Who will be in the HILA Class of 2024?

Nominations for the 8th annual Horticultural Industries Leadership Awards are due March 15.

The 2023 HILA class (L-R) Jennifer Moss, Marcel Boonekamp, Zachary Herrill, Jolly and Mark Krautmann, Ed Overdevest and Shawn Cox (not pictured).
All photos by Commercial Photographers Columbus Ohio

Effective leadership starts with a remarkable leader, someone who exemplifies integrity, confidence, commitment and passion. A great leader believes in their vision and their employees.

Eleanor Roosevelt said, "A good leader inspires people to have confidence in the leader, a great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves."

Each year, Greenhouse Management and Nursery Management, with the support of Syngenta, honor six green-industry professionals who exemplify the leadership qualities needed to inspire and empower those around them and who work toward the betterment of the entire industry.

Who in the industry has inspired you? Nominate them for a Horticultural Industries Leadership Award!

"Winning a HILA meant recognition of what you try to do every day as a leader, which is leading other people to success," says Marcel Boonekamp, director of growing at Green Circle Growers. "This means not thinking about your own success but focusing on people to let them grow as well as the business. Winning a HILA also introduces you to other leaders and helps building on your network within our industry."

HILA is the only North American awards program to recognize recipients’ exemplary contributions to the horticulture industry, such as:

  • contributing to its development with their innovation and expertise
  • excelling in environmental stewardship
  • enhancing the lives of employees, customers, communities and the industry at large with their charitable giving
  • making a positive impact on the industry
Ed Overdevest accepts his award.

“The green industry is full of considerate and compassionate people who care deeply for their employees, their community and their colleagues,” says Kelli Rodda, editorial director. “It’s a tremendous privilege to not only honor these industry leaders, but to learn and share their stories each year.”

The 8th annual Horticultural Industries Leadership Awards will be presented at a reception at Cultivate’24 in Columbus, Ohio.

"So many in our industry do their part to help us move forward to a better future," says Ed Overdevest, co-owner of Overdevest Nurseries. "The HILA recognition of these leadership efforts, engenders an even greater spirit of working together on common goals for common gain."

Go to http://hila.hortgroupevents.com to read about the previous seven years of recipients.