3. Our Mission
To be a community and national resource
for horticultural and environmental
information, conservation, research and
education. To inspire, entertain, delight,
and educate visitors with activities and
quality plants in well-designed and
maintained displays, collections, model
landscapes, and natural areas.
4. Arboretum Fun Facts
Economic Impact: Grape Breeding $36.2M (2007)
including grape growing, winery operation, and winery-
related tourism
Global Reach: Over 10M Honeycrisp apples have been
planted worldwide; apple growers from around the world
visit the Arboretum to learn from our research
Conservation: Center for Plant Conservation member
responsible for conservation of rare, threatened, and
endangered plant species in Minnesota and Upper
Midwest
Award Winning: Children and Family Programming
8. Kris Gauthier
General Mills
Conversation Seeders
Susan T. Schuster, Community Affairs,
Senior Consultant, Blue Cross and Blue Shield
of Minnesota
Denise Essel, Accounting Supervisor, Cargill
Megan Price-Watkins, Community and
Public Relations, C.H. Robinson Worldwide
Melissa King, Project Management Analyst
and Six Sigma Green Belt, Cummins Power
Generation
9. Kris Gauthier
General Mills
Conversation Seeders
Donna Svendsen, Associate Director,
Community Action, General Mills
Kris Gauthier, Business Development Analyst,
Bakeries & Food Service, General Mills
Audra Hovick, Senior Applications Analyst,
Global Business Solutions, General Mills
10. Upcoming Events
www.bit.ly/Econetwork
Romp to Stomp – February 9
2013 Sustainable Agriculture Summit - February 15-16
2013 Schoolyard Gardens Conference – February 22
Spring Garden Expo – March 8-10
Nature Heals Conference - March 14-15
Valentine’s Gourmet Dinners, Nature Hikes, Weekend
Family Fun, Skiing and Snowshoeing, and more…..