Dwight Hughes, Jr., owner of Dwight Hughes Nursery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is President of the American Nursery & Landscape Association (ANLA), a Washington, DC-based trade association representing over 2,200 firms who grow, sell, and use landscape plants.

Hughes is a third generation nurseryman operating a landscape nursery with his wife Debbie, son Tom, and twins Judy and John. Hughes graduated from Iowa State University in 1970 with a B.S. in ornamental horticulture and landscape architecture. After graduation, he spent two years in the U.S. Army.

Hughes has been quite active in industry associations both on a state and national level. He is the immediate past president of ANLA's Horticultural Research Institute, past chairman of the Education Committee and the Nursery Management Institute Task Force, has been chairman of ANLA's Wholesale Nursery Growers of America's popular "New Ideas Program" since 1987, and served as ANLA Governor for Iowa from 1989-1992. In 2001, Hughes was named to ANLA's Hall of Fame and made an honorary member in 2001. Hughes was the youngest member to receive this honor.

On the local level, Hughes has been active in the Iowa Nurserymen's Association where he served as a board member, historian and president. He is also a member of the International Plant Propagators' Society, Iowa Arboretum, National Eagle Scout Association, National Cyclone Club, and ISU Alumni Association Life Member. He has also served on the boards of the Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce, Historic Brucemore, Indian Creek Nature Center, Prairie School Foundation, U.S. Bank and the Boy Scouts of America.

Hughes has also made more than 100 presentations as an industry speaker in more than 35 states and Canada on efficient landscape management and field production systems. He published a book and video in 1996 titled Systems for Success that is a popular educational package on strategies for maximum efficiency in landscape installation and nursery production.