EDISON, N.J. – Significant benefits were realized at the 2022 TOTAL PRO – Professional Landscape, Nursery & Hardscape Expo & Conference by both exhibiting companies and the industry professionals attending. Plans are already underway to build on this success in 2023, as Total Pro Expo’s fourth annual expo & conference is scheduled for January 31-February 1st, 2023.
Total Pro Expo, held at the New Jersey Convention Center, in Edison, NJ, featured over 150 industry suppliers & service companies in addition to over 40 educational sessions focused on professionals working in the landscape, hardscape, tree care and green industries. This event addressed the interests of landscape design and maintenance professionals, public works crews, golf course groundskeepers, tree care professionals and hardscape installers. These businesses are a vital segment of the economy in the tristate New York-New Jersey-Pennsylvania region, which ranks nationally as one of the strongest markets for the green trades.
New this year, the conference held a “Women in Horticulture” panel discussion that allowed attendees to hear from successful women on how they’ve navigated working in the green industry. According to attendees, it was “motivating and empowering, and provided suggestions that we can use on our path to success!”
Kevin McLaughlin, Event Director, of MAC Expos based in Spring Lake, NJ commented that “the third year of this industry event went off without a hitch – exhibit space sold out, attendance exceeded our expectations and post event feedback has been through the roof!”
Presented by MAC Expos in partnership with the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association (NJNLA), featured speakers included representatives of Proven Winners, Bailey Nurseries, industry leaders that have made branded plants a key part of landscape merchandising. The first-ever Sustainable Landcare Track focused on low impact equipment and ecological processes that can be incorporated into a successful business model. A tree care track was offered, with topics on pruning, trees for tough sites, beech leaf disease, proper mulching techniques, plus recertification credits (LTE/LTCO) were awarded to attendees. Other tracks included presentations for pesticide recertification, landscape topics and classes in Spanish. The conference also offered hardscape hands-on demonstrations that gave attendees a practical and educational view on the industry’s top-selling trends and ICPI (Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute) credits.
Interested exhibitors are urged to reserve their booth space for 2023 as soon as possible. “As we stand right now, exhibit space reservations are well ahead of schedule and planning for the programming of the educational sessions are well under way. We expect the event to grow by another 30% again next year.” added McLaughlin.
–NJNLA
