GWA Members Qualified for Complimentary Registration (and much more) at Cultivate’16!

The GWA Association Outreach Task Force has again planned for GWA to have a major presence at the horticulture industry’s largest trade show in North America, Cultivate’16 (#Cultivate16). It is held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. 

Following the success of the 2014 and 2015 events, the AOTF has again arranged for GWA members to gain special access to the trade show, education sessions and other valuable networking events such as the AmericanHort press luncheon. Let’s see if we can set some records for GWA presence this year!

AmericanHort, the association that organizes the Cultivate show, has generously granted GWA members a special complimentary pass worth $350 that includes all the educational sessions and the trade show. The educational sessions begin on Saturday, July 9th. The trade show runs Sunday through Tuesday, July 10-12th. 

For more detailed information about Cultivate please visit: www.AmericanHort.org/Cultivate. 

Key Times and Dates
  • Sat, July 9: Sessions 8AM – 5PM, Expo Closed (Set-up)
  • Sun, July 10: Sessions 8AM – 5PM, Expo 9:30AM – 5PM
  • Mon, July 11: Sessions 8AM – 5PM, Expo 9AM – 5PM
  • Tue, July 12: Sessions 8AM – 12PM, Expo 9AM – 2PM
General Registration
GWA members can register at cultivate16.org/reg and use code PRESS10016.  This is the only way to register and receive your special complimentary GWA member pass for the trade show and educational sessions. 

Hotel
Hotel rooms can be reserved at the same time that you register. Once you complete your registration, you will be directed to hotel options. Book early as rooms go fast.

Press Luncheon
GWA members are also invited to a special press luncheon on Monday, July 11 from 12:00-1:30PM in the Franklin A room at the Hyatt Regency, hosted by AmericanHort. You MUST register separately for this event in order to attend. Click here to register. Sorry, because of construction at the Convention Center, room space is sparse so we must have all register ahead of time.  

GWA Connect Meeting 
Right after the Press Luncheon, there will be a GWA Connect Meeting at 1:30 p.m. in the Franklin B room of the Hyatt Regency.  President Kirk Brown will lead the group with a brief meeting and introductions followed by networking and member updates.  Registration is free and non-members and visitors are welcome to attend!
Expo Floor
GWA will again have a booth on the trade show floor, #1525, and anyone willing to volunteer to work the booth for an hour or two should email Diane Blazek by July 1 with your schedule of availability.  Working the booth is a great way to meet growers, garden centers and others who could use your skills. 

The presence of GWA at Cultivate’16 will serve two primary purposes: 1) to expose our members and their talents to potential clients and 2) to explain the value of GWA membership to potential new members. This is an extremely valuable networking opportunity that you should not miss!
  Additional events you should attend while at Cultivate’16...
NEW! National Garden Bureau’s Tour de Members
For the first time, National Garden Bureau is hosting a walking “Meet and Greet” for GWA members on Sunday, July 10 to meet breeding companies who are members of NGB. During each short meeting, you will meet key contacts at each company and learn about their newest introductions for 2017. Email Diane Blazek if you’d like to be involved in this unique opportunity.  More information coming soon! 

Block Party 
At the corner of Energized and Ready-for-More, AmericanHort is throwing a Block Party for all attendees. Join those you’ve met on the trade show floor as well as in the education sessions and relax. Have a great time on Sunday, July 10 at 5:00PM.
OSU Trials
Seize this opportunity to witness and evaluate the performance of new and recently introduced cultivated plant varieties under typical Central-Ohio environmental conditions. Board a free shuttle at the convention center for a short ride to The Ohio State University Chadwick Arboretum & Learning Gardens to view the Annuals Trial. Plants are grown in in-ground beds, containers, and hanging baskets, where you can observe growth habits, tolerances, and visual characteristics of nearly 700 trialed varieties. Also get the cool chance to walk through Howlett Hall's "green roof." Monday, July 11 starting at 5:00PM.

Unplugged Emergent Event
Mon. July 11, 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM, Callahan’s Columbus, 520 Park St.
NEW EXCITING LOCATION! Come to Cultivate's popular Unplugged event for the next generation of horticulture professionals. Hosted by the AmericanHort GenNext Community, all emerging professionals are encouraged to make this THE networking event of their Cultivate experience. Of course, all professionals, both the young and young at heart, are welcome. Also, congratulate the hard work and determination of this year's GrowerTalks/Dümmen Orange Young Grower Award and Green Profit/Dümmen Orange Young Retailer Award recipients when they are announced at Unplugged. 
We Need You!
Spread the word about this wonderful event and opportunity! If you attended last year, please tell your peers (via Social Media is a great idea!) the value you gained by attending. If you didn’t attend, now’s the chance to do so. Proudly display your GWA Member ribbon (handed out at registration) while at the show to help raise awareness of our organization. 

The GWA AOTF Committee and AmericanHort are proud to provide you with one of the best educational and networking opportunities in the country with a value of over $400.00 (including the educational sessions, press luncheon and trade show).