ProGreen EXPO has become the Rocky Mountain region’s largest trade show and conference serving horticulture and other green industry professionals. Each year in February, upwards of 6,000 professionals stroll the spacious exhibit halls of the Colorado Convention Center and seek education that strengthens their knowledge and skills. But… that’s in a normal year!
Few things have been normal over the past year and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to impact our way of life. In particular ProGreen will not be normal for 2021. As many events have gone, so goes ProGreen to a virtual format. There was really no other choice as the Colorado Convention Center remains closed to business due to its conversion into an overflow ‘hospital’ for COVID-related patients and treatments.
For 2021, ProGreen EXPO will be known as ProGreen Experience, taking place February 22 to 26. As a virtual conference, the focus will be on industry-focused education. Attendees will be able to select from a variety of subject areas or learning pathways including nursery and greenhouse operations, plant solutions, employee management, business practices, landscaping, and arborist practices. Because of the virtual format and acknowledging that virtual viewing behavior is different than live classroom behavior, many sessions will be just 30 minutes. As a result, attendees may absorb a great deal of valuable training in a relatively shorter amount of time.
The Expo part of ProGreen certainly will be different. Unlike many virtual conferences that include an online trade show, ProGreen’s past and new exhibitors will instead be offered sponsorship opportunities, not virtual booths. The key difference is that, depending on the level of sponsorship, a company’s brand/message/advertisement will be seen at the beginning of a session, thereby guaranteeing exposure to all who are logged in to watch that presentation, which could be a considerable number. There’s added value in sponsorship, too, since the company’s exposure extends to attendees who view the sessions after the event through on-demand options.
For industry professionals seeking CEUs (continuing education units) for the Commercial Pesticide Applicator license or ISA Certified Arborist, ProGreen Experience will be a must-attend event. Numerous sessions will be eligible for CEUs, which will be awarded based on verified attendance. In addition, CNGA will offer all sessions required for the Certified Greenhouse Grower exam.
The virtual event actually includes some significant advantages that the live event can’t offer. First is the convenience of attending sessions at your office or home. Second is the elimination of travel, parking, lodging, and meal costs – and that’s a significant savings on expenses, especially for people who have long distances to travel. Third, the virtual conference enables a much more efficient use of your training and education time. Best of all, many sessions will be available on demand to registered attendees after the event, giving you even more flexibility in attending sessions of your choice. Finally, the virtual format allows CNGA to tap into a wider range of industry expertise (speakers won’t have to travel) to give you the very best, most up-to-date information from top presenters around the country.
Plan now to attend ProGreen Experience, February 22 to 26. For complete details regarding the educational program and sponsorship opportunities, please visit the website: https://www.progreenexpo.com.
