Schedule of Events

Exhibit Hall Hours

Wednesday, Aug. 6 - 12:15 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 7 - 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Times, sessions and speakers are subject to change. Sessions may be categorized under more than one topic. When selecting topics, please note that you may need to deselect your previous selections or choose "ALL" as multiple selections can be made at once.

CLICK HERE to view the 2023 conference schedule.

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Garden Center Tour (SOLD OUT!)
Kansas City-area Garden Centers

Some of the best independent garden centers are in the Midwest, and the retailers of Kansas City, Missouri, are no exception. Join us as we tour three inspiring, nationally known Kansas City-area garden centers to see how they meet and exceed garden consumers’ demands and provide immersive experiences with spaces to learn, shop, dine and grow throughout the year.

CLICK HERE for tour details.

1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Registration Open
Exhibit Hall Foyer

8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Registration Open
Exhibit Hall Foyer

9:30 AM – 10:00 AM

Networking Refreshment Break
Exhibit Hall Foyer

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

State of the Industry: Finding Focus
Missouri Main Stage

Garden Center magazine Editor Patrick Alan Coleman will present an overview of data from Garden Center’s 2024 State of the Industry study, highlighting key insights from participants about the overall health of the industry, most profitable departments, revenue changes and much more. For those who read the 2024 report, this talk will be a deeper dive into the research that was not previously presented. Patrick will also share preliminary insights from the 2025 State of the Industry report, data which is being collected now.

Patrick Alan Coleman
Speaker Patrick Alan Coleman Editor, Garden Center magazine View Bio

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

From Trend to Transaction: Capitalize on 2026 Garden Trends
Missouri Main Stage

Ready to boost sales and connect with today's customers? Join this interactive session and learn how to transform Garden Media Group's 2026 Garden Trends into concrete sales strategies. Garden Media's president and trendspotter, Katie Dubow, will dissect three to four of the company’s key trends, provide actionable advice on product selection, irresistible visual merchandising tips, effective cross-merchandising ideas, and targeted marketing strategies. Whether you're aiming for a store refresh or simply want to stay ahead of the curve, this session will give you the insights you need to thrive in 2026.

Katie Dubow
Speaker Katie Dubow President, Garden Media Group View Bio

12:15 PM – 1:30 PM

Networking Lunch

12:30 PM – 1:15 PM

The Future of Garden Center Retail: What Consumers Really Want
Merchandising & Solutions
Missouri Main Stage
Sponsored By

Today's customers want more from their shopping experience — are you ready to deliver? Square's annual Future of Retail report is based on insights from 4,000 consumers, revealing trends in evolving shopping preferences, and actionable tips you can implement in your garden center today. Sam Argos, Retail Product Marketing Manager at Square, will unpack this year's key trends, and you'll hear from a panel of experts as they share real life examples on how they’re using these insights to grow their businesses. What you’ll learn: How to reach more customers by creating seamless in-store and online experiences, how to build a resilient business by adding new revenue streams, the latest consumer payment and communication preferences, how loyalty programs and personalized offers can keep customers engaged, and more. Join us for actionable strategies to boost sales, strengthen loyalty, and fuel growth this year and beyond.

Claire Allen
Speaker Claire Allen Product Marketing Manager, Square View Bio

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

Financial KPIs that Drive Retail Profitability
Kansas City Session Room

Tim spent two decades working in garden centers before joining The Garden Center Group in 2019 to help members with financial analysis and management. In this session, Tim will detail what he is tracking in the Group’s Weekly Department Review – which includes insights from more than 110 member garden centers – including transaction counts, average sales, inventory levels, general trends, and other KPIs, as well as key insights from the 2024 Profit and Loss Study. This session will help garden centers benchmark their businesses and provide attendees with the opportunity to get advice on the biggest financial questions and challenges facing IGCs today.

Tim Quebedeaux
Speaker Tim Quebedeaux Service Provider, The Garden Center Group View Bio

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

Lessons from a Decade-Long Journey of Succession Planning, a Sale Leaseback and Relocation
Missouri Main Stage
The idea that a family business “will take care of us" is a common one — but it only becomes true if you plan for it. All leaders need to formalize a plan to exit the business or role, and it’s important that transition of a company you’ve devoted your life to is strategic and not left up to chance. In this session, we’ll dive into how Reems Creek Nursery navigated not only succession planning, but also a sale leaseback and business relocation. Susan Reavis, a second-generation owner, and her son-in-law, co-owner David Williams, will share the challenges and triumphs of developing a succession plan to transition the company from Susan to David, executing a sale-leaseback strategy, and what factors led to them deciding to move their business to a new location. Moderated by Chris Cimaglio, a certified exit plan advisor and succession planning expert and managing partner of BEST Human Capital & Advisory Group and PivotPoint Business Solutions, attendees will walk away with best practices and tips for building a solid succession plan that ensures business continuity.
Chris Cimaglio
Moderator Chris Cimaglio Managing Partner, Best Human Capital & Advisory Group and PivotPoint Business Solutions View Bio
Susan Reavis
Speaker Susan Reavis Former owner, consultant and Board of Directors treasurer, Reems Creek Nursery Inc. View Bio
David Williams
Speaker David Williams Vice President of Operations & Co-Owner, Reems Creek Nursery Inc. View Bio

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM

Networking Refreshment Break

3:00 PM – 4:30 PM

Keynote Session: Looking Back to Move Forward
Keynote
Missouri Main Stage
Stephanie's grandfather built Stuckey's into an empire — a roadside oasis that redefined America. How did he do it? What lessons can we learn from W.S. Stuckey that can be applied today? Stephanie finds wisdom in the past to define her future and how she runs Stuckey's.
Stephanie Stuckey
Speaker Stephanie Stuckey Chair, Stuckey’s View Bio

4:30 PM – 5:00 PM

Garden Center Top 100 Awards Presentation
Missouri Main Stage
Sponsored By

4:30 PM – 6:00 PM

Top 100 Celebration and Welcome Reception in the Exhibit Hall
Sponsored By

8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Registration Open
Exhibit Hall Foyer

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Networking Breakfast in the Exhibit Hall
Sponsored By

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Managing & Motivating the Multi-Generational Green Industry
Kansas City Session Room

For the first time in history, 5 generations collide in the workforce: The Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z. However, the workforce faces mass retirements from the Baby Boomer generation every day. Generation Z is quickly infiltrating the industry, and Millennials are stepping up to take over the preceding leadership positions, bringing new ideas surrounding technology, management and communication styles, company culture, and personal and professional values and expectations. In this seminar, we will share various perspectives inspired by professionals across the four prominent generations in the workforce today (Boomers, X, Millennials, and Z) providing insight into what once was versus today’s reality.

You will learn the following:

  • What the current understanding of the state of the industry is from the perspective of each generation, as well as thoughts and feelings on these changes
  • How leaders are managing and accommodating today’s workplace standards on company culture, communication, and work-life balance
  •  Advice and insight on best practices when it comes to working alongside various generations and implementing and embracing change.
Paige Franks
Speaker Paige Franks Senior Executive Search Advisor, Best Human Capital & Advisory Group View Bio

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

How to Leverage AI To Gain a Competitive Advantage
Missouri Main Stage

The spotlight is on AI (Artificial Intelligence) and how businesses can use this technology to increase efficiencies. Independent garden centers that take time to learn more about it and use it as a tool are going to win. This session will break down both the capabilities and limitations of AI, and how retailers can use the technology to support everything from customer service to education to email marketing to automating recurring tasks. Knowledge has always been a key differentiator for IGCs, and this talk will break down how businesses can retain that advantage while enhancing other aspects of their stores.  

Rob Sproule
Speaker Rob Sproule Co-owner and marketing director, Salisbury Greenhouse View Bio

10:00 AM – 10:45 AM

AI for the Green Industry
Merchandising & Solutions
Kansas City Session Room
Sponsored By
Learn how to overcome labor shortages, grow revenue, and optimize inventory by leveraging AI. In this session, we’ll cover tactical tools and insights — relevant to all green industry owners and operators!
Ashley Wright
Speaker Ashley Wright CEO, Plantista View Bio

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Networking Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall
Sponsored By

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Navigating Your Work Injury Claims With Empathy and Evidence
Kansas City Session Room

An employee’s perception of the workers' compensation process is just as significant as the quality of care provided while they are recovering from an injury. Employers have the power to have a positive impact based on effective communication and detailed information shared with healthcare providers. Rob will review cases in which both communication and documentation have benefited or hindered this experience, and he will share strategies to help businesses mitigate prolonged work injury claims.

Rob Townsend
Speaker Rob Townsend Senior Clinical Consultant, Bardavon Health Innovations View Bio

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Expanding with Experience: Petitti’s Lessons from a Complex Build
Missouri Main Stage

Cleveland-based Petitti Garden Centers opened its 10th retail location this spring. President A.J. Petitti says he’s been hoping to open a store in Bath Township, Ohio, for two decades. The process to purchase the building started in May 2023, and after a lengthy rezoning process, construction began in March 2024, with the former office building transforming into a light-filled 30,000-square-foot garden center. Two greenhouses for Petitti’s live plant material will also be on the property, which happens to be right next door to a Lowe’s. In this session, Petitti will share lessons learned from the process, which was more expensive and complicated than when the company built three garden centers in 2018. He’ll share what has evolved in the building process, why the location was right despite a big box being next door, and what other owners should consider when expanding.

AJ Petitti
Speaker AJ Petitti President, Petitti Garden Centers View Bio

12:00 PM – 1:30 PM

Networking Lunch in the Exhibit Hall

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

From Seasonal to Steadfast Staff: Strategies to Develop Careers, Boost Morale and Drive Results
Missouri Main Stage

Join two trailblazing horticulture industry business owners as they discuss proven strategies for building a resilient and rewarding company culture—one that supports both your people and increases your bottom line. This session will dive into the tangible benefits of financial transparency, why profit-sharing may be a more practical option over bonuses, the long-term value of investing in full-time team members, and how cross-training during the onboarding process and beyond can prevent burnout and boost morale. You’ll walk away with tips for implementing these strategies at your garden center to attract solution-focused, career-minded professionals, increase retention, and create a more stable, empowered, and productive workforce.

Lyndsi Oestmann
Speaker Lyndsi Oestmann Owner, Loma Vista Nursery View Bio
Robyn Schmitz
Speaker Robyn Schmitz CEO and Founder, High Prairie Outdoors View Bio

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

General Session 6B
Kansas City Session Room

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM

How to Create a Third Place: Cafes, meaningful experiences, zoning considerations and more
Missouri Main Stage

Independent garden centers have long offered more than plants and have created experiences and offerings that set them apart from big box competitors. In this panel discussion, leaders from exceptional, Kansas-City area garden centers will dive into the various ways they’ve created a “third place” and ideas that have helped make their company’s destinations. Family Tree Nursery has long focused on experiential retailing, and its in-store café in Shawnee has been so successful that the company added a coffee truck at its Liberty store and plans to build out a permanent cafe in the Overland Park location. Colonial Gardens has 400+ public events on their calendar for the 2025 season – everything from Alpaca Brunches to Plant Bingo from Music in the Garden to Farm-to-Table Dinners. These experiences and spaces – made possible in part with efforts to create unique zoning – drive engagement with customers. Colonial will also explain the effects of the business’ current restructuring and how efforts in creating these experiences are a driving force for not only traffic and increasing the average order value (AOV), but how this community outreach has helped foster a devoted and supportive clientele. Each speaker on the panel will share key lessons and takeaways on how they’ve built and created these additional revenue streams and branding opportunities that complement their garden centers and have helped transform their businesses.

Paul Abugattas
Speaker Paul Abugattas Executive Director, Colonial Gardens/DCA Outdoor View Bio
Jonah Nelson
Speaker Jonah Nelson CEO & Third Generation Owner, Family Tree Nursery View Bio
Matt Stueck
Speaker Matt Stueck Owner, Suburban Lawn & Garden View Bio

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Networking Reception in the Exhibit Hall
Sponsored By

6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Garden Center Conference & Expo Chicken N Pickle After Party
Chicken N Pickle
Sponsored By

Join us as we wrap up the conference and celebrate the independent garden center industry with a casual evening of conversations, connections and friendly competition at the Kansas City-founded Chicken N Pickle.

This roof-top reception will include plenty of food (sourced from local farms) and an open bar, thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, Endless Summer and First Editions. Attendees also have access to pickleball courts and yard games, including cornhole, ping-pong and life-size Battleship.

After an engaging week of learning and networking, come unwind, play and hang out with us!

To attend the Garden Center Conference & Expo Chicken N Pickle After Party, attendees must be registered with a Conference & Expo Pass and must add on the reception during the registration process when registering for the event. We encourage anyone interested in participating to register as soon as possible as space is limited and this event will reach capacity. Each attendee must register themselves.

Please note: Expo Only Pass holders are not eligible to attend.

CLICK HERE for more information.