RISE, CropLife America Members Gather in San Diego for Annual Meeting

SAN DIEGO - RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment) members and guests, with CropLife America partners, gathered this week for the 2024 Joint Annual Meeting, 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. 

With the theme Growing Together, RISE Governing Board Chair Karen Larson, Clarke, opened the meeting saying, “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. 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.  

Governing Board Meets 

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, 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 

Association Volunteers Honored 

Larson, along with the RISE Executive Committee, recognized the outstanding 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 was not in attendance, thus no photo available) 
Buddy Freund, New Jersey Green Industry Council, for his nine years of service as Executive Director of NJGIC.  

Gratitude for Member Engagement 

In her closing remarks, RISE President Megan Provost emphasized the importance of growing together as an industry and gratitude for the engagement.  

“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. 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,” Provost said.