The Impact Conference

7:15 AM – 8:15 AM
Check-In & Badge Pick-Up

8:00 AM – 8:05 AM
Welcome & Introduction
Speakers: Kim Hartmann, Brandon Losey, Angela Bowman
Location: Auditorium

8:05 AM – 8:10 AM
Sustainability Announcement
Speaker: Angela Bowman
Location: Auditorium

8:10 AM – 9:40 AM
Opening Keynote - Reawakening Ancestral Connections to Land
Speaker: Wambui Ippolito, Wambui Design
Location: Auditorium

Working ethically in landscape design requires a recognition that land holds memory, that our ancestors’ footsteps, struggles, and blessings are embedded in it. By honoring our own family land heritage, we can learn to foster a healthy reciprocal relationship with nature. In this talk, Wambui will share how to identify and locate one’s ancestral relationship with nature and, in so doing, completely shift your design process.

Session 1A
ROI Based Design and Management of Natural Landscapes in Corporate Settings
Speaker: Michael Keenan, Urban Ecosystems
Location: Room 101ABC

Natural and sustainable landscapes have increased in popularity in recent years. The ecological benefits are typically touted as the principal driver for converting from a conventional landscape type. However, little is typically communicated about the economic aspects of sustainable landscapes. Learn how parameters of design and management in naturalistic landscapes can influence a quicker return on investment and build value for corporate and commercial customers. 

Session 1B
Oaks, Fire, and Climate Change
Speaker: Heather Holm, Pollinator Conservationist and Author
Location: Auditorium

This presentation will look into the past to understand grassland systems at the time of Euro-American settlement and discuss how Native Americans managed and influenced the composition of these grassland systems with their regular use of fire. Heather will also discuss the impacts of fire as a strong selective pressure on keystone plants and bees. Pivoting to look into the future using projected climate modeling, Heather will address the ecological conditions today, focusing on oak ecosystems and grasslands, then paint a picture of what a functional, biodiverse, and resilient landscape may look like in the future, and what actions are needed to achieve these outcomes.

Session 2A
Natives That Need More Love: Native Short-statured Landscape Forbs, Sedges, and Grasses that are Underutilized in Landscapes
Speaker: Luke Dahlberg, Citizens for Conservation
Location: Room 101ABC

There are a plethora of native plants to choose from to use in landscaping and restorations. However, as the use of these species continues to increase, many of these great plants are still not utilized in our landscapes, especially the short-statured early bloomers. Learn about the many species of short forbs, grasses, and sedges that need more representation, some of the potential factors for why they are not utilized as much as other native, and how to incorporate them in our landscapes.

Session 2B
You are an Educator – Cultivating Confidence with New Approaches to Landscape
Speaker: Chris Fehlhaber, Chanticleer Garden
Location: Auditorium

A disconnect exists between the popular and traditional ideas of landscape and the ecological forefront our industry has begun to embrace. All of us in the green industry are responsible for accurately representing the importance of our work and the value of doing that work well. Come together for a conversation highlighting effective strategies and approaches to elevating progressive horticultural practices.

Session 3A
Parametric Planting: Designing Biodiverse Gardens Using Emerging Design Tools
Speaker: Conor O’Shea, Hinterlands 
Location: Room 101ABC

In this talk, Conor O’Shea will present an under-the-hood snapshot of the ever-evolving computational planting design process at Hinterlands, his Chicago-based landscape architecture practice. Drawing on case studies of recent midwestern gardens, he will showcase how his work at Hinterlands sits at the intersection of computational design, the new perennial movement, and insect-friendly approaches to planting design and maintenance. He will highlight tools in the Hinterlands workflow, such as Rhino, Grasshopper, and Augmented Reality. He will also discuss how he is translating the tenets of new naturalism, such as layered planting, intermingling, and matrix planting, into an emerging computational design aesthetic using digital tools.

Session 3B
Rethinking Lawns
Speakers: Becky Barak, Ph.D., Chicago Botanic Garden; Liz Anna Kozik, Chicago Botanic Garden; Lauren Umek, Ph.D., Chicago Park District
Location: Auditorium

Studies show that different plants cool off landscapes in different ways. The classic example is trees, because, of course, shade is cooler than sun. Beyond that, though, plants go through a process called evapotranspiration. Simply speaking, plants release water into the air, cooling things off. In theory, different plants cause different amounts of cooling. Studies, such as the one below from Cooling Cities, Natural Areas Conservancy, 2003, show that even switching from lawn to a grassland can cause a temperature drop of 4°F! With the expertise of Dr. Natalie Love of the Chicago Botanic Garden, we are collecting temperature and humidity data at city parks all over Chicago to see what kind of landscape helps cool off our city.

Session 4A
Integrating Tree Water Use Strategies into Landscape Design and Maintenance 
Speaker: Luke McCormack, The Morton Arboretum
Location: Room 101ABC

Drought and waterlogging both cause tree stress and dieback.  However, most observations of tree water stress focus on aboveground responses rather than investigating the drivers of success or failure related to roots belowground. In this session, we will discuss some of the causes and consequences of water stress from a belowground perspective as well as considerations for tree selection and planting to minimize stress when possible.

Session 4B – Panel Discussion
Connections to Ecosystems and Landscapes
Panelists: Wambui Ippolito, Heather Holm, Chris Fehlhaber, Conor O’Shea, Gerardo Trujillo
Moderator: Angela Bowman
Location: Auditorium

An Ecological Entrepreneur's Journey 
Speaker: Molly Meyer, Omni Ecosystems
Location: Auditorium

Hear Molly Meyer's story of founding, scaling, and operating Omni Ecosystems. Learn about the mechanics and the strategy behind how the company was built, its solutions were developed, and its products brought to market. In addition to Omni's work in developing & supplying soils for green roofs, bioswales, and rain gardens over the past 16+ years, Molly had founded & led businesses specialized in landscape architecture, landscape construction & maintenance, urban agriculture, and real estate development. Molly will share their perspective on innovating via small business and the unique challenges small businesses face in the 21st Century. If you are an entrepreneur, work for a small business, or think you may want to start your own business, you won't want to miss this session.

Afterparty Roundtable Discussions
Format: Rotating small group discussions focused on practical ecological landscaping topics.
Location: Onsite