Our Speakers

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Chidi Iwuchukwu

Kidnapped at gunpoint and held for ransom, Chidi Iwuchukwu lives to share his remarkable journey from overcoming harrowing life experiences to becoming a bestselling author and community leader. Having survived a terrifying kidnapping and battled cancer, Chidi has not only thrived but has also become a No.1 International bestselling author, Coach and a beacon in his community. Chidi Iwuchukwu is the P.R.O. (Persistent, Resilient and Optimistic) guy. He is the No1. International bestselling author of Coming To Canada: The Ultimate Success Guide for New Immigrants and Travelers. He uses his personal story, highlighting a variety of harrowing life experiences and transitions along the way including surviving a brutal kidnapping for ransom experience and battling cancer, to illustrate how to transform trials into triumphs. He has been featured on Fox, NBC, CBS, and ABC. He was nominated for the Star of Alberta Award in 2021 and for the Alberta Newcomer Champion Award 2022. In March of 2024, Chidi won the Toastmasters’ International Speech Contest for Area C 13 and Division C. Chidi is also an accomplished and humorous Master of Ceremony and events host.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Morgan Cote

Morgan Coté is the daughter of Black Fox Farm & Distillery and a passionate advocate for sustainable agriculture and water stewardship. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture Science from the University of Saskatchewan, driven by a desire to take an active role on her family’s farm and address the challenges of food security.

Recently, Morgan worked as a provincial Irrigation Agrologist. Her growing interest in sustainable water management led her back to the University of Saskatchewan, where she is currently pursuing a Master’s in Water Security.

Morgan has spoken at the United Nations in Rome on food security and the rights of women and youth, and has served as president of the Saskatoon Branch of the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists. Today, she brings together hands-on farming experience, scientific training, and a drive for innovation as she helps lead Black Fox—an internationally acclaimed, terroir-driven distillery rooted in prairie agriculture and bold vision.

Danny Kerr

Co-Founder & CRO, Breakthrough Academy 📍Chilliwack, British Columbia Danny is one of North America’s top contracting thought leaders and a well-loved industry speaker, helping thousands of humble, hungry, smart contractors reclaim their time, profiit, and lifestyle. His entrepreneurial journey began in his teens when he started a painting company as he got his life on track following a tumultuous upbringing. Since 2015, along with partners, he’s built Breakthrough Academy (BTA) into the foremost industry expert on operational systems implementation for contractors He leads with heart and loves the ‘f’ word: Faith, Family, Friends, Fitness, Financials, and in that order.

Grant Harrison

Grant has spent his entire career in the landscape industry—starting at 15 with a shovel in hand and working his way through every level of the business. From fieldwork to operations, from running his own design/build company to supporting franchise and branch systems, he’s seen it all. Today, he focuses on helping teams build structure, improve profitability, and find real satisfaction in their work. Grant is passionate about growth, both personal and professional, and brings a practical, grounded approach to every conversation.

Simon Loewen

Simon Loewen is an experienced technical sales professional and AI strategist specializing in the intersection of agriculture and artificial intelligence. As the Alberta Manager for TerraLink Horticulture, he provides innovative agronomic solutions to greenhouse and nursery operations. With three years of experience teaching professionals how to use AI Tools, Simon and helps to deliver AI-driven automation for enhanced decision-making, efficiency, and customer engagement in agriculture and other industries. With a background in biochemistry and over 15 years in commercial horticulture, he is passionate about leveraging AI to bridge the gap between technology and practical business applications.

Megan Evans

Megan is a terrestrial ecologist with 15 years in the field. She is passionate about protecting biodiversity, especially our native plants and pollinators. She contributes to those efforts through her work as the Executive Director of the Alberta Invasive Species Council and the Alberta Native Bee Council.

 Seyed Hashemi

Seyed Hashemi is a research scientist at the Centre for Applied Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship (CARIE), Lethbridge Polytechnic. His research focuses on optimizing supplemental lighting, fertigation, and smart irrigation strategies for greenhouse vegetable production. Seyed holds a Ph.D. in Plant Agriculture from the University of Guelph and works closely with industry to advance sustainable, data-driven approaches in controlled environment agriculture.

Randy Valk

Randy Valk is a forward-thinking entrepreneur and sustainability advocate dedicated to reshaping resource management and advancing sustainable practices in Alberta and beyond.

As the owner of Grassroots Landscaping & Irrigation (GRL) and the founder of Grassroots Resource Optimization (GRO), Randy combines decades of expertise with a passion for innovation, land stewardship, and community empowerment.

Mike Jenkins

Mike Jenkins was born and raised in the Edmonton area, where he started off collecting caterpillars and ground beetles with his brother. While studying paleontology at the University of Alberta, he got a summer job with the City of Edmonton splashing in puddles and counting mosquitoes. This led to more summers researching biological controls of mosquitoes, and the diversity of non-target organisms, as well as monitoring for invasive insect and disease species in the urban forest. As Senior Scientist with Integrated Pest Management he is involved in  surveillance, monitoring and management of invasive insects, aquatic invertebrates, tree diseases and vertebrates for Edmonton.

Dora Berry

Dora Berry is passionate about creating beautiful, abundant landscapes that enrich nature and nurture our lives. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from over 25 years in landscape architecture, environmental planning, horticulture, and education. Dora founded Nature’s Elements nearly two decades ago, specializing in sustainable and ecological design, edible landscapes, botanical gardens, and memorial gardens. She is also an instructor in the Landscape Architectural Technology program at NAIT, where she enjoys nurturing new landscape architectural technologists entering the industry and our communities.

Arnold Heuver

Arnold has worked for the last 40 plus years in the Nursery and Landscape Industry.

He currently works as a Horticultural Consultant giving advice on practical applications to move the industry forward. Arnold advises on Pruning Practices; Insect and Disease issues and Staff training. He is also working with Landscape Alberta Nursery Producers on their current Test Plots to evaluate and select hopefully for future diversification of our green infrastructure.

Jason Pick

Jason is a former golf course superintendent, having joined the Olds College faculty in 2009. He specializes in Turfgrass Science and Golf Resort Management, and represents the Alberta Turfgrass Research Center as its Executive Director.

Rhoda B. deJonge

Rhoda B. deJonge is the Director of Plant Responses and the Environment Team at Vineland Research and Innovation Centre. Her team is responsible for conducting innovative research related to indoor and outdoor speciality crop production, running a world-class soils lab focused on soil health and substrate function, and developing research related to urban tree growth and survivorship.   Previous to her position at Vineland, Rhoda worked in the urban forestry sector in industry, academia, and non-profit positions in both USA and Canada.  Rhoda completed her PhD at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Forestry, studying the biological control of invasive species in the urban forest, and was a post-doctoral fellow with the Faculty of Forestry and Agriculture and Agri-food Canada. 

Trevor Hall

Trevor Hall is a Calgary-based entrepreneur whose career spans grounds crew management, coaching high-level athletics, landscaping, irrigation, and technology. Married for over 34 years, he is a proud father of three adult children and grandfather to three grandchildren. He is the founder of Artemis Landscapes & Design Ltd., Calgary Sprinkler Systems, and Know More Hazard, a SaaS company that helps organizations simplify hazard assessments and strengthen workplace safety cultures to build teams, retain employees, and run lean, successful businesses. From coaching athletes to leading crews and building companies, Trevor brings a consistent focus on leadership, innovation, and lasting impact.

Gregory Holmes

Greg is an integral part of the Integrated Agriculture Technology Centre  (IATC) at Lethbridge Polytechnic. As the Greenhouse Facility Manager, Greg coordinates labour and resources while maintaining the greenhouse operating systems in support of the cutting-edge applied research conducted within the Centre for Sustainable Food Production Greenhouse. Greg has a Master of Science degree in entomology and biological control, with specialties in plant performance, metrics, and system management. His education and years of hands-on experience allow him to contribute to the development of research projects, consultation services, system development, and industry training.

Mario Lanthier

Mario has worked in the industry for many years.  Depending on the day, he can be an arborist, a horticulturist, an agronomist, a bugologist or a friend of soil microbes.  His company, based in Kelowna, offers services related to Plant Health Care and Integrated Pest Management throughout British Columbia and South Alberta.  Mario has thought certificate programs, Master Gardeners, adult education on a variety of topics and also to any friend who seems to show interest around the diner table (want to hear about the pheromones that tree borers are using ?  It is fascinating).

Brian McBride

Brian McBride, RSE, is an experienced educator, engagement specialist, and apprenticeship program leader with over 25 years in workforce development and skilled trades training. As an Apprenticeship Training and Certification Standards Lead with Alberta’s Ministry of Advanced Education, Brian has played a key role in developing and modernizing apprenticeship education programs across multiple trades, including Landscape Horticulturist. His work emphasizes collaboration with industry experts, post-secondary institutions, and policymakers to ensure training reflects both current practices and emerging trends.

With a background as a Red Seal Journeyperson and extensive experience as an instructor at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) He also led the creation of a social enterprise supporting marginalized and vulnerable youth to overcome barriers to meaningful careers.; combining 17 week apprenticeship aligned curriculum and business model. Through these experiences Brian brings a unique perspective that bridges classroom instruction and industry needs.

A passionate advocate for sustainability and community development, Brian is committed to strengthening pathways for apprentices in trades like Landscape Horticulturist, ensuring the next generation is equipped to meet the challenges of a changing world.

Tim Anderson

Tim Anderson is the Director of Grower Accounts at Proven Winners, where he fosters brand loyalty among growers and brokers. With a focus on education and innovation, Tim plays a key role in introducing new plant varieties across all company programs. He brings over 20 years of industry experience to his work, combining deep knowledge with a passion for helping growers succeed. 

Ingrid Hainzmann

Ingrid Hainzmann immigrated with her husband from Austria to Lacombe, Canada, in 1980.

Ingrid received a one-year leave of absence from her company. After that year, they returned home and came back to Canada in May 1983 with their daughter, Caroline. In 1984, the Hainzmanns started Wolf’s Vegetable Garden and a 20×20 feet greenhouse, along with a U-pick operation, with her husband and their two young children. They spent 29 years at the Farmers Market in Lacombe and Red Deer.

In 1990, the Hainzmanns bought the Lacombe Nursery from the receiver. After two years of clearing the inventory, they began building the 18-hole golf course known as “The Nursery Golf and Country Club,” which features the longest hole in Canada at 782 yards. 1994 marked the last year of their Market Garden. The greenhouses expanded in 1990, 2000, and 2012, growing from 400 sq. ft. to 11,000 sq. ft., and the name changed to Wolf’s Botanical in 1992. Tree moving began in 1992, and the Tree Nursery set up a growing field in 2005. Landscaping started on a small scale in 2010. With the new greenhouse area in 2012, they began growing flowers for municipalities, businesses, acreage owners, RDC, restaurants, and custom planting for any occasion. In 2006, they needed an irrigation pond, which led to the creation of the wedding island. Landscaping expanded tenfold.