AmericanHort announces 2019 Impact Washington Summit

COLUMBUS, Ohio – AmericanHort recently announced the 2019 Impact Washington Summit will be held September 16-18 in Washington, D.C. to unite leaders across the green industry.

Speakers will discuss the issues facing the industry and educate Congress on the industry's challenges and priorities. The 2019 Summit will feature a program of senior administration officials, leaders in the non-profit community, as well as Congressional champions of good policy benefiting horticulture.

Confirmed keynote speakers include:

Andrew Wheeler, Administrator – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Wheeler was confirmed the fifteenth Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in February.  He began his career during the George H. W. Bush Administration as a Special Assistant in the EPA.  He has served in several positions on the Senate Environment and Public Works committee staff, and as Principal at FaegreBD Consulting.

Daniel Garza, President – The Libre Initiative

Garza was born in the Central Valley of California and would migrate with his family annually from their ancestral hometown of Garza Gonzalez in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, throughout California, Nebraska and Washington State following the crop season as farm workers until he was 19 years of age.  Garza has worked in the House of Representatives, served in local government, and was appointed to the Interior Department in the George W. Bush administration.

Additional speakers will include Laurie Flanagan, chair of the H-2B Workforce Coalition on behalf of AmericanHort, and Lynn Jacquez, managing partner at CJ Lake and renowned immigration policy expert. Additional speakers will be announced as the event draws closer.

Legislative and regulatory priorities at the Impact Washington Summit will center around workforce and transportation issues, research funding and implementation, and business and marketplace regulation.  These issues are of critical importance to horticultural businesses across the nation.

“Every Impact Washington Summit serves to establish and solidify the important connection between our members and their elected legislators,” said Craig Regelbrugge, AmericanHort senior vice president for advocacy and research. “The hard work and time our business owners dedicate to lifting up Congress’ understanding of our industry are vital to ensuring smart and sensible policy makes it from Washington back to the states.  With our prime lineup of speakers, this industry-leading conference allows members to learn, connect, and successfully represent their interests in Washington.”

For more information on the 2019 Impact Washington Summit, visit AmericanHort's website.