NGMA Insights Spring 2024

NGMA’s 2024 Annual Meeting

A Platform to Discuss Challenges and Explore Solutions in the Greenhouse Industry

The 2024 NGMA Annual Meeting was held in picturesque Clearwater Beach, Florida, from April 7 to 9. It was a resounding success, with industry leaders coming together to share ideas, network, and establish connections with their peers.

The meeting featured interactive roundtable discussions and sessions, during which members shared invaluable insights on the evolving industry and current market conditions. Attendees left with a wealth of knowledge and ideas on various topics related to the greenhouse industry, such as coverings and controls.

Apart from informative sessions, the event also offered exciting leisure activities. An opening add-on Golf Event at Clearwater Country Club and a closing add-on fishing excursion were arranged, which attendees thoroughly enjoyed.

NGMA’s Annual Meeting is a pivotal networking event; this year’s event was no exception. Attendees had the unique opportunity to connect with industry professionals,

exchange ideas, and establish new business relationships. The event provided a platform to discuss the challenges they face in the industry and explore potential solutions.

“It’s always an enjoyable event to meet with industry colleagues and friends,” said Henry Vangameren of Priva. “Well-planned, well-attended, with great discussions and topics. A direct way to help support and shape our horticulture industry.”

The NGMA board and staff would like to express their gratitude to all the attendees and presenters who contributed to the event’s success. The association provides industry professionals with valuable resources and networking opportunities.

“An organization such as NGMA is only as strong and effective as its membership. We are growing stronger, with greater effect and visibility when we assemble for our Annual Meeting.”

— Tim Lauer, Albert J. Lauer, Inc.

“NGMA’s annual meeting is the place to be for the latest information affecting our industry and to meet with your peers one-on-one.”

— Randy Nester, H.E. Anderson Company

“The 2024 NGMA Annual Meeting was one of the best meetings that I have attended. Great speakers, relevant information and great networking opportunities. Clearwater provided a great venue for our organization.”

— Mark Davis, Atlas Manufacturing, Inc.

“This was my second time attending, and it was great! I enjoyed seeing people I knew and meeting new people. This is the best way to really network with people in our industry.”

— Taylor Smith, Lubing USA THANK YOU

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Contact Us:

National Greenhouse Manufacturers Association 2207 Forest Hills Drive

Harrisburg, PA 17112

Phone: 717-238-4530

Fax: 717-238-9985 Website: www.NGMA.com

Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Eastern Time

Staff Contacts:

Executive Director: Lisa Ruggiers info@ngma.com

Communications Director: Michelle Keyser communications@ngma.com

NGMA’s staff wants you to get the most out of your experience with NGMA. We are available to serve you, so please do not hesitate to contact staff with any question or concern that you may have. For a full staff listing, please click here

www.facebook.com/ NationalGreenhouseManufacturersAssoc www.youtube.com/channel/UCSUrP1A_ qqgyJmWHkvuCRbA/videos

Insights is published electronically four times per year.

Board of Directors

Officers

President Tim Lauer

Albert J. Lauer, Inc. (651) 423-1651 tim@ajlauer.com

President-Elect

Leigh Dodd

The Greenhouse Company of South Carolina, LLC (803) 798 - 4000 leigh@thegreenhousecompany.net

Secretary/Treasurer

Bobby Harris Acme Engineering & Manufacturing (918) 684-0509 bharris@acmefan.com

Immediate Past President

Mark Davis Atlas Manufacturing (229) 532-2905 mark@atlasgreenhouse.com

Directors

Kim Brown Ball Publishing (630) 588-3433 KBrown@ballpublishing.com

Patricia Dean Wadsworth Control Systems (303) 424-4461 patricia.dean@wadsworthcontrols.com

Neil Devaney Stuppy Greenhouse Manufacturing (803) 760 - 8847 ndevaney@stuppy.com

Adam Pound Agra Tech, Inc. (925) 432-3399 adam.pound@agratech.com

Dennis Raath Ridder Corp (405) 202- 6959 d.raath@ridder.com

NGMA’s Mission Statement

To represent and advance the interests of the greenhouse industry through education, networking and communication.

Message From the President

Fostering Collaboration: NGMA Annual Meeting Recap

by Tim Lauer

I am immensely grateful for the vibrant spirit and unwavering commitment that each of you brings to our association! Nowhere is this more evident than at our Annual Meeting. We had a great time in Clearwater Beach, Florida this past April.

Throughout the meeting, I witnessed the power of collaboration and shared knowledge as we exchanged insights, explored innovative solutions, and forged meaningful connections. Our engagement in the various sessions, workshops, and networking events exemplified dedication to advancing our collective goals and driving positive change within our industry.

I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, volunteers, and staff who contributed their time, expertise, and resources to make this event possible. Your contributions enriched the annual meeting experience and made it a memorable experience for sure!

I encourage you to stay connected with your fellow NGMA members, leverage the insights gained from the meeting, and explore opportunities for collaboration and growth. Remember, our strength lies in our unity and collective efforts to drive progress and innovation.

Let’s get the word out about how great NGMA is! Please invite other companies you think would benefit from our association. Are you planning on attending Cultivate’24 in Columbus, Ohio, July 13 – 16? If so, make sure to connect with us at our reception, bring along a colleague or two and introduce them to our group.

Once again, thank you for your enthusiastic participation and unwavering support.

Save the Date

NGMA Membership Reception at Cultivate’24

Mark your calendars! You’re invited to NGMA’s membership reception during Cultivate’24. Join us in Columbus, Ohio to network with current and prospective members of NGMA. This is your opportunity to surround yourself with leaders in the green industry!

Sunday, July 14, 2024

6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Fairfield Room - Hyatt Regency Columbus

350 North High Street Columbus, OH 43215

Light refreshments will be served. If you are planning on exhibiting at the show, we will have NGMA member signs and badge ribbons for you to promote your membership in NGMA.

Please contact membership@ngma.com with any questions. We look forward to seeing you there!

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Get Your Greenhouse Featured! Represent Our Industry Through NGMA

NGMA is collecting photos of our members’ greenhouses to use in advertising, website, and social media to promote membership with our association. This is your chance to get your cool projects featured!

Please submit your photos to Michelle Keyser at communications@ngma.com. Join us in representing our industry!

Feature Yourself & Your Company in NGMA’s Insights!

We want to get to know our members. Tell us about yourself, your company or a deserving team member. Are you doing any pro bono or volunteer work? Are you working on a cool or unusual project? Have you been featured in the media? Share it all with us!

In future issues of NGMA’s Insights newsletter, we want to highlight our amazing members and their work. Spotlight your company and share your experience in the industry!

Do you want to be featured?

Simply click HERE and fill out our interview survey. If you want to include a headshot, photos of your work and/or your company logo, please email NGMAnewsletter@gmail.com.

In Memoriam

Jim Stuppy (1945 – 2024)

Jim Stuppy, a beloved member of our NGMA community and the owner of Stuppy Greenhouse Manufacturing, passed away on Sunday, May 19, 2024, at the age of 79. His presence and contributions will be deeply missed.

Jim received a BSBA degree from Creighton University and later obtained a master’s degree in economics from Oklahoma State University. He served in the United States Navy and achieved the rank of Lieutenant. After marrying Sue, they moved to Kansas City, where he became an integral part of the community.

He was a proud supporter of Kansas City Royals Baseball. He also loved golf and instilled a passion for it in each of his sons.

George Dean reminisced, “Jim was a long-time member of NGMA and served as Treasurer for many years. He was a valued member of our NGMA community, and he will be greatly missed.”

Our hearts go out to Sue, his wife of 55 years, his children, and 12 grandchildren. We stand with them in this difficult time, offering our support and condolences.

Click here to read the full obituary.

Dennis Raath Joins the NGMA Board of Directors

We are pleased to announce that Dennis Raath has joined the NGMA Board of Directors. Dennis brings years of industry experience and a passion for community service.

Dennis is a Sales Account Manager for Ridder in the Southwest region. He is dedicated to helping farmers and growers transition to more efficient and sustainable production methods. Ridder offers complete system solutions that cover mechanical systems and digital services, ensuring the creation of an ideal growing environment.

In an interview, Dennis shared insights into his career and personal life. When asked about a project or accomplishment he is particularly proud of, Dennis spoke about a contract worth over $4.5 million that he received earlier in his career. What’s remarkable about the project is that he received it with a simple handshake and a check for the down payment on a Friday afternoon.

Outside of his professional life, Dennis is a beacon of community service. He enjoys spending time with his two grandchildren and is deeply committed to giving back. Dennis presents Honor and Remember Flags to Gold Star Families and serves on the Board of Directors for Flag Poles Honoring Our Veterans, a nonprofit that provides free flag poles, flags, and lights to veterans in Oklahoma. His belief in the importance of giving back is truly inspiring.

When asked about his long-term vision for the industry and how he sees NGMA contributing to those goals, Dennis envisions a future where the industry thrives, and everyone is updated on new developments.

The NGMA board is a group of industry professionals committed to advancing the greenhouse industry’s goals. They work to promote

sustainability and efficiency in greenhouse production methods and ensure that growers have access to the latest technologies and techniques.

The board is dedicated to providing a platform for members to share their knowledge and expertise, collaborate on industry initiatives, and address the industry’s challenges. Through its work, the NGMA board plays a vital role in promoting the growth and success of the greenhouse industry in the United States.

Dennis’ appointment to the NGMA Board of Directors is a significant addition, given his experience and passion for the industry and community service. The board looks forward to working with him and leveraging his expertise to advance the association’s goals.

What Is Authenticity and Authentic Leadership?

by Jeff Tippett

Authentic leadership may not strike you as a necessary category of persuasive leadership. Maybe it seems somewhat abstract, or perhaps too obvious to mention. But I think authenticity is a key element of persuasion. If your audience doesn’t accept that you’re coming from a place of authenticity, your efforts will likely fall flat.

So, what do I mean by authentic? Let’s define the parts and then combine them to see what they mean in sum.

Authentic means “of undisputed origin; genuine.” I would then add that authenticity is being true to yourself, being open with others and being honest. If you want to be a persuasive speaker, these traits are essential.

How do these pieces work in the context of authentic leadership? Bill George, in the Harvard Business Review, put it this way:

“An authentic leader is someone who is genuine and true to what they believe in. They understand the purpose of leadership, they lead with very consistent values, and with their heart, as well as their head. They have courage, compassion, empathy –qualities like that – and they build long-term connected relationships. And they have the personal self-discipline to deliver extraordinary results from their teams.”

Hone in on this piece: “lead with very consistent values.” That’s important here. Not only do your values need to be respectable and of clear intention, they need to be consistent. You should identify your core values and stick to them, always, not just with certain company or in certain scenarios.

Being an authentic leader means you need to come across as legitimate. Sure, you can fake it ‘til you make it. But that’s no way to inspire confidence. In fact, you’ll find it’s far easier to be sincere, and thus consistent, if you lead with your values.

Let’s revisit Bill George for one moment. He cites five qualities that authentic leaders must demonstrate:

• Understanding their purpose

• Practicing solid values

• Leading with heart

• Establishing connected relationships

• Demonstrating self-discipline

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While you consider these five traits, keep in mind that the ultimate goal is to focus on human beings. Though I’m aiming in this book to show you the ways to navigate leadership in the 21st century, in a world of automation and artificial intelligence, at the end of the day you’re dealing with people. They have to trust you, and you have to seem sincere. I’d argue that it is even more important today, given how disconnected people are on a human level. Even as we all have an infinite number of contacts at the tip of our finger, interpersonal relationships seem to falter. As an authentic leader, it’s up to you to help rebuild a sense of community within your workplace.

Another important aspect of authentic leadership is that it isn’t necessarily innate. Some people may be born with the ability to lead others, and certainly that’s borne out by studying leaders throughout history. Every single one of us can be our true selves.

Steve Robinson has a great quote on this:

“At its most basic level, authenticity means being genuine – not a replica, not a copy or imitation. In leadership being genuine implies that we are embodying our true selves into our leadership role. Being true to ourselves calls us to draw on the very essence of our values, beliefs, principles, morals and that all of these create our ‘guiding compass’ in the job.”

There are two buckets of leadership we should examine: authentic leadership and transactional leadership.

Authentic leaders inspire confidence in how their team views them, and also in the individuals themselves. Allowing people to flourish and find success in their own ways builds trust among everyone in your organization.

Keep firm to your beliefs, and you’ll be an authentic leader. Be yourself.

About the Author: Jeff Tippett

Jeff Tippett is the international best-selling author of two books, Pixels Are the New Ink and Unleashing Your Superpower: Why Persuasive Communication is the Only Force You Will Ever Need. Speaking to international audiences through keynotes

and seminars, Jeff helps attendees increase their effectiveness, gives them powerful tools to reach their goals, and empowers attendees to positively impact and grow their organizations or businesses.

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Social Media Icons Metro StyleSocial Media Icons Metro Style

Transactional leadership leans heavily on what could be defined as simply micromanaging. Transactional leaders focus on what basically amounts to: You do this, and you get that. This is a useful method of gaining results from people in the short term and accomplishing discrete goals. But a management style of sticks and carrots will not inspire confidence over the long term.

Metro Style

In 2014, Jeff founded Targeted Persuasion, an award-winning public affairs + communications firm. He has worked with renowned brands like Airbnb, The National Restaurant Association, The League of Women Voters, The League of Conservation Voters, plus others. Other industry experts have validated Jeff’s work with numerous awards including the prestigious The American Advertising Award.

Jeff is the host of Victory by Association with Jeff Tippett, a podcast that shares the victories of association executives with the world, highlighting the great work done across this country every day.

Jefftippett.com

Did you know that NGMA has two ways for you to stay connected with the Association and your peers through social media? So, what are you waiting for? Join today and get connected online!

Industry News

Editor’s note: Industry News articles are authored by someone outside of our membership but share observed trends and opinions that we feel everyone should have an opportunity to review and understand. NGMA does not endorse the views set forth in these articles.

Research on CEA Greenhouses Shows Room for Improvement

Can Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) overcome its perception problem? Conventional field production is still viewed more positively than CEA due to its newness and lack of transparency. However, farmers and researchers are finding ways to improve sustainability, efficiency, and yield. By engaging all three dimensions of sustainability and addressing challenges, CEA can produce a profitable product with minimal adverse impact. Greenhouse Grower looks into the benefits of CEA and how it can change how we think about agriculture. Read more HERE

How Data Drives Greenhouse Production

This article on Greenhouse Grower explores the current state of artificial intelligence (AI) in controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) and how it is advancing.

The author, Nick Matysik, a Multimedia Specialist at Greenhouse Grower, speaks with experts from various companies— including several NGMA members—to learn about the latest developments in AI-driven environmental control systems.

While many current environmental control systems still rely on traditional sensor-based inputs, new technologies that use machine learning, machine vision, intelligent algorithms, and data analytics to anticipate and adjust the environment based on human-derived strategies are emerging.

The goal is to create a more finely tuned, precise, and consistent growing environment that maximizes plant growth and minimizes risk. Whether you are a grower or an industry professional, this article provides valuable insights into the future of AI in CEA.

How the Top 100 Growers Adapt

and Evolve to Market Pressures

What makes some companies succeed in the face of market pressures? To answer this question, Greenhouse Grower turned directly to the Top 100 Growers

One of the questions in this year’s Top 100 Growers survey was, “Over this past year, there have been a number of Top 100 operations that have shut down. How has your company been able to adjust to dynamic market conditions?”

Click HERE to read a few of the replies Greenhouse Grower received.

Reach New Clients by Advertising on the NGMA Website

NGMA’s website advertising program is designed to keep your company’s name in front of the thousands of visitors to the NGMA website. NGMA offers both horizontal and vertical banner placement positions for advertisements on www.ngma.com. The maximum positions for banners will be four (4) horizontal banner, four (4) small vertical banners and four (4) large vertical banners. Advertisements will rotate on a constant basis. Advertisements will be visible on all public pages of NGMA’s website.

If you are interested in advertising on the website, contact ads@ngma.com. We look forward to being able to promote your company through the NGMA website.

NGMA member rates for website advertising

Non-member rates for website advertising