USLC 2025 Schedule at a Glance
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Session and Speaker Information

The United States Lavender Conference is a multi-track conference, which means we serve a variety of attendees at different stages of their business. You will be able to select your sessions on-site and freely join any session in progress.

USLC 2025 Preliminary Schedule-at-a-Glance

Please note sessions and speakers are subject to change.

Thursday, January 23, 2025 - Pre-Conference (Sessions are priced separately
7:00 am – Breakfast – Embassy Suites Lobby (for those staying there Wednesday evening)
7:45-9:00 am – Registration/Check-in for Pre-Conference
8:00 am – Agritourism/Educational Excursion – off-site (all day)
Long Row Lavender, with Tracy Smith & Missouri Botanical Gardens
8:00 am – How to Start a Lavender Farm, with Joanne Voelcker, Sherri Wood, and Alice Marrin
9:00 - 11 am – Culinary Pre-Con – morning session (Presenters TBA)
9:00 - 11 am – Snap, Click, Sell: Beginner iPhone Photography 101 for Your Products, Farm & Food!  With Nicole Callen, Norwood Lavender Farm
1:00 - 3 pm – Culinary Pre-Con – afternoon session (Presenters TBA)
1:00 - 3 pm – Snap, Click, Sell: Beginner iPhone Photography 101 for Your Products, Farm & Food! With Nicole Callen, Norwood Lavender Farm
4:00 - 6:30 pm – Conference Check-in at USLC 2025 Registration Desk
6:00 - 6:30 pm – New Member Meet and Greet with the USLGA President
6:30 - 8:30 pm – Welcome Reception
7:30 pm – “Fireside Chat” featuring Seeds of Grace & Lavender Fields

Friday, January 24, 2025 – Conference Day 1
7:00 am – Breakfast – Embassy Suites Lobby (for those staying there Thursday evening)
7:00 - 8:00 am – Registration/Check-in
8:00 am – Welcome and Introductions
8:15 am – Keynote Session with Kayla Fioravanti, Ology Essentials Lab: All Rivers Bend
9:30 am – Break
10:00 am – Featured Speaker, Alicia Rihn, Assistant Professor, Agricultural & Resource Economics, The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
11:00 am – Scheduled Hallway Demos TBA
Noon – Networking Lunch by Region
1:15 pm – Breakout Sessions
2:30 pm – Break (Snack) with Vendors
3:00 pm – Breakout Sessions TBA
4:15 pm – Breakout Sessions TBA
6:30 pm – Celebratory Dinner Honoring USLGA Founding Members

Saturday, January 25, 2025 – Conference Day 2
7:00 am – Breakfast – Embassy Suites Lobby (for those staying there Friday evening)
8:00 am – USLGA Annual Membership Meeting
8:45 am – Keynote Session with Terry Vesci,
10:00 am – Break
10:30 am – Breakout Sessions TBA
11:45 am – Networking Lunch – Table Topics (with photos after)
1:15 pm – Breakout Sessions
2:30 pm – Break (Snack) with Vendors
3:00 pm – Afternoon Breakout Sessions TBA
4:15 pm – Closing/Featured Speaker: Tracy Smith, Long Row Lavender

Pre-Conference Session Descriptions and Bios

Registration for USLC Pre-Conference Sessions coming soon!

Pre-Conference Session: Snap, Click, Sell: Beginner iPhone Photography 101 for Your Products, Farm & Food! 
Pre-Conference Speaker: With Nicole Callen, Norwood Lavender Farm

Tired of scrolling through Instagram and feeling like your work will never be as good as the “real photographers” out there?
 
This basic photography workshop will turn your photos of oooh into wow!
You will receive the tools to take better photographs for your social media, blogs, newsletters, and websites that can help you turn heads toward your business.
 
I’m here to show you how you can do this with just your iPhone!

Nicole Callen

Nicole Callen is the owner of Norwood Lavender Farm, where she has turned her dream of running a wholesale lavender business into a thriving reality. Beyond the enchanting fragrance and soothing properties of lavender, Nicole has harnessed her fearless spirit and a journey of trial and error to explore the art of iPhone photography. She captures the beauty of her farm, products, and culinary adventures to enhance her marketing and social media presence.
 
In her iPhone photography class, Nicole shares the basics of capturing the story of lavender through photos, drawing from her experience in promoting her farm, culinary adventures, and handcrafted products. Her excitement for photography is an extension of her love for her farm.
 
When not working on the farm or developing new recipes and products, Nicole treasures moments with her husband, four daughters, and three grandsons. Her commitment to both her family and her craft shines through, offering a snapshot into the tranquil and captivating world of lavender as a business. For more information about Nicole or Norwood Lavender Farm, visit here: https://www.norwoodlavenderfarm.com/about-us.html

 Conference Session Descriptions and Speaker Bios

Keynote Session:  All Rivers Bend, The Art of Pivoting in Business for Success
Keynote Speaker: Kayla Fioravanti, Chief Formulator, Co-Founder of Ology Essentials Labs, Aromatherapist, and Author; www.ologyessentials.com

All rivers bend and so do successful businesses. A river meanders as water erodes its way through the path of least resistance. Kayla Fioravanti is a serial entrepreneur and has cultivated the art of the meander as she has pivoted her several businesses to success. Kayla also failed in business and will share openly about the mistakes she made that helped her learn the art of pivoting in business. Even a small pivot can change the entire trajectory of a business. A river that changes by one degree will deviate from the original path by 92 feet per mile. A one-degree change can be the difference between success and failure.

Kayla Fioravanti

26 years. In 1998, she co-founded Essential Wholesale, one of the first all-natural cosmetics/ingredients companies, that she started from her kitchen with $50. She built a multimillion-dollar company while raising her kids. She sold Essential Wholesale in 2011 and today, Kayla is the co-founder and Chief Formulator of Ology Essentials Labs. Ology Essentials Labs is leading the way in clean cosmetics, aromatherapy formulations, and hemp CBD with offerings of white label, private label, and bulk bases that offer easy and affordable product offerings for micro to small businesses as well as supporting the clean beauty brand expansion of large companies. As Ology's Chief Formulator, Kayla can bring to life her unique ideas and product formulations. Kayla is also an aromatherapist, business consultant, speaker, and award-winning author.

In the early 2000s, as I ventured into the world of farming and crafting my own lavender products, I encountered Kayla. My introduction wasn't direct; rather, I stumbled upon a fantastic manufacturer of bases, discovering a superb lotion base from a company then known as Essential Wholesale (now Essential + Labs) based in Oregon. They were renowned locally for their diverse range of product bases and raw materials catering to DIY enthusiasts and budding product producers like myself.

It wasn't until later that I learned Kayla was the brilliant mind behind this thriving business. Coincidentally, I had a connection to her through

her mother, a cherished member of our artistic community who frequented my farm for painting opportunities. When she visited her mom, Kayla and I crossed paths occasionally, and her warmth always left a lasting impression.

Following her mother's passing, Kayla continued to occasionally grace Coupeville with her presence, maintaining her friendly demeanor and offering unwavering support as I navigated the challenges of growing my business. Her upcoming keynote address in January is a testament to her invaluable contributions to our community.

It's worth noting Kayla's connections with other influential figures, including Donna Maria and Cindy Jones, PhD, both previous USLGA speakers. Her longstanding and varied involvement with the USLGA community speaks volumes about her dedication to innovation and collaboration. I eagerly anticipate learning about her latest endeavors, as she continues to push boundaries and inspire us all.

Painting by Kelly Mohs (Kay's mom)

~ Sarah Richards