Mix It Up with This Year’s Class
Last month, we introduced you to the members of GPN’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2018 in the pages of the magazine.
Next month, we’d like to introduce you to many of the members of this year’s class — in person — at Cultivate’18 in Columbus, Ohio.
On Monday, July 16, there will be a Mix ‘n Mingle session with GPN’s 40 Under 40 at 10:30 a.m. in the AmericanHort member booth on the show floor of the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
This Mix ‘n Mingle session will be your opportunity to meet many of the members of this year’s class face-to-face. You will have a chance to see what makes them tick and why they are members of this year’s class.
Just as a reminder, Cultivate’18 will take place June 14-17.
This year more than 10,000 industry professionals and visitors from all 50 states and over 30 countries are expected to be at Cultivate.
More than 650 exhibitors from 18 different countries will be on hand to display the latest new varieties as well as thousands of other new products and services to help you be more successful.
There also will be more than 150 educational sessions, workshops and tours including special tracks for greenhouse, nursery, landscape, garden retail, interior plantscape and more.
This year will also mark the return of CareerUP, a unique day-long networking and learning experience for the industry’s young professionals.
Have you registered to attend Cultivate yet? What are you waiting for?
Click here to go right to the registration page or to learn more about this year’s trade show and conference.
I hope I have a chance to mix it up with you in C-bus.
P.S. I also wanted to remind you that the GPN Cannabis Conference will take place July 14, at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus, Ohio.
Anyone interested in entering the cannabis market will have an opportunity to learn about the different business and production considerations growers must deal with in this emerging market. Registration is only $129.
To learn more, go to bit.ly/CannabisConf.
Lowe’s Taps Depot Vet for CEO & President Post
On May 22, Lowe’s announced that Marvin R. Ellison had been named president and CEO, effective July 2, 2018. He also will join Lowe’s board of directors. Ellison succeeds Robert A. Niblock, who previously announced his plans to retire. A 30-year retail industry veteran, Ellison currently serves as chairman and CEO of J. C. Penney Company where he implemented a turnaround strategy. Prior to that appointment, he spent 12 years in senior-level operations roles with The Home Depot, Inc., where he served as executive vice president of U.S. stores.
Costco to Boost Employee Hourly Wages in U.S.
Later this month, Costco plans to increase the wages of its U.S. employees by $1 to $14.50 an hour. The raises are being made possible by the company’s savings from the federal tax cuts that were enacted earlier this year. According to news reports, the move will cost the warehouse retailer $110-$120 million per year and impact approximately 130,000 U.S. employees. This round of wage increases will be in addition to (not a replacement of) the company’s regular wage increases. The wage increases are expected to take effect the week of June 11.
Walmart to Offer College Tuition Assistance to Associates
Walmart is introducing a new associate education benefit that includes free college credit for Walmart Academy training and options for associates to earn associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in business or supply chain management without incurring student loan debt. Under the program, which is available to all Walmart and Sam’s Club associates, Walmart will subsidize the cost of higher education, beyond financial aid and an associate contribution equivalent to $1 a day. Degrees will be offered through the University of Florida, Brandman University and Bellevue University.
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