New Grower Certificate Program Offered

StandPoint, Inc. and Texas A&M University have announced a partnership to create a one-year educational experience for progressive nursery and greenhouse growers, culminating in a continuing education Certificate in Applied Horticultural Business Management from Texas A&M University.

The Executive Academy for Growth & Leadership (EAGL) is a one-year executive education program, developed specifically for business leaders in the nursery and greenhouse production industry.

It is the product of a multi-year design collaboration between program principals Kip Creel of StandPoint and Dr. Charlie Hall of Texas A&M University.

The EAGL program has been designed particularly with the challenges of contemporary wholesale growing businesses in mind. For a full year, attendees will collaborate with like- minded contemporaries to put world-class research and dynamic educational resources to work improving their companies’ competitive position and profitability.

EAGL is practical, not theoretical, and built with highly-interactive adult learning principles in mind. Each class has a maximum size of 15 executives, and will meet four times in a year (in person), supplemented with significant webinar and preparation coursework.

Executives who complete the EAGL program will receive a Certificate in Applied Horticultural Business Management from Texas A&M University.

Dr. Charlie Hall, the Ellison Chair in International Floriculture for Texas A&M University, says, “When enlightened, progressive executives are fully engaged in a different style of learning (case studies, open debate, dynamic simulations, etc.), lights of innovation come on. The EAGL program is built with that ‘executive MBA-style’ philosophy, personalized for the unique business realities of the commercial horticulture industry.”

Dr. Dan Lineberger, head of the Department of Horticultural Sciences, adds “Texas A&M University is committed to providing continuing education programs that are useful to working professionals. This collaboration between the Ellison Chair and StandPoint, Inc. exemplifies the kind of applicable education that we strive to provide our students at every level. We are proud to offer the Continuing Education Certificate in Applied Horticultural Business Management beginning in 2013.”

The inaugural 2013 EAGL course will begin in January 2013. Applications are now being accepted.

To learn more about the curriculum or download an application, visit www.eaglpro.com