GWA wraps up 2017 Annual Conference & Expo

New York – GWA: The Association for Garden Communicators welcomed more than 350 garden communicators to Buffalo, New York for its 69th Annual Conference & Expo. The event provided a unique opportunity for individuals in the horticultural communication sector to come together to connect, learn and grow.

The conference featured tours of homes in Buffalo’s Cottage District, Elmwood Village and on Lancaster Avenue, as well as a visit to Frederick Law Olmsted’s Delaware Park, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin Martin House, and an evening at Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens. Tours continued to Draves Arboretum and Southtowns private gardens, as well as a visit to Niagara Parks in Canada.

In addition to touring the beauty of Buffalo and surrounding areas, #GWA2017 also featured 30 education sessions covering horticulture, writing, technology, business and publishing; including keynote addresses from Kevin Gaughan and Robin Wall Kimmerer. This year’s Conference & Expo also featured over 50 sponsors and exhibitors from across the industry.

“This year’s GWA Annual Conference & Expo exceeded my expectations – from the preconference workshop, to the story tours, to the learning sessions, to the discussions and networking that occurred between events and in the expo hall,” said Kirk Brown, GWA Past President. “This event was also about the celebration of growing GWA as an organization in the garden communications sector.”

During the GWA Awards & Honors Dinner, sponsored by Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Shrubs and emceed by Dr. Allan Armitage on Monday night, the recipients of GWA Honors and GWA Media Awards Silver Medal winners were recognized, and the 2017 Media Award Gold Medal winners were announced.

• Best Magazine Writing - “Outdoor Dining - Our Well-Tended Gardens: A lunchroom for Wildlife” - Bill Johnson
  
• Best Newspaper/Newsletter Writing - "Everybody Gardens" - Doug Oster
  
• Best Digital Writing - "Grieving Garden: This, Too, Is a Garden" Leesa Lawson
  
• Best Photography - "Private Gardens of South Florida" - Rob Cardillo
  
• Best Overall Digital Media - "Savvy Gardening" - Amy Andrychowicz, Niki Jabbour, Tara Nolan & Jessica Walliser
  
• Best Overall Broadcast Media - "Cultivating Place: Conversations on Natural History and the Human Impulse to Garden" - Jennifer Jewell
  
• Best On-Air Talent - "Cultivating Place: Conversations on Natural History and the Human Impulse to Garden" -Jennifer Jewell
  
• Best Overall Magazine - "Mini Gardens & Terrariums" - Meredith Corp.
  
• Best Overall Book - "Master Gardener Manual" - Nancy Knauss, Sue Wyble, Jennifer Bair, Amanda Kirsten & Penn State Extension
  
• Best Trade - "Bloom, Fall 2016" - Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden

Additionally, the newly elected officers and directors were introduced during the organization’s annual business meeting on Saturday afternoon. GWA is pleased to announce these officers and directors, who will join the existing leaders on the 2016-2017 Board of Directors:

OFFICERS
President - Becky Heath

Vice President - Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp

Treasurer - Maria Zampini

Secretary - Ellen Zachos

NATIONAL DIRECTORS
Region II - Kathy Jentz

Region VI - Mary-Kate Mackey

REGIONAL DIRECTORS
Region I - Carmen DeVito

Region II Teresa Speight

Region III - Susan Martin

Region IV Cheval Opp

Region V - Shelley Cramm

Region VI Tova Roseman

Region VII - Rob Howard

The 2018 Annual Conference & Expo will be in Chicago, IL in conjunction with The IGC Show, August 13-16. Exhibitor and sponsor opportunities are now available and attendee registration will open in early spring 2018.