Meet 2025 HILA winner Heather Gronek

Photo © Ellison Smith Creative

Read the full profile on Heather here.

Watch a video of Heather from the Horticultural Industries Leadership Awards at Cultivate'25 here.

Heather on growth:

“I openly love change. You won’t grow if you stay the same. In order to grow, you must view change as an opportunity — not a threat — and embrace the growth mindset.”

Heather on what drives her:

“Once I got involved with R&D, I discovered that I have a passion for being in the R&D department. I love being able to take that new plant and see it go all the way to market. It’s a great feeling to be able to see something that you’ve been trialing make it all the way through.”

What others are saying:

“Heather is a standout leader in the field. She melds technical expertise with business acumen, a collaborative spirit and a commitment to horticultural excellence, positioning her as a driving force in our industry.” — Corrina Murray, Plant Development Services, Inc.

Stay tuned for a full profile of Heather!

Meet the rest of the HILA Class of 2025:

Bill Dewar, Dewar Nurseries

Belal El-Hassan, Hendriks Greenhouses

Tom Knezick, Pinelands Nursery

Gary Neels, Qualitree

Susie Raker, Raker-Roberta’s Young Plants

John Gaydos, Proven Winners, Lifetime Achievement Award

From the Sponsor: A legacy of growth

From the Sponsor: Partners in every season