InVigorateU 2026
About the Event
InVigorateU is an annual education conference that not only offers great sessions and CEUs, but also offers a chance to reflect on what worked this season and collaborate with peers about what you might want to do differently in the next season to get stronger results.
We invite an esteemed lineup of industry professionals and thought leaders to challenge us and plant new seeds. The emphasis of the sessions is on plants but the content is presented from many different perspectives, offering something for all segments, including landscape professionals, nursery and greenhouse operations, and garden centers. There are even sessions for irrigation contractors to stay current on standards and share best practices.
What makes this event special is the time allocated to networking with peers, which is the secret to our industry thriving long-term. The real value of these events is in shared experiences and strengthening connections that can offer support during the busy season.
Join us at InVigorateU and let’s grow together!
DoubleTree by Hilton
10 Brickyard Drive
Bloomington, IL 61701
309-664-6446
Room Rate – $121 per night – includes free parking, breakfast, and WiFi
Deadline to reserve at the room rate – January 6, 2026, or until block is fully booked.
Overflow Room Block Available
Eastland Suites Hotel & Conference Center, 1801 Eastland Dr, Bloomington, IL 61704
Room Rate – $121 per night – includes breakfast, WiFi, and parking
Guests should call Eastland Suites at 309-662-0000 and identify themselves as Landscape Illinois to receive the group rate before December 30, 2025 or click here to book online.
Committee Chair: Pete Worth, Kankakee Nursery Co
Associate Chair: Meagan Provencher, Wasco Nursery & Garden Center
Board Liaison: Michael Massat, The Growing Place Nursery & Flower Farm, Inc.
Kevin Collins, Chalet
Kim Hartmann, Rosborough Partners
Lauren Howell, Stuber Land Design
Abby Jacobs, Home Nursery Inc
Cathy Schroeder, Mariani Plants
Devon Kane, SiteOne Landscape Supply
Steve Raczak, Twixwood Nursery
Candi Scheuermann, Green View
Coming soon!
“InVigorateU is a phenomenal learning experience for everyone – regardless of how long you’ve been in the industry. The environment is very friendly, and my team always leaves the event feeling inspired.”
Jessica Gardner
Platt Hill Nursery
Carpentersville, IL
“InVigorateU says it all in the name. It is one of the first conferences of the season and doesn’t disappoint. It is so inspiring to see all your colleagues, see plants, and hear speakers that put you in the spirit of spring.”
Austin Eischeid
Austin Eischeid Garden Design LLC
Chicago, IL
“I love learning from leading green industry professionals who have a wealth of knowledge to share! Whether you’re interested in networking, discovering research and best practices, or brainstorming new ideas, InVigorateU will leave you inspired for the future!”
Maggie Thomas-Harper
Spring Grove Nursery
Mazon, IL
“Participating in InVigorateU is a great way to kick off a new season. From seeing other industry professionals to the great speakers & sessions, InVigorateU does not disappoint!”
Samuel Cottrell
Stoneleaf Nursery
Eureka, IL
We’re back at Lil Beaver Brewery for the social event with plant-related trivia categories!
Lil Beaver Brewery
5 Finance Dr.
Bloomington, IL 61704
Ph. 309-808-2590
lilbeaverbrewery.com
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
6:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Dinner will be served at 6:30 pm
Trivia play 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Cost – $65 per person
Event registration includes appetizers, salad, main course, dessert, non-alcoholic beverages, and three alcoholic drink tickets. It also includes trivia play.
NOTE: This is a separate ticketed event and you must pre-register before the conference. On-site registration will not be available.
2026 EXHIBITORS
3B Natives, LLC
Blue Grass Farms
Carlin Horticultural Supplies
Compeer Financial
Dayton Bag & Burlap
Doty Nurseries
Envu Turf and Ornamentals
First Editions Shrubs & Trees
Forrest Keeling Nursery
Goodmark Nurseries
Harrell’s
Hoffie Nursery Inc
Home Nursery
Hortica
Johnson’s Nursery
Kankakee Nursery Co
Mariani Plants
Midwest Groundcovers
Midwest Stihl
Midwest Trading
National Nursery Products
Nufarm
Oak Bros Tree Care & Removal
Proven Winners Color Choice Flowering Shrubs
Russo Power Equipment
Sester Farms
Spring Grove Nursery
St. Louis Composting
Stoneleaf Nursery
The Fields on Caton Farm
The Pizzo Group
Twixwood Nursery
Wilson Nurseries & Landscape Supply, Inc
Woody Warehouse Nursery, Inc
Exhibitors: Please download and review the 2026 guidelines prior to the event.
Join us for an exchange of ideas on trending topics. This is one of the most popular sessions every year and you’ll find that some of the tables are standing room only! Select a topic and participate in 25 minutes of moderated discussion. You will switch tables three times. Exhibitors & sponsors are highly encouraged to participate, as this is a great chance to meet new people and share knowledge.
Keynote Presentations
Date: Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Time: 8:30am
Title: Culture Makers & Breakers: What grows – and what destroys – great teams
Presenter: Jeff Joutras, Step Forward into Leadership Growth
Description: Every company has a culture—but not every company has a good one. In this fast-paced, engaging session, we’ll unpack the real drivers of company culture, not from the HR manual, but from what happens on the ground: the conversations, attitudes, and behaviors of everyday people—at every level.
No matter what industry you’re in, culture shows up everywhere, in customer interactions, in everyday encounters, and in how people talk about the work and each other. Some team members build trust, pride, and accountability—Culture Makers. Others erode morale, respect, and teamwork—Culture Breakers. And often, it’s unintentional.
This session challenges everyone from team members to owners to take a hard look at how they show up and what they contribute to the culture. You’ll walk away with a better understanding of what makes a healthy culture and what quietly undermines it—and what to do about both.
Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2029
Time: 8:30am
Title: From Stress Relief to Sustainability: Communicating the Benefits of Plants
Presenter: Melinda Knuth, NC State University
Description: Consumers buy plants for more than their beauty — they want them to improve their quality of life. Research shows that plants enhance psychological, cognitive, and environmental well-being, offering benefits from stress reduction and improved memory to greater happiness and can improve air quality and noise pollution. This session will translate decades of research into practical takeaways, showing how you can weave the proven health, social, and environmental benefits of plants into marketing strategies that resonate with today’s consumer. Attendees will leave with fresh insights and actionable ideas to communicate the full value of plants — beyond aesthetics — in ways that connect and sell.
Plants Day Sessions – January 27, 2026
Re-Thinking the Invasive Conundrum
Presenter: Mark Weathington, JC Raulston Arboretum
Description: Throw out your preconceived notions and forget about dealing with the symptoms. We’ll discuss the science behind the causes of exotics in natural areas, discuss some of the myths and bad science, and look for real-world solutions to the threat of invasives.
Industry Round Table
Attendees will gather at the main tables in the large conference room where the Plants Day speakers will be featured. Each table will be marked with a topic and hosted by a moderator. Participants will have an opportunity to select the topic of their choice and participate in 24 minutes of moderated discussion. At the 24-minute mark, you’ll be prompted to move to another table featuring another topic of discussion. There will be 10 minutes between each round to catch your breath and talk with other attendees. There will be two rounds before lunch and two rounds after lunch. Exhibitors & sponsors are highly encouraged to participate in the round table sessions, as this is where a lot of interaction and networking occurs. This is a great chance to make important connections with other industry leaders, so bring your business cards!
Experiences with Growing Native Oaks in the Midwest
Presenter: Michael Yanny, JN Plant Selections, LLC
Description: Michael will discuss various experiences of growing, propagating, and observing native oaks over the past 45 years. He will discuss natural hybridization and how that has allowed the native oaks to survive in a broad range of environments, including urban areas. His love for oaks will be expressed through poetry and a deep need to share the inspiration they have provided him.
How Brands Shape the Marketplace
Presenter: Mike Mennenoh, Mariani Plants
Description: When one brand dominates your production lineup, how do you decide whether to expand, replace, or diversify? In this session, Mike will share the story of Mariani Plants adding Bailey Nurseries’ First Editions® alongside Proven Winners® and explore how branding influences plant demand, product mix, and customer loyalty. Learn how to evaluate brand strengths, weigh performance and profitability, and communicate changes with confidence so your lineup works for both your business and your buyers.
Growing, Planting and Maintaining Native Plants: Turning a Challenge into an Opportunity
Presenter: Larry Weaner, New Directions in the American Landscape
Description: For years ‘native landscaping’ was considered a hard sell. Not anymore. The question is now; Do growers, designers and contractors have the wherewithal to effectively and consistently provide it? In this presentation we will discuss the specific changes, many of them dramatic, that could help nursery and landscape professionals take advantage of this fast-growing movement.
Trivia Time!
After a day of invigorating sessions, grab your smartest (or most fun) friends and see if you have what it takes to win the night during trivia at Lil Beaver Brewery. All trivia categories will be horticulturally-related, but don’t worry, there is something for everyone so you don’t have to be a plant geek to be victorious! Registration is required and dinner is included! It is not included in your conference registration and there are a limited number of tickets for this event, so register today.
Breakout Sessions – January 28, 2026
On day two, participants are invited to move freely in and out of the breakout sessions that are of greatest interest. There will be twelve total sessions in three different rooms. You are not required to stay within one learning track for the entire day. ‘Choose your own adventure’ and move from room to room to ensure you gather information that will be most useful for your role on the job.
Life is Too Short for Boring Plants: The New, Rare, and Just Plain Weird
Presenter: Mark Weathington, JC Raulston Arboretum
Description: Why should our gardens all look the same? This talk explores some of the cutting edge plant material coming to market, some great plants that have been overlooked and some things that may just make you scratch your head.
Amazing Annuals for Impact
Presenter: Mark Dwyer, Edgerton Hospital and Health Services Healing Garden
Description: Seasonal plants continue to see massive popularity with the general public and landscape clientele. With so many new annuals coming out on the market every year, it’s challenging to navigate in selecting the best of the best for both flower and foliage. We’ll review a wide range of some of the best new selections, old standards that perform well and will cover many examples of successful use, integration and maintenance of these role players in the landscape.
Finding Your Niche: Establishing an Ecological Focus for your firm
Presenter: Larry Weaner, New Directions in the American Landscape
Description: Demand for ecologically beneficial landscapes is increasing, and businesses with an ecological focus realize an expanded client base and an invigorated creative atmosphere. Offering an ecological approach, however, requires knowledge and skills rarely taught in horticulture and design programs. This presentation guides landscape architects, designers, contractors, and others through what’s needed to establish a respected, visible presence in the fields of ecological landscape design and management. Participants gain a new understanding of local plant communities, learn about design projects modeled on regional ecosystems, acquire practical design, restoration, and management techniques, and discover new ways grow their skills and businesses.
Beyond Beauty: The Wildlife Value of Natives and Native Cultivars in Mt Cuba’s Trial Garden
Presenter: Sam Hoadley, Mt. Cuba Center
Description: Join Sam Hoadley, the Manager of Horticultural Research at Mt. Cuba Center, as he highlights native plant species and cultivars from Mt. Cuba’s trials that will make beautiful and ecologically valuable additions to your garden. Take a deep dive into the insect and pollinator observations from the concluded evaluations of Monarda, Phlox, Echinacea, wild hydrangea, Vernonia, and Solidago and get a preview of the pollinator data from ongoing trials including oakleaf hydrangeas and Pycnanthemum. In addition, get a sneak peek at the Asclepias trial which is being evaluated for both pollinator value and for its capacity as a larval host plant for monarch caterpillars.
Leveling up Pest Control with Biologicals
Presenter: Julie Graesch, BioWorks
Description: Interested in incorporating biologicals but not sure how or where to start? This presentation will cover basics, compatibility, and example IPM programs using biopesticides, natural enemies and chemical pesticides for management of common greenhouse and nursery pests.
From Breeding to Beds: How New Plants Reach the Landscape
Presenter: Marcus Jansen, PanAmerican Seed
Description: This session offers a behind-the-scenes look at how new annual and perennial varieties are developed for the landscape industry. From breeding and product development to trialing, evaluation, and introduction, participants will gain a clearer picture of the supply chain—from seed or cutting production to plants reaching the end consumer. The session will also highlight resources created specifically for landscape professionals and spotlight proven plant varieties suited to Midwest conditions.
Elements of a Healing Garden
Presenter: Mark Dwyer, Edgerton Hospital and Health Services Healing Garden
Description: Our gardens and landscapes have so much potential to provide respite, comfort, engagement and even healing. We’ll discuss a wide range of design elements and features of successful healing gardens. Intentioned healing and wellness gardens in therapeutic settings address accessibility, privacy, sensory engagement, multi-use potential and certainly feature engaging and robust plantings. We’ll cover all of those details with tips on how to extrapolate and successfully incorporate these elements in any landscape setting.
Plant Stress in a Changing Climate: Drought, Decline, and New Pest Threats
Presenter: Fredric Miller, The Morton Arboretum
Description: The hot, droughty summer of 2025 left its mark on landscapes across Illinois. In this session, Dr. Fredric Miller will uncover how drought stress disrupts plant function, weakens natural defenses, and increases susceptibility to pests and diseases. Through case studies and decline models, attendees will learn how drought accelerates problems like root rot and borer damage. Fredric will also provide the latest updates on threats like elm zigzag sawfly, bacterial leaf scorch, and spider mites.
AI in the Landscape Industry: From Buzzword to Business Tool
Presenter: Chelsea Hartshorn, Threadleaf Design
Description: Artificial Intelligence is no longer just a buzzword—it’s already reshaping how the landscape industry works. In this session, you’ll learn how AI can streamline design, estimating, training, and client communication. You’ll see real-world examples of AI tools like ChatGPT and image generation applied to proposals, planting concepts, SOPs, staff training, and more—plus lessons learned from early adopters.The focus is on actionable takeaways you can use right away to boost efficiency, strengthen client connections, and even support more sustainable design choices. Whether you’re a designer, contractor, or business owner, you’ll walk away ready to move beyond the hype and put AI to work in your business.
Leave the Leaves, Seeds, Pods and More
Presenter: Heather Prince, Fearless Gardening
Description: As the simplistic advice “Leave the Leaves” gains more traction and memes in gardening circles, let’s explore the architectural and ecological benefits of dried and dormant perennials. While seeds feed birds and wildlife throughout winter, we’ll also take a look at foliage, pods, and stems that bring interesting shapes and structures to the garden. Find fun snow catchers, delicate but long-lasting grasses, and sculptural dried leaves. Discover ways to layer in these subtle structures to keep your designs textural and cool throughout the dormant season.
Growers Swap Shop: Innovations, Insights & Ideas from the Field
The Growers Swap Shop is your chance to hear directly from fellow nursery and greenhouse professionals who are tackling challenges, testing new ideas, and fine-tuning proven practices in real time. In this fast-paced session, 3–4 growers from across the state will each share a 10-minute presentation spotlighting something that worked well for them this past season—whether it’s a new product trial, an upgrade to a familiar system, a novel propagation method, or an operational tweak that made a measurable difference. After the presentations, we’ll open the floor for Q&A and peer-to-peer discussion. This is your opportunity to ask questions, trade ideas, and walk away with practical takeaways.
Organizer: Kellie Schmidt
Click here to contact [email protected] for further information about this event.
THANKS TO OUR 2026 SPONSORS!
PREMIER SPONSOR
EVENT SPONSORS
EDUCATION SPONSORS
SOCIAL EVENT SPONSORS
ROUND TABLE SPONSOR
LANYARD SPONSOR
NOTEPAD SPONSOR
LUNCH SPONSORS
BEVERAGE SPONSORS
RAFFLE SPONSOR
SUPPORTING SPONSORS
Goodmark Nurseries