News
Growing Knowledge: YPC Members Share Their UF Greenhouse Training Experience
March 19, 2026
What happens when young professionals in floriculture get the chance to deepen their technical knowledge and immediately apply it in their work? For three members of our Young Professionals Council (YPC), that opportunity came through the University of Florida’s Greenhouse Training Online courses. Through AFE’s educational grant program, we sponsor these 4-week, award-winning certificate courses from UF/IFAS Extension.
As a special opportunity provided to the YPC, Maleah Wellmann of Bell Nursery, Mike Wijesinghe of Bell Nursery, and Danielle DelConte of Ball FloraPlant each completed a course designed to strengthen greenhouse production knowledge. From plant disease diagnostics to irrigation management and climate control, the lessons they learned are already helping them think differently about challenges in the greenhouse and bring new ideas back to their teams.
Maleah Wellmann, Grower at Bell Nursery, enrolled in the course Field Diagnosis of Plant Diseases. Because part of her role involves scouting crops for potential problems, the course quickly connected with the work she does every day. “With every module I completed, I was able to apply the information almost immediately.”
That practical connection made the material stick. Wellmann shared that learning to correctly identify diseases has strengthened her ability to respond quickly in the greenhouse. As she explained, “Faster diagnosis leads to earlier treatment and a decreased spread of disease.”
Mike Wijesinghe, Head Grower at Bell Nursery’s Springfield, Ohio, facility, took the Advanced Irrigation Management course to explore ways to improve water management in a large-scale production environment. As someone managing production at a 20-acre facility, he said the course helped him rethink existing systems.
“The course was informative but easily digestible,” he shared. The program built from foundational concepts to real-world examples that encouraged him to troubleshoot and evaluate improvements for his operation.
Wijesinghe also highlighted the Endowment’s broader role in supporting growers, like him, through research and education. “For years, I have known the American Floral Endowment to be an excellent resource for growers by directing initiatives such as the Grow Pro Webinar Series and providing industry-focused research.”
Danielle DelConte, Quality Assurance Specialist with Ball FloraPlant, chose the Climate Management course to gain a deeper understanding of how environmental factors interact within greenhouse systems. “Learning from many different professors across multiple universities provided a meaningful range of perspectives,” she shared.
The course helped DelConte better understand the production environments behind vegetative cuttings and how factors like temperature, humidity, and light influence plant development and quality outcomes.
As mentioned above, this opportunity was made possible through AFE’s educational grant program, which supports continued learning for students and industry members alike.
These young industry professionals accessed this opportunity through their involvement in our Young Professionals Council. The YPC connects emerging leaders from across the floriculture industry and academia, supporting professional development through opportunities like greenhouse training courses, in-person meet-ups, webinars, and more. As Wellmann shared, “What the YPC is doing for young professionals in the industry will benefit more than just the person, but the company that they work for as well.” Young professionals interested in networking, leadership development, and continued learning can read more and join here (membership is free!).
For growers and greenhouse professionals interested in expanding their technical knowledge, the University of Florida’s Greenhouse Training Online program offers a wide range of courses covering topics from irrigation and climate management to plant disease diagnostics. Through AFE’s support of the program, AFE supporters can receive 20% off course registration using the code AFE2026. More information about the courses and discount is available here.
These experiences highlight how AFE-supported educational programs and industry collaboration can help greenhouse professionals strengthen their skills and bring new insights back to their teams.
