RISE and CropLife America members elect board and honor volunteers

RISE members and guests, with CropLife America partners, gathered week for the 2024 Joint Annual Meeting from Sept. 15-18 in downtown San Diego. 

More than 400 leaders from the specialty and agricultural pesticide industry met to discuss advocacy and engagement, the upcoming election year, and disruption in the changing landscape of business and the workplace.

“This gathering is a valuable opportunity to come together from all segments of the pesticide industry and foster collaboration, which is truly at the heart of what we do,” RISE Governing board chair Karen Larson said in her opening speech.” The work we accomplish individually is important, but it’s through sharing ideas, insights, and strategies with one another that we truly unlock our potential.”

Keynote speakers David Wasserman, senior editor for the nonpartisan election analysis newsletter The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, shared views of the presidential and U.S. congressional races, and Henna Pryor, a workplace performance expert and two-time TEDx presenter, explained how disruption can ignite a new standard of excellence. 

The RISE Governing Board met during the annual meeting to review the association’s strategic plan, elect new leaders, welcome new members, and thank those who have served. 

New members joining the board are Blaine Pinkerton, vice president of sales for Turf & Ornamental at Nufarm, holding a manufacturer seat, and Brian Rowan, vice president of category management at SiteOne Landscape Supply holding a distributor seat. Outgoing board members Scott Reasons, Syngenta, and Kathy Bishop, Lebanon Seaboard Corporation, were recognized for their service to the association. 

The new RISE Executive Committee for 2024-2025 is:

• Neal Cleveland, PBI-Gordon Corporation, chair
• Todd Mason, Sipcam Agro USA, vice chair
• John Johnson, Prokoz, Inc., treasurer
• Karen Larson, Clarke, immediate past chair

Others continuing their terms on the board, include:

• Barbara Aguiar, BASF Corporation
• Jeff Bunting, GROWMARK, Inc.
• Sam Barrick, SePRO Corporation
• Dan Carrothers, FMC Corporation
• Steven Farrington, Gowan USA
• Brent Stauffacher, Corteva Agriscience
• Mark Schneid, Envu
• Shayne Wetherall, AMGUARD Environmental Technologies

Larson, along with the RISE Executive Committee, recognized the volunteers who served on behalf of the association during the general session. 

The awards and members/volunteers honored for their service were:

 RISE Volunteer Service Awards 2022-2024:

• Darryl Blakey, BASF, Chair, Legislative Affairs Committee
• Julie Schlekau, Valent, Chair, Regulatory Affairs Committee
• Heidi Deja, BASF, Chair, Strategic Oversight Council

Strategic Driver Award 2024: Brittany Wilkerson, PBI-Gordon Corporation, Strategic Engagement on the RISE Regulatory Affairs Committee for her work on bilingual labeling/ EPA Labels Live. 

Grassroots Advocacy Award 2024: Buddy Freund, New Jersey Green Industry Council, for his nine years of service as Executive Director of NJGIC. 

“As we strengthen partnerships and amplify our voices, we extend our sincere appreciation to each RISE member who contributed their time, energy, and participation to advocate for specialty pesticides and fertilizers,” RISE president Megan Provost said. “Your efforts are the driving force behind the RISE mission, empowering us to support the creation of inspiring and healthy places to live, work, and play.”