2026 HPTA Annual Meeting

September 22-23, 2026

Lansing, Michigan

HPTA 2026 Annual Meeting
September 22-23, 2026

 

We are thrilled to extend an invitation to the 2026 HPTA Annual Meeting, taking place in Lansing, Michigan on September 22-23, 2026.

Building on the success of past gatherings, we look forward to another engaging event where industry leaders, innovators, and stakeholders will come together to explore the latest advancements, share insights, and strengthen connections within the humic substances sector.

Join us in Downtown Lansing for two days of insightful discussions, collaborative networking, and valuable opportunities to help shape the future of our industry.

Enjoy a Tour at AgroLiquid on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.

Register Now for the 2026 HPTA Annual Meeting
September 22 – 23, 2026 – Lansing, MI

Why register now?

Early registration helps us plan ahead to ensure the best possible experience for all attendees—including meals, transportation, and seating for our new programming additions. Your early commitment helps us build a stronger, smoother event.

Discounted rooms are for Monday, September 21 – Wednesday, September 23, 2026

The HPTA Annual Meeting registration is at the bottom of this page.

Reserve your hotel room today!
The annual meeting will be held at the COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT LANSING DOWNTOWN

Upon your arrival at Capital Region International Airport (LAN), transportation to the Courtyard by Marriott Lansing Downtown will be approximately a 10-minute drive via taxi, Uber, or Lyft. For the tour on Tuesday, September 22, transportation from the hotel to AgroLiquid in St. Johns will be provided via a coordinated bus service. Please note that for the dinner on Wednesday evening, you will once again need to arrange for a taxi or use a rideshare app like Uber or Lyft to reach the venue.

Please visit the online booking link for the HPTA meeting.

https://app.marriott.com/reslink?id=1778507463238&key=GRP&app=resvlink

 

AGENDA

Tuesday, September 22, 2026

  • 8:30 AM | AgroLiquid Tour

    Depart from Courtyard by Marriott in Downtown Lansing

  • 5 PM | Welcome Reception - Sponsored by GTX Technologies

    Location : Capital Room

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

  • 8 AM | Breakfast : Sponsored by Thorton Laboratory

  • 9 AM | Opening Remarks

    Presenter : Russell Taylor    |    Duration : 15 minutes

    • Call Information
    • Welcome
    • HPTA Member Introductions
  • 9:15 AM | 2025 Business Meeting Minutes Approval

    Presenter : David Chinn    |    Duration : 5 minutes

  • 9:25 AM | President's Report

    Presenter : Russell Taylor    |    Duration : 20 minutes

  • 9:45 AM | Financial & Membership

    Presenter : David Chinn    |    Duration : 15 minutes

  • 10 AM | Marketing & Communications

    Presenter : Tracy Meschke    |    Duration : 15 minutes

  • 10:15 AM | Break : Sponsored by The Catalyst Products Group

    Duration : 25 minutes

  • 10:40 AM | Election Results

    Duration : 5 minutes

  • 10:45 AM | Nature Inspired Innovation : Humic Products & Technologies

    Presenter : Dr. Alexander Shulgin    |    Duration : 45 minutes

  • 11:30 AM | Humates : General

    Presenter : Don Dures    |    Duration : 30 minutes

  • 12 PM | Lunch : Sponsored by Humusolver

Afternoon Speakers | Sponsored by Borregarrd

  • 1PM | Thermal Analysis of Soil Organic Matter - Dr. Yelena Kann

    Duration : 45 minutes

    Dr. Yelena Kann is an innovative polymer scientist with over 28 years of industrial experience in plastics stabilization, bio-degradation and processing. After working on biobased-biodegradable Poly(hydroxy alkanoate) (PHA) technology at Metabolix, sustainable e-paper technologies at EInk, advanced materials at Sabic, photonic polymeric materials at OmniGuide and automotive plastics at Lynn Plastics, she continued innovating by founding two startups focusing on plastic pollution, recycling and sustainability.

    Yelena has PhD in Chemistry from the University of Sussex, UK, where her supervisor was the most recognized expert in the area of polymer degradation, Prof. N.C. Billingham.

    Yelena published over 30 technical papers, has been awarded over 50 global patents, won 2018 US National CleanTech Open Business competition, 2019 NY 76West competition, Activate Fellowship in 2020, 2025 PolyNext competition in biodegradable plastics, served as a PI on multiple grants, was an invited speaker at multiple international chemical and materials conferences including World Materials Forum in France, MIT’s Sustainable materials conferences in Cambridge, MA, USA, IUPAC conference in Prague, Czech Republic, Society of Plastics Engineers conferences in the US. She is a Vice-Chair at the ASTM D20.96.14 committee on biodegradable plastics.

    Her interests include plastics stabilization, modification, recycling, degradation, optical properties, color chemistry. She lives in the Boston area of Massachusetts, USA.

  • 1:45 PM | Coming Soon

    Duration : 45 minutes

  • 2:30 PM | Break : Sponsored by BioLiNE

  • 2:45 PM | Thermal Modulation of Humic Acids Under Industry Relevant Processing Conditions: Linking Analytical Characterization to Plant Biostimulant Activity - Hiarhi Monda

    Duration : 45 minutes

  • 3:15 PM | Closing Remarks

    Presenter : Russell Taylor    |    Duration : 15 minutes

  • 6 PM | Social : Sponsored by HUMA

  • 7 PM | Dinner : Sponsored by HUMA

Online Registration

Annual Meeting Sponsors

Tuesday Reception

Wednesday Breakfast

Wednesday Morning Break

Wednesday Lunch

Wednesday Afternoon Break

Wednesday Social & Dinner

Speaker Sponsorship