May 2014

The Keys to the Future By Tim Hodson

Thanks to technology the old fashioned fold-up-and-stick-it-in-the-glovebox road map is rapidly becoming a thing of the past. Nowadays, most of us rely on a plug-it-in-the-cigarette-lighter global positioning system (GPS) system to help us chart a course for where we want to go and how we need to get there.

In the past, trying to find a road map to figure out where our industry is headed and who was going to be in the driver's seat was always a bit of a challenge.

That's where GPN's 40 Under 40 comes in! It's kind of like a GPS for the industry's future.

For the past three years in our May issue, we have been selecting 40 men and women under the age of 40 who have been identified as people who are holding the keys to the horticulture industry's future. Each one of them is already in the car, the engine is warmed up and they are ready to shift into overdrive and take this industry to new and exciting destinations.

Starting on page 12, you can learn about the members of the Class of 2014. Each one of these individuals was nominated by their peers based on their personal and professional accomplishments. They are in charge of the GPS and are going to be steering us into tomorrow.

Meet, Mix and Mingle

If you would like to meet some of the members of this year's class, there will be a special Mix n' Mingle session at Cultivate'14 (formerly OFA Short Course) in July. This is your opportunity to learn more about these individuals and find out what really makes them tick.

The one-hour free session will take place on July 14, at 10:45 a.m. in Terrace Ballroom 5 in the Columbus Convention Center. Go to www.Cultivate14.org to learn more.

Who Do You Know?

In June, we will begin accepting nominations for our Class of 2015. If you know someone who you think belongs in this special class — an individual who is helping drive our industry into the future — then please take the time to nominate him or her.

You'll find the nomination form under the Awards tab on our website, www.gpnmag.com.