Your Chance to Make an Impact
In September, AmericanHort will once again host Impact Washington, an advocacy and policy meeting, in our nation’s capital.
The two-day advocacy summit will take place Sept. 16 to 18, in Washington, D.C.
Impact Washington is an opportunity for big growers and other industry members and leaders to meet with elected officials and their staffs and other policy experts to discuss many of the issues facing our industry and to “Take Action. Be Heard. Impact Washington.”
It is a chance for our industry to present a united front, exchange ideas and to share personal and relevant experiences to help provide context and influence on the legislative decisions and help continue the growth of our $193 billion industry. Topics such as immigration, trucking regulations and other pertinent issues will be discussed during the summit.
The full agenda for the event along with this year’s participants is scheduled to be announced at a later date but I wanted to give you a heads up and make sure it’s on your radar.
Registration prices are $549 for AmericanHort members and $799 for non-members.
If you want to make an impact on our industry and in Washington, then be sure to circle Sept. 16-18 on your calendar.
For more information on this year’s event, please visit www.americanhort.org/impact.
Walmart Presents Innovation Award to BrightFarms
BrightFarms, a supplier of locally grown salads for supermarkets based in Irvington, New York, recently received the Innovation Award (Produce) at Walmart’s 2019 Supplier Growth Forum. BrightFarms produce reaches Walmart stores within 24 hours of harvest, providing consumers with a fresher product grown indoors and without pesticides. The Innovation Award follows a successful launch of BrightFarms salads in Walmart stores in Ohio. The award comes as Walmart plans to expand Brightfarms’ products into an additional 50 stores in the Columbus metropolitan by the end of May.
In April, more than 60 organizations introduced Generation T (“Gen T”), a movement intended to help fill the skilled trade gap that analysts predict will leave 3 million jobs open by 2028. Led by Lowe’s, the movement creates a path to grow talented tradespeople who are vital to our society’s future. Through support from industry leaders, Gen T aims to shift the societal perception of the trades by demonstrating the economic mobility possible, exposing children to trade education early and encouraging students to explore career options beyond four-year degree programs. Gen T also connects prospective skilled trade professionals to apprenticeships and jobs through the WeAreGenerationT.com website.
Long-Time Home Depot Exec to Retire
Earlier this week, the Home Depot announced that Carol Tomé, CFO and executive vice president of corporate services, will retire on Aug. 31, 2019 after 24 years of service to the company. The company also announced that Richard McPhail, senior vice president of finance control and administration, will be promoted to executive vice president and chief financial officer following Tomé’s retirement. Since joining the company in 2005, McPhail has held a number of roles of increasing responsibility within the finance organization including director of strategic business development, vice president of strategic business development, and senior vice president of finance.