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Why It Matters

Program Benefits

The HRI Leadership Academy helps participants become better prepared to make a greater impact in their company, their community, and the industry.

HRI Leadership Academy Class of 2026 group photo

For Individuals

Participants will grow personally and professionally, through:

  • leadership and business skills training
  • engagement with a green industry network
  • completion of a LEAD Project

For Businesses

Companies gain more effective senior leaders who can:

  • lead teams and culture
  • represent the business
  • collaborate beyond organizational boundaries

For the Industry

The industry develops leaders with broad perspectives who:

  • understand the full value chain
  • collaborate across segments
  • contribute to its long-term strength and sustainability

“The HRI Leadership Academy was probably the most intense but most beneficial leadership experience — and educational experience — I’ve had in my entire life.”

Portrait of Amanda Staehely

Amanda Staehely

Columbia Nursery, OR

Participants in aprons during a team-building activity at Cultivate

Develop Ready Leaders

Participants Will

Strengthen

their ability to lead people and culture at an enterprise level

Build

greater skill in strategy, competitive positioning, and senior-level decision-making

Refine

negotiation and executive communication skills

Improve

financial fluency and the ability to interpret economic and industry signals

Learn

to convert a vision into action through effective and appropriate planning, communication, and motivation

Increase

their capacity to influence stakeholders and navigate the external environment

Develop

a clearer view of the value chain and how to collaborate across it

Establish

a trusted, cross-segment, national peer network of leaders who carry similar responsibility

Jon Reelhorn

Belmont Nursery, CA