Top 5 Ways the AmericanHort AI Assistant Supports Members
Sage, the new AmericanHort AI-powered assistant is designed to make your experience more efficient and impactful. Here are the top five ways Sage helps members every day: 1. Find Information on Advocacy Initiatives and Guidance Staying informed about industry advocacy is crucial, and Sage can provide you with up-to-date information on various initiatives, including important […]
Tools for Your Career from the Horticultural Research Institute Leadership Academy
The Horticultural Research Institute (HRI) created the HRI Leadership Academy to build the next generation of green-industry leaders through focused leadership training, business skill development, personal growth, and a strong professional network. When leaders grow, the entire industry becomes stronger. “The HRI Leadership Academy had a significant impact on my leadership style. It helped me […]
Navigating “He-Said, She-Said” Situations in the Workplace – Insights for Industry Pros
During a recent AmericanHort HR Peer Sharing Group call, members tackled a challenge familiar to many HR professionals: how to effectively handle “he-said, she-said” incidents. Such situations are often emotionally charged, lack clear witnesses, and can escalate if handled poorly. With the right process and mindset, HR can help reduce risk, support employees, and maintain […]
Building Community at The Growing Place
Siblings Becca and Michael Massat carry forward a family tradition while building a team that feels like family. At The Growing Place in Aurora and Naperville, Illinois, the transition from second-generation to third-generation leadership isn’t simply a passing of the torch, but a thoughtful blending of legacy and reinvention. Siblings Becca and Michael Massat grew […]
Building Connections with Melinda Knuth
Melinda Knuth’s time as a HortScholar shaped her horticultural career. For Dr. Melinda Knuth, now an assistant professor at North Carolina State University, her HortScholar experience remains a defining chapter in her professional journey. She participated in the program in 2017 while pursuing her Ph.D. at Texas A&M, which blended horticulture with business management and […]
Beyond Taxes: What Ag Businesses Should Be Talking About in 2026
By Tommy Irvine, Lead Agriculture Advisor, Pinion Tax planning is only one piece of a financially resilient horticulture business. The most successful growers take a broader, year-round approach — one that examines the whole operation, not just the books. Today’s environment is challenging: labor shortages, rising interest rates, higher input costs, slim margins, shifting consumer […]
2025: A Year of Measured Recovery and Strategic Adaptation
By Dr. Charlie Hall, Professor & Ellison Chair in International Floriculture, Texas A&M University and AmericanHort Chief Economist As 2025 ends, the green industry can reflect on a year that, while not delivering the robust growth many hoped for, demonstrated our sector’s fundamental resilience and capacity for strategic evolution. Following the turbulence of recent years, […]
Building Community at The Growing Place
Siblings Becca and Michael Massat carry forward a family tradition while building a team that feels like family. At The Growing Place in Aurora and Naperville, Illinois, the transition from second-generation to third-generation leadership isn’t simply a passing of the torch, but a thoughtful blending of legacy and reinvention. Siblings Becca and Michael Massat grew […]
January 2026 Connect
Building a Career, One Connection at a Time
For Sayde Heckman, the HortScholar program was more than just a professional development opportunity—it was the turning point that shaped her career. Heckman, who earned her bachelor’s degree in plant science from the University of Missouri, applied to the program in 2016 at her advisor Mary Ann Gowdy’s encouragement. “It sounded like a really cool […]