Aug 30, 2022
RISE Members Gather for 32nd Annual Meeting

More than 150 Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment (RISE) members gathered in Lake Oconee, Georgia, to actualize the five-year strategic plan goals of collaborating, engaging and convening as an industry that serves as the voice of specialty pesticides and fertilizers.

Attendees included RISE members who are manufacturers, formulators and distributors of specialty pesticides used in public health, aquatics, consumer, forestry, nursery and greenhouse, structural pest control, turf and ornamental and vegetation management.

RISE President Megan Provost 2022 — RISE President Megan Provost

The theme of the meeting was Gather, Connect, RISE with Megan Provost, RISE president, emphasizing that joining together as an industry was key to advocacy success.

“We speak as the voice of our industry and advocate for regulatory and legislative certainty,” Provost told annual meeting attendees. “We work to help you be better advocates and spokespeople for our industry.”

Connecting Through Speakers and Panels

RISE hosted two keynote panels. The first in which leaders from partner associations in pest management, golf, and landscape joined Provost to share what the industry can do to speak with a unified voice.

The second panel discussion featured top industry communicators who discussed how to implement messaging using RISE public opinion research.

The keynote speaker was Timothy Caulfield from the University of Alberta, Canada, a communicator, professor, and scientific researcher who debunks myths and assumptions about innovation for the benefit of the public and decision-makers.

Recognizing Board Members and Committee Chairs

The RISE Governing Board elected two new members, Steven Farrington, Gowan Company, and Jeff Bunting, GROWMARK, Inc.

The Board’s 2023 Executive Committee is:

Karen Larson, chair, Clarke
Jose Milan, vice chair, Bayer Environmental Science
Blaine Pinkerton, treasurer, Nufarm Americas

Also continuing their terms on the 2022-23 Governing Board are:

Barbara Aguiar, BASF
Kathy Bishop, Lebanon Seaboard Corporation
Bill Culpepper, SePRO Corporation
John Johnson, Prokoz, Inc.
Todd Mason, Sipcam Agro USA
Scott Reasons, Syngenta
Nadia Sinno, FMC Corporation
Shayne Wetherall, AMGUARD Environmental Technologies

Completing their terms on the Governing Board are Daryl Allen, Corteva Agriscience, and Brian Rowan, SiteOne Landscape Supply.

RISE Members, Others Honored with Awards

RISE members and other industry leaders were honored with a variety of awards.

Wendell Codner, FMC, is recipient of the 2022 E. Allen James Leadership Award. Pictured from left is RISE Governing Board Chair Karen Larson, Clarke; Wendell Codner; Board Vice Chair Jose Milan, Bayer; and Board Treasurer Blaine Pinkerton, Nufarm.

The recipient of the 2022 E. Allen James Leadership Award was Wendell Codner, FMC business manager of global consumer solutions and past chair of the strategic oversight council.

RISE’s most distinguished volunteer honor named for its first president recognizes exemplary leadership and outstanding contributions to the specialty pesticide and fertilizer industry and to RISE.

“Since joining RISE, Wendell has been an active member on our committees,” said Provost. “He’s helped attract and retain members and provided input to deliver the best possible programs for our members. He has been proactive in stewarding RISE activities and thinks about our industry first.”

The 2022 RISE Grassroots Excellence Award was given to two honorees this year, Matthew Johnson, president of Aquatic Control, for his federal grassroots work, and Pete Gorman, chair of the Connecticut Environmental Council, for his work in the state.

Created in 2012, the RISE Grassroots Excellence Award is presented annually to an individual, group or allied association that demonstrates outstanding effort and contributions to furthering the mission, vision and goals of the specialty pesticide and fertilizer industry’s public policy advocacy through grassroots.

The 2022 Strategic Driver Award, recognizing the work of RISE volunteer leaders and their impact of helping RISE achieve its strategic plan’s mission and vision, was awarded to:

Julie Schlekau, Calent senior manager, Label and State Affairs Group and vice chair of the Regulatory Affairs Committee, for her role in advancing our regulatory advocacy, particularly helping reauthorize the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA 5).
Dillon Gabbert, Bayer state regulatory engagement manager, for his engagement with the RISE team to drive strategy and engagement on regulatory advocacy.

RISE founding member, long-time volunteer leader and Governing Board member Bill Culpepper, SePRO founder/chairman, was recognized for his 31 years of service to the association during his last RISE Annual Meeting before retirement.