NGB and AAS are merged into one non-profit organization. NGB is now the parent organization with AAS being the plant trialing program under NGB.
Previously the two organizations cooperated intending to promote growing material, support the green industry, and connect with the gardening public. Diane Blazek (Executive Director of AAS-NGB) says: "By bringing AAS under the NGB umbrella, the existing synergies can further root and bloom into an even more dynamic, efficient, and bountiful representation of the industry."
All Committees that were part of the two organizations are now programs run by Vice President Board members. The following organizational chart explains this in graphic form:
NGB's new Board of Directors consists of a president (Alicain Carlson, Syngenta Flowers), past presidents (Jeannine Bogard, Syngenta Vegetables & Scott Rusch, Express Seed), a treasurer (Marissa Verdi, Harris Seeds), and a secretary (Pat Racey, National Garden Bureau).
In addition, the Board of Directors includes the following 8 vice presidents: AAS Trials Program VP (Chelsey Lenczyk, Bejo Seeds), AAS Display Gardens Program VP (Penny Merritt-Price, Youngs Plant Farm), AAS Combined Judges Program VP (Denise Mullins, Smith Gardens), Non-Plant Promotions Program VP (Paula Douer, Crescent Garden), Special Projects Program VP (Josh Kirschenbaum, PanAmerican Seed), Surveys and Membership Program VP (Lisa Heredia, Danziger), Year of the Program VP (Alec Charais, Bailey Nurseries), and the AAS Winners and New Plant Promotions Program VP (Joe Cimino, Sakata & Alisha Burns, Johnny’s Seeds).
The two separate websites (aaswinners.com and ngb.org) will remain after the merger.
As such NGB is expected to do more promotion of the AAS Winners.
According to Blazek, the merger has 3 benefits: operational efficiencies and overhead cost savings, fewer duplicate efforts in similar activities as well as easier-identified synergies, and more opportunities for leadership by professionals in our industry.
As part of this merger, on June 2-5, the organization will hold the 2024 Summer Summit in Auburn and Opelika, Alabama. The event begins with a Welcome Reception on Tuesday, June 4. Wednesday, June 5 will be a tour day visiting several sites on the Auburn University Campus, Young’s Plant Farm, and Bonnie Plants. This day ends with a tour and a dinner at the Botanic Garden Center.
Alicain Carlson (AAS-NGB President, Syngenta Flowers) says: “Having this year’s AAS Summer Summit at the expertly executed variety trials at Young’s is a brilliant pairing of two organizations that know the crucial role trialing plays in the success of our industry."
The summit coincides with the Southern Garden Tour in which AAS trials are participating.
One can register for this summit by using this link.
For more information:
National Garden Bureau
Diane Blazek
630-963-0770
[email protected]
www.ngb.org
All-America Selections
all-americaselections.org
