50 pm – 2:50 pm New Plant Materials, Andrew King, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension, Cross Timbers I & II: Plant Trends, Tips and Updates
2:50 pm – 3:00 pm Break
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Water Conservation in Texas Landscapes + Research on Drought Resistant Turf, Dean Minchillo, Texas Water Resources Institute, Pheasant Ridge: Water Innovations
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Scaling Up to the Next Level, Ivan Giraldo, CEO, CleanScapes, Llano Estacado: Business Strategies
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Recruiting in 2025 Panel Discussion with Tousley Leake, Cleanscapes and Erin Ledding, TCNP Calloway’s Nursery, Delaney II
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Roots and Resilience: Enhancing Soil Health for Optimal Turfgrass Performance, with Tony Provin, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Cross Timbers I & II: Plant Trends, Tips and Updates
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Break
4:10 pm – 5:00 pm Greywater Alternatives for Texas Landscapes, DJ Seeger, Seeger Water, Pheasant Ridge: Water Innovations
4:10 pm – 5:00 pm RETAIL PANEL DISCUSSION: Visioning to 2025: Understanding Necessary Changes to Product Assortment to Drive Customers to Your Store, Moderator: Marce Ward, TMCNP, Calloway’s Nursery and Panelists: Josh Bracken, TMCNP, Nicholson-Hardie, and McKenna Jenkins, TMCNP, Alldredge Nursery, Llano Estacado: Business Strategies
4:10 pm – 5:00 pm Trends in Texas HR Law, Brandy Chambers, Perkins Coie LLP, Delaney II: Culture of Performance
4:10 pm – 5:00 pm Grower Panel Discussion Plant Breeding: How New Varieties Can Improve Your Profitability, Panel Discussion with Moderator, Paul Winski, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, and Panelists from Texas Nursery Grower Operations including Jacob Clark, Green Lake Nursery, and Jim Berry, J Berry Nursery Cross Timbers I & II: Plant Trends, Tips and Updates
5:10 pm – 6:00 pm Opening Night Reception with Exhibitors, Texas Grande
Tuesday, January 7, 2025
8:00 am – 10:30 am
TNLA Awards Festival, Texas Grande (Breakfast Provided.)
11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Industry Tour Day (shuttle bus + complimentary lunch)
11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Emerge Pass Exclusive Tour (Must be registered for Emerge Pass to attend tour, lunch provided.)
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
8:30 am - 9:30 am Registration + Coffee with Exhibitors
8:30 am - 9:30 am COFFEE TALK: Navigating the Texas Green Industry's H-2A and H-2B Immigration Work Program (LIVE PODCAST) with Moderator: Curtis Smith, TNLA and Panelists: Devin Guinn, AquaGreen Global, LLC, Antonio Vergara, Mundo Verde Irrigation and Landscaping, Sponsored by Forward.US, Cross Timbers I & II
10:00 am - 12:00 pm TNLA Foundation Leadership Bootcamp, Graduation & Closing Keynote Presentation Decision FAIL: Top Strategic Decision-Making Mistakes (and How Smart Leaders Avoid Them) with Brett Hoogeveen, CSP, BetterCulture Co-Founder & Brunch Buffet, complimentary with Lone Star Hort Forum Registration
8:00 am – 9:10 am Welcome, Texas Grande
8:10 am – 9:10 am Economic Forecast 2025 with Dr. Charlie Hall, Texas A&M University, Texas Grande
9:10 am – 9:30 am Break with Exhibitors before education breakout sessions
9:30 am – 10:30 am Current State of Water, Robert Mace with Texas Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, Pheasant Ridge: Water Innovations
9:30 am – 10:30 am Optimizing Loan Portfolio Management in Today’s Evolving Landscape with Phil Peabody, Capitol Farm Credit, Llano Estacado: Business Strategies
9:30 am – 10:30 am Emerging HR Trends with Cyndi Mergele, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, RSM US LLP, Delaney II: Culture of Performance
9:30 am – 10:30 am Progress Report: Applied Research Initiatives for the Texas Green Industry with Paul Winski, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Cross Timbers I & II: Plant Trends, Tips and Updates
10:30 am- 10:45 am Break
10:45 am – 11:45 am Smart Strategies: BMPs for Efficient Landscaping & Irrigation Design, Installation, and Maintenance, with Whitney Milberger, BGE Inc., Pheasant Ridge: Water Innovations
10:45 am – 11:45 am Top 10 Must Haves for Operational Excellence: Systems and Processes You Need to Succeed, with Tommy cole, McFarlin Standford
10:45 am – 11:45 am Employee Handbook Best Practices, Michael DePonte with Jackson Lewis P.C., Delaney II: Culture of Performance
10:45 am – 11:45 am Exploring the Plant, Greenspace and Human Health Connection, Jay Maddock, Texas A&M University, Cross Timbers I & II: Plant Trends, Tips and Updates
11:45 am – 1:00 pm Lunch with Exhibitors, Texas Grande
12:35 pm – 1:35 pm Performing Water Budgets with DJ Seeger, Seeger Water, Pheasant Ridge: Water Innovations
12:35 pm – 1:35 pm The Landscaper’s Guide to Sales & Marketing In The *New Normal* Economy with Jack Jostes, Ramlin Jackson, Llano Estacado: Business Strategies
12:35 pm – 1:35 pm Unlocking Success: Benefit Benchmarking for Competitive Advantage, Lisa Blanton, SHRM- SCP, Austin Alliance Group, Delaney II: Culture of Performance
12:35 pm – 1:35 pm Pest Dynamics and varietal performance of Crape Myrtles with Dr. Rafia Khan, Texas A&M University, Cross Timbers I & II: Plant Trends, Tips and Updates
1:35 pm – 1:50 pm Break
1:50 pm – 2:50 pm Water Panel Discussion, Moderator Curtis Smith, TNLA, Panelists: Chris Hobbs, Austin Wood Recycling, Greg Fox, Clean Scapes, LP, Remmington Holt, Amarillo Land Services Pheasant Ridge: Water Innovations
1:50 pm – 2:50 pm Brand Your Sales Process to Get the Owner Out Of Sales with Jack Jostes, Ramlin Jackson, Llano Estacado: Business Strategies
1:50 pm – 2:50 pm Coaching Conversations & Performance Feedback, with Lisa Blanton, SHRM- SCP, Austin Alliance Group, Delaney II: Culture of Performance
1:50 pm – 2:50 pm New Plant Materials, Andrew King, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension, Cross Timbers I & II: Plant Trends, Tips and Updates
2:50 pm – 3:00 pm Break
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Water Conservation in Texas Landscapes + Research on Drought Resistant Turf, Dean Minchillo, Texas Water Resources Institute, Pheasant Ridge: Water Innovations
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Scaling Up to the Next Level, Ivan Giraldo, CEO, CleanScapes, Llano Estacado: Business Strategies
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Recruiting in 2025 Panel Discussion with Tousley Leake, Cleanscapes and Erin Ledding, TCNP Calloway’s Nursery, Delaney II
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Roots and Resilience: Enhancing Soil Health for Optimal Turfgrass Performance, with Tony Provin, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Cross Timbers I & II: Plant Trends, Tips and Updates
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Break
4:10 pm – 5:00 pm Greywater Alternatives for Texas Landscapes, DJ Seeger, Seeger Water, Pheasant Ridge: Water Innovations
4:10 pm – 5:00 pm RETAIL PANEL DISCUSSION: Visioning to 2025: Understanding Necessary Changes to Product Assortment to Drive Customers to Your Store, Moderator: Marce Ward, TMCNP, Calloway’s Nursery and Panelists: Josh Bracken, TMCNP, Nicholson-Hardie, and McKenna Jenkins, TMCNP, Alldredge Nursery, Llano Estacado: Business Strategies
4:10 pm – 5:00 pm Trends in Texas HR Law, Brandy Chambers, Perkins Coie LLP, Delaney II: Culture of Performance
4:10 pm – 5:00 pm Grower Panel Discussion Plant Breeding: How New Varieties Can Improve Your Profitability, Panel Discussion with Moderator, Paul Winski, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, and Panelists from Texas Nursery Grower Operations including Jacob Clark, Green Lake Nursery, and Jim Berry, J Berry Nursery Cross Timbers I & II: Plant Trends, Tips and Updates
5:10 pm – 6:00 pm Opening Night Reception with Exhibitors, Texas Grande
Tuesday, January 7, 2025
8:00 am – 10:30 am
TNLA Awards Festival, Texas Grande (Breakfast Provided.)
11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Industry Tour Day (shuttle bus + complimentary lunch)
11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Emerge Pass Exclusive Tour (Must be registered for Emerge Pass to attend tour, lunch provided.)
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
8:30 am - 9:30 am Registration + Coffee with Exhibitors
8:30 am - 9:30 am COFFEE TALK: Navigating the Texas Green Industry's H-2A and H-2B Immigration Work Program (LIVE PODCAST) with Moderator: Curtis Smith, TNLA and Panelists: Devin Guinn, AquaGreen Global, LLC, Antonio Vergara, Mundo Verde Irrigation and Landscaping, Sponsored by Forward.US, Cross Timbers I & II
10:00 am - 12:00 pm TNLA Foundation Leadership Bootcamp, Graduation & Closing Keynote Presentation Decision FAIL: Top Strategic Decision-Making Mistakes (and How Smart Leaders Avoid Them) with Brett Hoogeveen, CSP, BetterCulture Co-Founder & Brunch Buffet, complimentary with Lone Star Hort Forum Registration
