2025 Education Sessions 

2025 Annual Meeting Education Sessions: 

Tuesday, October 21

6:00 AM - 9:30 AM Conference Registration Open

6:30  - 7:30 AM Fellows Breakfast, Flamingo Room (Tower Building, first floor)

8:00 AM Visit with Sponsors

8:00 AM Auction Open, Diamond 1-2

8:00 AM GeneralSession, Royal 1-2

         Opening Remarks, Michael Roe, 2024-25 IPPS-SR President,

         Introduction of Vivian Munday Scholarship Recipients, Margie Jenkins Scholarship Recipient,  

          Coach Vince Dooley Scholarship Recipient, and Exchange Program Participants

8:15 AM Session 1, Moderator TBD

8:15 AM A Horticultural Journey & Opportunities with IPPS, Dr. Fred Davies

8:35 AM Developing Talent Through a Futuristic Internship Model, Jerrin Victor, Corporate Director – Science and Technology, Magnolia Gardens Nursery

8:55 AM Beyond the Dip: Redefining Auxin Applications for Improved Propagation Outcomes, Anthony Bowden, Assistant Professor - Ornamental Extension Specialist, University of Arkansas

9:15 AM Question and Answer for Session 1 Speakers

9:25 AM Recognition of New Members, Brie Arthur, Membership Chair

9:35 AM Poster Pitch, Students

9:55 AM Refreshment Break, Visit with Sponsors, Visit Silent Auction, View Posters

10:15 AM Session 2  Moderator, Dr. Mack Thetford, University of Florida

10:20 AM The Charles SR-IPPS Student Research Competition

10:25 AM First Student Presenter

10:45 AM Second Student Presenter

11:05 AM Third Student Presenter

11:25 AM Fourth Student Presenter

11:45 AM Question and Answer for Session 2 Speakers

11:50 AM Sponsor Recognition, Richard May, Sponsor Chair

11:55 AM Announcements

12:00 PM Lunch on your own

1:30 PM  Session 3 Moderator (TBD)

1:35 PM  What We Know and Don’t Know About Fungus Gnat, Dr. JC Chong, Technical Development Manager – Ornamental, SePRO Corporation

1:55 PM Nutritional Considerations for Optimum Stock Plants and Cuttings, Lynn Griffith, President - Tropical Plant and Soil Expert

2:15 PM Finding Your Niche, Jennifer Tucker, Owner - Jensfarm Maples

2:35 PM Question and Answer for Session 3 Speakers

2:45 PM Refreshment Break, Visit with Sponsors, Visit Silent Auction, View Posters

3:05 PM International Tours: 2025 & 2026, Brie Arthur

3:20 PM New Friends and Old Foes: Tips for Managing Difficult Nursery Diseases, Dr. Emma Lookabaugh, Senior Technical Specialist - BASF

3:40 PM Bracing for Hurricane Season – Insights & Lessons Learned from Florida Growers and FNGLA, Tal Coley, Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association - Chief Executive Officer

4:00 PM Train Your Staff How to Water, Paul Fisher, Professor and Extension Specialist in Floriculture, UFL

4:20 PM Question and Answer for Session 4 Speakers

5:30 PM Auction Closes, Diamond 1-2

6:30 PM Social (cash bar)

7:30 PM Awards Banquet and Live Auction, Royal 1-2

9:00 - 11:00 PM Auction Checkout, Diamond Pre-function

Thursday, October 23

7:00 - 9:30 AM Registration Open

8:00 General Session, Royal 1-2

8:00 AM Welcome, Session 5, Moderator (TBD)

8:05 AM The Latest in Nursery Weed Control: Herbicides, Application Equipment, Mulch, and other Strategies to Save Money, Chris Marble, Associate Professor – UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture, Mid-Florida Research and Education Center

8:25 AM "I Can Propagate That"-A Survey of Propagation Research From Seeds to Tissue culture, Sandra Wilson, Professor - University of Florida

8:45 AM The Hidden Cost of Hot Containers, Jeremy Pickens, Assistant Extension Professor - Auburn University

9:05 AM Question and Answer for Session 5 Speakers

9:15 AM Annual meeting

10:15 AM Refreshment Break, Visit with Sponsors, View Posters

10:35 AM Session 6, Moderator (TBD)

10:35 AM Inventory Management, Christopher Brown, Jr., Lancaster Farms - BioWorks

10:55 AM Boxwood Disease Mitigation with Biologicals, Mark Freeman, Technical Services Manager

11:15 AM Question and Answer for Session 6 Speakers

11:25 AM Session 7, Moderator (TBD)

11:25 AM IPPS Early Career International Exchange Program 2024: Southern Region North America to Europe, Max McKeon, Huntsville Botanical Garden

11:40 AM Looking forward to Houston in 2026, Paul Winski, Local Site Chair, Houston, TX

11:55 AM Question and Answer for Session 7 Speakers

12:00 Conference ends

12:30-2 PM Post Conference Executive Committee Board Meeting