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In late February, the volunteer leaders and several senior staff from ANLA and OFA met in Indianapolis, Indiana for our winter board of directors meetings and a joint planning event. As previously promoted, a new consolidated organization is scheduled to formally launch no earlier than 2014, pending member approval, which will be sought later this year. The meetings included discussions on strategic goals and refinement of the core mission for the new association.   

Filed under: ANLA • OFA

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“The Next Level Conference was a huge success on all counts,” says OFA President Mike McCabe. “We had four goals for this event,” McCabe, owner of McCabe’s Greenhouse and Floral in Lawrenceburg, IN, continues, “Strong attendance, a solid mix from both OFA and ANLA’s core communities, and a successful collaboration between the volunteer leaders and staffs of our two associations. Number four was to take our industry’s education events to the next level.” The inaugural event, the first, full partnership effort between the American Nursery and Landscape Association (ANLA) and OFA - The Association of Horticulture Professionals, was held January 31 - February 2, 2013 in Nashville, TN at the Gaylord, Opryland.

Filed under: OFA • Knowledge Center • events

This week, OFA and ANLA will launch their first joint event as they co-host Next Level, an educational conference designed to help participants develop their business acumen and personal leadership skills. Next Level will be held January 31-February 2 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee. The conference represents one of the significant achievements of the proposed consolidation between the two groups.

“Beginning last summer, a volunteer advisory group made up of members from both organizations worked with our collective staff to develop this built-from-scratch Next Level conference. This event is the beginning of great things to come for our organizations and our profession,” said Michael Geary, CAE. Effective January 1, 2013, Geary assumed the responsibilities as Executive Vice President of ANLA, and now serves as the chief staff executive of both organizations, with offices in Columbus, Ohio and Washington, D.C. After serving as ANLA’s Executive Vice President for 21 years, Bob Dolibois retired on December 31, 2012.

Filed under: ANLA • OFA

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ANLA is ringing in the new year with a new Executive Vice President. Michael Geary, CAE, assumes the chief staff position on January 1, 2013. Bringing 21 years of experience in association management, including nearly three years as the CEO of OFA, Michael will helm both organizations. He will split his time between OFA’s office in Columbus, OH and ANLA’s offices in Washington, DC preparing for a scheduled formation of a new joint organization on January 1, 2014. ANLA’s government relations and research team will remain in Washington, DC. Geary states, "I am honored by the opportunity...

Filed under: ANLA • OFA

Join ANLA and OFA for this fall's Local events – taking place in Loudon, NH and West Chicago, IL. Our Washington, DC-based staff team is traveling to your "backyard" to provide a perspective on the latest issues affecting the green industry and this November's elections, and how you can have an invaluable impact locally. An update on the current status of the partnership between ANLA and OFA will be provided, including details of this month's meeting of the joint leadership task force. Perhaps most importantly though...this is your chance to reconnect with other industry players facing similar issue's and have a chance to kick back and reunite. For dates, schedules and registration click here.

Filed under: events • OFA • Election