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4 Questions for Mason, a VP Of Business Development

Host Bill Calkins is catching up with different people in the professional horticulture space and find out a little bit about their careers, passions, journeys in the world of plants and much more. He sent each potential guest a list of 12 questions and they picked four to answer and discuss.

This episode, Bill is joined by Mason Day, the Vice President of Business Development at JR Peters Company/Jack’s Fertilizers.

Here are the four questions Mason selected:

Q: What do you love most about your job?

Q: What advice would you give to an industry veteran currently dealing with “burnout”?

Q: How do you explain our industry to strangers, friends, family?

Q: What’s something about professional horticulture that annoys you and how would you change it?

4 Questions for Lorentina, a North American Sales & Product Representative

Throughout 2026 (and possibly beyond), host Bill Calkins is catching up with different people in the professional horticulture space and find out a little bit about their careers, passions, journeys in the world of plants and much more. He sent each potential guest a list of 12 questions and they picked four to answer and discuss.

This episode, Bill is joined by Lorentina McKoy, the North American Sales & Product Representative for Suntory. Lorentina wears many hats with Suntory from supply management and technical support to product selection and working as a liaison with off-shore stock farms. She brings it all together with unique skill sets and plenty of past greenhouse experience. Her perspective is thoughtful and rooted in a passion for the green industry.

Here are the four questions Lorentina selected:

Q: How do you explain our industry to strangers, friends, family?

Q: If you had a free hour, what would we find you doing?

Q: If you won the lottery and could start a horticulture business from scratch, what would it be and what would it look like?

Q: What advice would you give to a young person considering pursuit of a career in horticulture?

This episode is sponsored by Prospiant—leaders in greenhouse design, manufacture and build. Learn more and connect with the expert team at prospiant.com.  

4 Questions for Tanya, a Territory Manager (AND BLOOM DIVA!)

This episode is sponsored by Prospiant—leaders in greenhouse design, manufacture and build. Learn more and connect with the expert team at prospiant.com.

Throughout 2026 (and possibly beyond), host Bill Calkins is going to catch up with different people in the professional horticulture space and find out a little bit about their careers, passions, journeys in the world of plants and much more. He sent each potential guest a list of 12 questions and they picked four to answer and discuss.

This episode, Bill is joined by Tanya Carvalho, territory manager for all of Canada at Ball FloraPlant and Selecta One. Tanya is also a social media influencer for the commercial side of our industry and you should follow her on Instagram! @tanyacbloomdiva

Here are the four questions Tanya selected:

Q: How do you explain our industry to strangers, friends, family?

Q: If you won the lottery and could start a horticulture business from scratch, what would it be and what would it look like?

Q: What are your top 3 favorite annuals? And perennials?

Q: What advice would you give to a young person considering pursuit of a career in horticulture?

Greenhouse Climate Systems in 2026 & Beyond ft. BioTherm’s Jim Rearden

In this episode, host Bill Calkins and BioTherm president Jim Rearden talk about a new partnership for BioTherm that brings some cutting-edge product lines into the company’s portfolio—including low-mass boilers and new, modern unit heaters.

But that’s not all you can expect this episode! Bill also asked Jim about the evolution of greenhouse environmental management, how grower needs continue to change (based on many factors), the importance of planning ahead when making equipment decisions and what the future may hold in terms of regulation and legislation that’s bound to impact our industry.

It’s a great conversation so be sure to stick around all the way to the end, because the good information keeps coming.

Resources:

• BioTherm Website: https://biothermsolutions.com/
• Climate Systems for Indoor Environments (VIDEO): https://youtu.be/1EImJy5UEe4|
• How to Heat Your Greenhouse (VIDEO): https://youtu.be/H46OQwxJdx4
• The Ultimate Grower Climate Control System (VIDEO): https://youtu.be/PSMxCyOhbj4
• Low-mass Boiler Solutions: https://biothermsolutions.com/high-efficiency-boiler-system/
• Sterling Unit Heaters: https://biothermsolutions.com/product/sterling-high-efficiency-unit-heaters/

4 Questions for Diane, an Executive Director

Throughout 2026 (and possibly beyond), host Bill Calkins will catch up with different people in the professional horticulture space and find out a little bit about their careers, passions, journeys in the world of plants and much more. Bill sent each guest a list of 12 questions and they picked four to answer and discuss.

This episode, he’s joined by Diane Blazek, Executive Director at All-America Selections and National Garden Bureau.

Here are the four questions Diane selected:

Q: How do you explain our industry to strangers, friends, family?

Q: Do you have a morning or evening routine you’d like to share with the listeners? Why do you do this?

Q: What’s something about professional horticulture that annoys you and how would you change it?

Q: What are three tools you couldn’t live without or couldn’t do your job without. (This can be hand tools, technology, etc.)

PanAmerican Seed Grower Insights On Select 2027 Varieties

WATCH THE VIDEO VERSION! https://youtu.be/qrcLV3tyCLo 

For this video podcast, host Bill Calkins is joined by three representatives from PanAmerican Seed who each bring specific expertise to the table, having worked with new crops for years to help bring them to market with solid foundations and supported by all the information you, as growers, need to be successful.

Lisa Lacy is Director of Product Management for PanAmerican, Robin Ruether is Senior Product Manager and Sonali Padhye is PanAm’s Senior Global Technical Manager and together they will cover five key 2027 introductions from the global seed breeding company.

Here’s the list of crops and you’ll see that they cover a range of genera, uses and market positions. There are landscape performers, combo components, Fleuroselect Gold Medal and All-America Selections winners and seed forms of traditionally vegetative varieties—truly something for everyone. Find all product information at https://www.panamseed.com/ .

• African Marigold Lanna Lace
• Bacopa Galactic Mist White
• Sunflower Always Sunny Gold
• Heuchera Heucherette Pink & Red
• Sedum Spectacular

4 Questions for Broch, a Strategic Account Manager

Throughout 2026 (and possibly beyond), host Bill Calkins will catch up with different people in the professional horticulture space and find out a little bit about their careers, passions, journeys in the world of plants and much more. Bill sent each guest a list of 12 questions and they picked four to answer and discuss.

This episode, he’s joined by Broch Martindale, National Nursery and Greenhouse Strategic Account Manager with Corteva Agriscience.

Here are the four questions Broch selected:

Q: What was your first exposure to “horticulture” and how did you feel, react, respond?

Q: What advice would you give to a young person considering pursuit of a career in horticulture?

Q: What do you love most about your job?

Q: What does the future of horticulture look like? 

4 Questions for Shannon, a Plant Pathologist

Throughout 2026 (and possibly beyond), host Bill Calkins will catch up with different people in the professional horticulture space and find out a little bit about their careers, passions, journeys in the world of plants and much more. Bill sent each guest a list of 12 questions and they picked four to answer and discuss.

This episode, he’s joined by Shannon Carmody, director of plant pathology at Ball Horticultural Company.

Here are the four questions Shannon selected:

Q: What was your first exposure to “horticulture” and how did you feel, react, respond?

Q: If you won the lottery and could start a horticulture business from scratch, what would it be and what would it look like?

Q: What’s something about professional horticulture that annoys you and how would you change it?

Q: What do you love most about your job?

Audio Files: Lessons NOT YET Learned

LESSONS NOT YET LEARNED

FROM THE FEBRUARY 2026 ISSUE OF GREEN PROFIT MAGAZINE

WRITTEN BY BILL McCURRY

NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS

EXCERPT: When selling or attempting to retire, owners without a strong leadership team find they don’t have a business to sell. They have inventory that’s worth half what the owner thinks it is. The fixtures and equipment are usually worth a quarter or less of the owner’s estimate. They may have real estate, but if the operations can’t be run without the current owner, they don’t have a business. All they have to sell is a job and the physical assets. It’s a sad, but consistent story.

Read the Digital Edition: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gp_26_02/index.aspx

Audio Files: Watering More Efficiently with Data-Driven Decisions

WATERING MORE EFFICIENTLY WITH DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS

FROM THE JANUARY 2026 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE

WRITTEN BY JOSH HENRY

NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS

 

EXCERPT: Assessing irrigation needs: Good, better, best—Think of irrigation decisions as a hierarchy:

• Bad: Watering by timer
• Good: Checking surface color
• Better: Picking up pots to gauge weight
• Even better: Inspecting roots and using the 1-to-5 scale
• Best: Water by weight—real data drives decisions

Read the Digital Edition: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_26_01/index.aspx