(Charlotte, North Carolina, November 5, 2024)— RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment)® hosted its final Industry Issues Update of 2024 during Elevate where RISE leadership and National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) partners underscored the essential role of grassroots engagement in shaping policy.
The event featured an interactive panel with live Q&A, allowing attendees to connect directly with experts Gil Grattan, VirginiaGreen; Andrew Ziehler, Ziehler Lawncare; and Daniel Pappineau, TruGreen, on advocacy strategies and industry priorities.
RISE President Megan Provost welcomed 45+ breakfast attendees, discussing the importance of advocacy efforts at every level—especially timely on election day.
Provost emphasized, “Grassroots engagement and relationship building are the foundation for effective advocacy. It’s through open dialogue that we create real, lasting impact.”
Ziehler echoed Provost’s sentiment, highlighting the value of a proactive approach, stating, “Someone is going to tell your story—do you want that to be you, or someone else? It’s on us to communicate our impact and clarify our goals so that policymakers understand the challenges and contributions of our industry.”
Grattan urged the audience to make advocacy relatable, adding, “Providing context is critical. It’s not enough to state the facts; we need to show the on-the-ground impacts of policy decisions and make our message accessible to policymakers.”
Papineau reinforced the importance of staying engaged, noting, “Active participation in advocacy keeps you informed and lets legislators hear your voice directly. Advocacy isn’t reserved for a few; it’s something every one of us can do.”
RISE remains dedicated to fostering interactive discussions around specialty pesticides to positively shape perception and policy, and to equip industry professionals with the tools they need for effective advocacy.
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