Anna Caroline Ball is President and CEO of the 111-year-old Ball Horticultural Company, which specializes in all aspects of horticulture, including breeding, biotechnology, production, and marketing of hybrid flower seeds and other floriculture crops. Privately-held and now in its third generation of family management, Ball Horticultural Company is located in over 20 locations worldwide.

Anna received her B.A. degree from the University of Colorado and her M.B.A. from Northwestern University. She is a Trustee for The Morton Arboretum, and is also Director of the Board of Career Vision. Anna lives in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.

Paul B. Redman is an award-winning leader of public gardens, known for his dedication to the beauty and sustainability of gardens, and to the training of future generations of horticulture professionals. A hallmark of Paul’s leadership is building a culture of planning to propel a shared vision forward.

Over the last 12 years, Paul has implemented institutional and strategic reforms that have positioned the Gardens as a premier horticultural, cultural, and educational institution of the 21st Century, while respecting the values of its founder, Pierre S. du Pont. The result has been nothing short of astounding with overall attendance doubling to almost 1.6 million visitors per year; an incredible climb in Membership support from 17,000 to 66,000 households; and earned income that has almost tripled. Most recently and notably, Paul led one of largest projects in Longwood’s history: the $90-plus million revitalization of the Main Fountain Garden, which reopened in May 2017.

A consummate professional, Paul freely shares his time and expertise, serving as the Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Garden Conservancy; Leadership Cabinet Co-Chair for Seed Your Future, a national initiative to promote awareness and careers in horticulture; and previously serving as Board President and Treasurer of the American Public Gardens Association. His honors include: 2018 National Garden Clubs Award of Excellence; 2017 Distinguished Alumnus from the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Oklahoma State University; 2016 American Public Gardens Association Award of Merit; the International Garden Tourism Network’s 2015 Person of the Year; 2015 American Horticultural Society’s Professional Award; 2014 Wyck Strickland Award; 2014 American Society of Horticultural Science’s Dr. William A. “Tex” Frazier Lecturer; 2012 CEO of the Year by the Chester County Chamber of Commerce, Business & Industry; 2008 Distinguished Horticulture Alumnus from Oklahoma State University; and where his professional career first began, Franklin Park Conservatory, receiving the Ann Islay Wolfe Award for extraordinary contributions to the organization.

Paul has been working and studying in the field of public horticulture for more than 25 years. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree and Master of Science Degree in Horticulture from Oklahoma State University.

Brian serves as Chief Scientist in the Research & Development division of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, Marysville Ohio.  He became interested in lawn and garden care while in high school, working part-time at the local independent garden center. Brian has served many roles during his 27-year career at Scotts Miracle-Gro, and has been involved in countless new product launches. He currently leads Scotts global research stations, laboratory services, technology strategy and ensures scientific excellence across Scotts. Brian received his doctorate in horticulture from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Lorraine Calder serves as President of White Flower Farm Inc. Ms. Calder worked at Cuzz-acres, Orange, Ct from 1979 to 1980. She received BS in Horticulture from Colorado State University, Ft Collins, Co from 1975 to 1979.

John M. Dole is Associate Dean and Director of Academic Programs at North Carolina State University and past Chairman of the Board of the American Society for Horticultural Science. John began a lifelong interest in horticulture by working at a local farm market, growing cut flowers in his garden for sale, and picking strawberries, raspberries, apples, and pears for local commercial operations.

He received a B.S. degree from Michigan State University and his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota, both in the area of Horticulture. He began his academic career as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Horticultural Science and Landscape Architecture at Oklahoma State University. Dr. Dole moved to the Department of Horticultural Science at North Carolina State University in 2000, becoming Director of Graduate Programs in 2004 and Department Head in 2011.

He has a long history of significant research, teaching, extension, and outreach contributions to the field of floriculture, most notably in the areas of production and postharvest handling of cut flowers, cuttings and poinsettias. His students have excelled in a variety of industry, public garden, governmental, or academic positions. As Department Head he focused on student recruitment into horticulture and spreading the word about the benefits of horticulture.

Dr. Dole specializes in floricultural crops research and teaches floriculture courses including Greenhouse Management, HS 440, and Production of Floriculture Crops, HS 442 . In addition, he serves as Executive Advisor for the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers, and co-authored Floriculture Principles and Species, 2nd edition, 2005, with Harold F. Wilkins.

Dr. Dole has been involved with the Seed Your Future movement since it's founding in 2014. He was an inaugural member of the Steering Committee, and served on the Advisory Council until late 2018 when he joined the National Leadership Cabinet.

Dr. Charlie Hall grew up in the industry on a nursery in western North Carolina. Although an economist by training, he is currently a Professor in the Department of Horticultural Sciences at the Texas A&M University and also holder of the Ellison Chair in International Floriculture. His major areas of specialization include innovative management and marketing strategies, financial analysis and benchmarking, and the situation/outlook for nursery and greenhouse crops. He is an invited speaker at numerous regional, national, and international meetings of various industry-related associations and organizations. He is particularly known for the enthusiasm, passion, and intensity he exhibits when speaking. Dr. Hall is an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association and has received TNLAs Award for Outstanding Service to the Nursery Industry. He is also a member of the Hall of Fame and Honorary Lifetime Member of the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association.

Jeff Huntington, along with his brother Henry, is owner of Pleasant View Gardens in New Hampshire.

In 1992, they introduced the Proven Winners® brand with a vision to provide consumers with the very best. Over the past 20 years, Proven Winners has become well known for being the best, most unique, and highest performing plants in the marketplace.

Today, Pleasant View Gardens boasts two facilities covering nearly 30 acres, including 14 acres under cover and 14 acres of outdoor production. We employ more than 120 full-time and grow to more than 250 in the busy season. At peak, they produce over 4,000 trays of plant material per day.

Cole joined Bell Nursery full time 2008 working alongside Tom Wheeler assisting with growing operations. The following year, he moved to Allentown, Penn., to manage Bell's distribution center. He returned to Burtonsville in 2011, and now coordinates all annuals in and out of the greenhouse. Beginning with plugs, Cole coordinates labor and timing for planting, and shipping into Network and company greenhouses for finishing. When plants are finished he manages their return to the distribution center where they will be shipped fresh to The Home Depot.

Cole also oversees Bell's Maryland recycling program, working with industry partners to recycle everything from pots and trays to sleeves, boxes, tags and signs.

Cole started with Bell when he was 11, helping to build greenhouses at the Burtonsville location. Later he spent summers unloading trailers and housekeeping on the dock, before heading off to Salisbury University in pursuit of a degree in history, with a minor in philosophy. Cole currently resides in Baltimore with his wife.

Sarah joined Longwood Gardens in June 2017 as Vice President, Education, where she oversees the development, implementation, and coordination of Longwood's global education programs. She comes to Longwood from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in the UK, where she was Head of Education and Learning and oversaw the quality and direction of RHS's education programs for school-age children through Master of Horticulture programs, including the award winning "Rocket Science" project with Space UK and the RHS Campaign for School Gardening. Sarah was a member of the Horticulture Roundtable Council, where the Horticulture industry and UK Government work together and chair of the Education Group within this.

Rodd Moesel and his wife, Dona, own and operate American Plant Products and Services in western Oklahoma City. The grandson of dairy farmers and lifelong Farm Bureau members, Moesel grew up on a vegetable farm and greenhouse operation. He first became involved in the farm organization as a 4-H member.

Moesel has been a member of the Oklahoma State University Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Dean’s Advisory Committee for more than 20 years, has served as Oklahoma 4-H Foundation president, and co-chairs the OSU Foundation agriculture fundraising committee.

He is a graduate of the Oklahoma Agriculture Leadership Program, Leadership Oklahoma City and Leadership Oklahoma. He also is one of two Oklahoma representatives on the National Council of Agricultural Research, Education and Teaching.

He currently serves as President of Oklahoma Farm Bureau.

Terri McEnaney became president of Bailey Nurseries in 2001. Along with six other fourth-generation Bailey family members, she is responsible for carrying on the family tradition of growing the company.

While Terri grew up around the business and worked at the nursery while she was in high school, when she went to college she got a business degree with an emphasis on accounting. Upon graduation she went to work in the corporate world at 3M for eight years.

Working at a large multinational conglomerate, McEnaney says, provided her with a great foundation for the business world that she would eventually apply to the horticulture industry.

McEnaney returned to the company in 1991 with a whole new perspective on the family business.

Cari Peters is part of the 3rd generation of her family's company ― JR Peters. She is currently in charge of formula research and development and laboratory services in Allentown PA. Cari is the newest generation of blue hands constantly looking for ways to help growers feed their plants more efficiently using the many specialty formulas of Jacks fertilizers. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Delaware and a masters and PhD in plant sciences from the University of Maryland, but says she learned all she knows about fertilizer blending and the chemistry behind it from her father and grandfather.

Kate Santos earned a BS in Plant Biology from the University of New Hampshire. Following undergraduate school she worked as a grower for Cavicchio’s Greenhouse operation, where she was responsible for a variety of container grown annuals and perennials. Kate returned to graduate school and worked with Dr. Paul Fisher at the University of Florida, where she focused on quantification of nutrient uptake during propagation of unrooted cuttings. After earning her PhD she began working for Costa Farms as the Director of Research and Development.

Kate previously worked for Dümmen Orange as the Director of Operations where she had the opportunity to support the organization and work with the product management, customer service, human resources, marketing, production and technical support teams.

Kate is a founder of Luxflora - a visionary, women-led, nonprofit, professional floriculture organization. They embrace creative ideas and perspectives from around the world to inspire new trends in the growing and sharing of flowers and plants.

Joe Simone is President/CEO and Owner of the Fred C. Gloeckner & Co. The Gloeckner Co has been in business since 1934 and distributes horticultural products worldwide. Products include all inputs for commercial enterprises including young plants, bulbs, seeds, and hard goods. In addition to the company headquarters located outside New York City in Harrison, New York, Gloeckner has an international division with sales offices in Latin America and a flower bulb treatment and storage facility in Clackamas, Oregon.

Joe received his B.A. from Westchester University in PA and his M.B.A. from Fordham University. He serves as Secretary of the Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation, Inc, an entity started by Frederick Carl Gloeckner in 1960 which has distributed to date over $6.5million to fund research in horticulture to over 60 institutions throughout the United States.

Eliot A. Wadsworth is Vice President, Marketing of White Flower Farm. White Flower Farm is a family-owned nursery based in Northwest Connecticut. Since 1950, they've been growing a wide range of ornamental plant varieties, and delivering them to gardeners all over the country. Their mission is to help gardeners succeed by supplying top quality plant material, comprehensive cultural information, and superior customer service.

Dr. Charlie Hall grew up in the industry on a nursery in western North Carolina. Although an economist by training, he is currently a Professor in the Department of Horticultural Sciences at the Texas A&M University and also holder of the Ellison Chair in International Floriculture. His major areas of specialization include innovative management and marketing strategies, financial analysis and benchmarking, and the situation/outlook for nursery and greenhouse crops. He is an invited speaker at numerous regional, national, and international meetings of various industry-related associations and organizations. He is particularly known for the enthusiasm, passion, and intensity he exhibits when speaking. Dr. Hall is an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association and has received TNLAs Award for Outstanding Service to the Nursery Industry. He is also a member of the Hall of Fame and Honorary Lifetime Member of the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association.

Sarah joined Longwood Gardens in June 2017 as Vice President, Education, where she oversees the development, implementation, and coordination of Longwood's global education programs. She comes to Longwood from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in the UK, where she was Head of Education and Learning and oversaw the quality and direction of RHS's education programs for school-age children through Master of Horticulture programs, including the award winning "Rocket Science" project with Space UK and the RHS Campaign for School Gardening. Sarah was a member of the Horticulture Roundtable Council, where the Horticulture industry and UK Government work together and chair of the Education Group within this.

Gay Austin of McComb, MS is President-elect of the National Garden Clubs Inc. She ends her term as first vice president where she supports and promotes Plant America, NGC’s initiative that focuses on gardens and gardening, with an emphasis on community service. She also serves as liaison to NGC state presidents and regional directors. Austin also helps guide the national organization and work to advance NGC’s mission.

Austin previously served as second vice president of National Garden Clubs Inc. She has held various positions on a national level, including chairman of the Organization Study Committee and the Award of Excellence initiative to recognize outstanding non-member individuals and organizations that advance NGC causes. Austin also served as recording secretary on the board of directors for National Garden Clubs Inc. She is an accredited master flower show judge and horticulture instructor for numerous NGC flower show schools and symposiums.

On the state and local level, Austin has served as member of the board of directors of The Garden Clubs of Mississippi since 1995 and the McComb Garden Club for nearly 30 years.

She holds an associate degree in nursing from Southwest Mississippi Community College in Summit. As a registered nurse, Austin served in the emergency room at Southwest Regional Medical Center and as office manager of Southwest Mississippi Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic and Austin Medical Consultants Inc. She also is a board member and volunteer at PALS Rescue Inc., a no-kill animal shelter in Pike County.

Jared Barnes, Ph.D. started gardening when he was five years old, and since then he has enthusiastically pursued how to best cultivate plants and cultivate gardeners. He currently fulfills those passions as an assistant professor of horticulture at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX

He obtained his Ph.D. in horticultural science from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC; he participated in a summer internship at The Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA; and he has travelled around the US and to eleven countries to gain a national and global perspective of horticulture

His passion has been recognized by peers with being named the 2016 Perennial Plant Association Young Professional of the Year, recognized in the 2016 GPN Class of 40 under 40, and in interviews in Organic Gardening, Greenhouse Grower, AmericanHort Connect, Ken Druse's Real Dirt, and Nursery Management. His articles have appeared in Fine Gardening and Carolina Gardener.

For the past 14 years Mark Broxon has served as the Executive Director of Proven Winners, the leading plant brand in North America.  His responsibilities include leading the development of the Proven Winners brand, long term planning, administration, and financial management. His background includes almost 30 years experience in agriculture and horticulture markets.

Before joining Proven Winners, Mark was principal with Growth Partners, a consulting firm providing marketing and management services to the industry. Prior to this, he was the General Manager for the Western Business Division of The Scotts Company.

Debi joined the American Floral Endowment (AFE) in 2008, and serves as the Executive Director overseeing scientific research projects, educational grants, and scholarships. She also administers three internship programs to assist young professionals entering the floral industry. Since 1961, AFE has funded more than $16 million in research, grants and scholarships/internships. Prior to joining AFE, Debi worked for the Society of American Florists for nine years.

Debi also serves as the Executive Director of the Floral Marketing Research Fund, an organization that funds consumer and market research projects to support and promote floral consumption.

With more than 25 years experience working with non-profit organizations, Debi specializes in administration, communications, marketing, fundraising and member relations. She is a member of the American Society of Association Executives, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Marnie Conley joined Longwood Gardens as Marketing Department head in August 2009. Marnie is responsible for managing all aspects of a holistic marketing operation designed to achieve institutional attendance, revenue, and brand goals. Marnie oversees brand management, marketing strategy, market research, advertising, communications, media relations, graphic design, website strategy and development, social media, sales, and promotions. Prior to her appointment at Longwood, Marnie served in various marketing management positions. She most recently served as adjunct professor, Heinz College of Public Policy and Management at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, where she developed curriculum and taught for-profit and non-profit marketing courses for the Master of Arts Management Program and for the Master of Entertainment Industry Management Program. Previously, Marnie served as director of marketing for Carnegie Museum of Art and for Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, where she developed and led both institutions' marketing initiatives through periods of strong growth in audience and revenue.

As Director of Gardens and Grounds for Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens since 2012, Danielle L. Green is responsible for the development and management of the Zoo's botanical gardens, animal exhibit construction and landscapes, botanical education programs, and facility operations. A native of Virginia Beach, VA, Danielle has been working with plants professionally for over 20 years, including 11 years as Curator of Horticulture at Zoo Atlanta. Her gardens have ranged from residential gardens to Lowland Gorillas habitats, Tiger forests, and Florida Panther hardwood hammocks.

Seeking the eternal recipe for creating a destination landscape to transport each guest to their favorite oasis or create the perfect exhibit for amazing animals is the goal of each workday. Danielle holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture from Christopher Newport University, is a certified arborist and the President of the Association of Zoological Horticulture.

Horticulture and floral design have always been a major part of Nancy's life, as she grew up in eastern Virginia on her family’s vegetable plant farm and in her grandmother's florist business. She is a graduate of Virginia Tech with a B. S. in Nutrition and a M.S. in Food Service Management. After a professional career in school and university food service management and teaching food science courses at the community college level, her experience moved to the volunteer sector as President of the Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. where she initiated the current grant program for club projects that worked with youth. She was President of the Board of Trustees of a youth camp, Nature Camp, Inc.; a member of the Jamestown 2007 Beautification Task Force; a member of the America's Anniversary Garden Committee; and is a current member of the Board of Directors of the American Horticultural Society.

Nancy is the incoming President of National Garden Clubs, Inc. (2017-2019), a not-for-profit educational organization founded in 1929 and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, adjacent to the Missouri Botanical Gardens. This organization of 166,000 members within the United States and nearly 330 international affiliated organizations provides education, resources and national networking opportunities for its members to promote the love of gardening, horticulture, floral design, civic beautification and environmental stewardship. National Garden Clubs provides educational opportunities for youth at the pre-school, elementary, middle and high school levels to introduce gardening, conservation, protection of wildlife and a love and appreciation of nature. NGC's College Scholarship Program gives forty scholarships of approximately $4,000 each to college juniors, seniors and graduate students majoring in fields of study related to horticulture and the environment.

Karla Kares spearheads the marketing and branding efforts for the blue crew at JR Peters, Inc. She works diligently to develop new concepts for unique branding ideas and increases brand awareness and the image of their product lines. Prior to joining the family at JR Peters, Karla was an Account Manager in the agency world, managing multiple clients in various industries - from restaurants, law firms, golf courses and her favorite - a garden center.

Karla is a graduate of the University of Scranton, earning her B.A. in Marketing and Communication. Although her background is not in horticulture, she has found a great niche in the industry and is continuously searching for plants Powered By Jacks!

Kimberley Lough was an Environmental Consultant before landing an Agriscience teaching position in a Title 1 middle school in southwest Florida 14 years ago. A self-pronounced plant geek who could spend all of her time in the rainforest, she chooses to bring beauty to life for the average of 150 students each year in her urban agriculture and FFA program. She graduated from Western Carolina University, and received a Master's Degree in Geology from the University of South Carolina.

Her passion is introducing youth and community members to the wild world of plants and animals, offering opportunities to experience them in the food desert of where she teaches. Her agricultural program includes aquaculture, hydroponics, vegetable and herb gardens, ornamental nursery production, rabbits, layer hen operations, llamas, dairy calves and market hog production. Her students also recycle their cafeteria's kitchen waste through both traditional and worm composting methods and their chickens, turkeys, and rabbits drink from rainwater collection systems.

The National FFA Organization selected her program as one of the Top 5 Outstanding Middle School programs 3 years in a row, and as a Model of Innovation in 2015. They also won 1st and 2nd place statewide honors in 2014 and 2015 in the campaign "Helping Communities Grow" sponsored by Nutrients for Life Foundation.

Dr. Mary Hockenberry Meyer is a professor and Extension Horticulturist in the Department of Horticultural Science at the University of Minnesota. She is a past president of the American Society of Horticultural Science and is chairman of the Board in 2014 and 2015. She joined the U of MN faculty in 1994 and has primarily an Extension/outreach and research appointment. Her research interests include native and ornamental grasses, including propagation and production of grasses, cold hardiness, and sustainability of grasses for landscaping, especially in northern climates. She teaches international classes, the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum internship program, and plant identification. She obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in 1993, in Plant Breeding and Genetics, her M.S. from Cornell University, and her B.S. from Clemson University.

Doug Needham earned his B.S. in Biological Sciences and M.S. and Ph.D. in Horticulture from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana. Dr. Needham joined the faculty at Oklahoma State University in 1989, where he was Professor of Floriculture in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture through June 2007, when he joined Longwood Gardens, where he was Vice President, Education until his retirement in 2017. Dr. Needham has chaired a variety of committees for the American Society for Horticultural Science and has served as chair of the Education Professional Section and the Technology & Innovation Professional Section of the American Public Gardens Association. Dr. Needham is a founding member of the HORTECUS Consortium and a member of the Royal Horticultural Society's Bursaries Committee Forum.

Michael W. Neff has been the Executive Director of the American Society for Horticultural Science since 2000. He previously served ASHS as Director of the Executive Management Team from 1997 - 1999, Assistant Executive Director/Publications Director from 1987 - 1997, and Managing Editor from 1985 - 1987. Prior to joining ASHS, he was an editor with the National Academy of Sciences, serving on the Transportation Research Board and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. He graduated from Ohio University in 1981 with a B.S. in Magazine Journalism. Neff is a member of the American Society of Association Executives and the Society for Scholarly Publishing. He serves on the Board of Trustees of the National Junior Horticultural Association and as one of three U.S. representatives on the Council of the International Society for Horticultural Science. Neff is a strong supporter of horticultural science, education, and outreach, and believes horticulture is critical to meeting the challenges facing humankind for food, health, and well-being now and in the future.

As president of The Garden Club of America, 2017-2019, Dede oversees 201 clubs and nearly 18,000 members around the country.

Before GCA, Dede practiced law in New York City and Washington, DC and then set out on her own, helping in 1995 to launch a nonprofit dedicated to higher education reform. She served as president of the American Council of Trustees and Alumni for 13 years and now is Senior Fellow.

Since 2008, Dede has served on the board of the Mount Vernon Ladies Association. She was president of All Hallows Guild, Washington National Cathedral, where she chaired the Olmsted Woods restoration project, recognized by the Washington Post, Landscape Architecture Magazine, and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation as a groundbreaking urban woodland restoration. She has also been a board member of the National Museum of Women in the Arts; the National Wildlife Refuge Association; National Association for Olmsted Parks; Friends of the National Arboretum; Paine Art Center and Gardens; Georgetown Garden Club; and U.S. Capitol Historical Society.

She received an A.B., Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude, from Harvard College and a J.D. degree from Harvard Law School.

For over a century, the GCA has been a recognized leader in horticulture, conservation and education, and an aggressive advocate for a robust pipeline of environmental leaders who can restore, improve and protect our environment. Annually, the GCA awards over $300,000 in scholarships to exceptional students around the country. The GCA has also recently helped craft legislation promoting the hiring of botanical experts on federal lands, offering student loan forgiveness for those trained and employed in botanical science fields.

After a diverse and rewarding 35 year career with the American Red Cross, the last 20 years as the CEO of the American Red Cross, Margi joined the Produce Marketing Association as the Executive Director of the Center for Growing Talent by PMA. PMA, a global trade association for the fresh produce and floral industry based in Newark, DE, created CGTbyPMA to attract, develop and retain talent for the global fresh produce and floral industry. Margi leads a team of talented staff who deliver programs and resources that help industry companies understand and solve their talent challenges. The team is also responsible for revenue sources that insure a stable financial future for the Center for Growing Talent by PMA.

Margi is an active member of the Rotary Club of Wilmington, DE, where she is a past president and is a Commissioner on the DE Governor's Commission on Community and Volunteer Services.

She is a graduate of the University of Kentucky, has a Masters Degree from the University of Louisville and obtained an executive education certificate from Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

When not in seat 8C on an airplane, Margi, along with her husband Ned Aksim, live in Delaware with one calm dog and one crazy puppy. She enjoys flower and vegetable gardening, beach collecting, cheering for the University of Kentucky basketball "Big Blue Nation", and spending time at their off the grid cabin in Canada.

Matt is the President of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. He grew up in Mercersburg, a small town in south central Pennsylvania, where he attended Mercersburg Academy, and was a frequent visitor to the Philadelphia Flower Show. He earned his BA in architectural history, which remains a personal passion, from the University of Virginia in 2001, and completed his MBA at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, with honors in 2011.

Matt launched a historic preservation consultancy after graduation in 2002, and quickly landed at the Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust where he collaborated closely with critical foundation partners, the City of Philadelphia, and individual park supporters to preserve the park system's historic buildings and landscapes. In 2005, Matt relaunched and revitalized the East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District, serving as Executive Director for two years, before moving to the Urban Land Institute in Washington, DC in 2007, where he advised cities across the country on regeneration, transit-oriented development, place making and sustainability strategies. Matt has a lifelong passion for improving the urban environment, and under his leadership PHS is primed to expand its programs that create more beautiful and sustainable communities in the years ahead.

Helen is the Executive Director of KidsGardening, a national nonprofit that seeks to engage all children in learning through the garden. KidsGardening is a leading resource for garden-based educators, providing inspiration, know-how and resources for youth gardens nationwide. Helen has extensive professional background in food systems and experiential education. Prior to joining the KidsGardening team, she co-founded Food Connects, a non-profit organization in southern Vermont committed to driving food system change through Farm to School programming and a local food hub. In addition, she has over ten years of experience as an outdoor and experiential educator, both in the US and abroad. Helen is a graduate of St. Olaf College and holds an M.A. in Sustainable Development from SIT Graduate Institute.

Jennifer Schwarz Ballard, Ph.D., serves as the vice president of learning and engagement programs for the Chicago Botanic Garden. In this role, she oversees the Garden’s adult and children’s education offerings and the urban agriculture, Windy City Harvest, and horticultural therapy programs.

Since starting at the Garden in 2005 as the Garden’s education manager, Schwarz Ballard has worked to ensure that in our increasingly urban world, people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds have access to green space and to high quality nature-based education and enrichment programs, both on Garden grounds and in their own communities. She is passionate about environmental justice, the need for engagement and action focused on climate change, and the very judicious use of technology to increase access to nature.

Schwarz Ballard joined the Garden after completing her doctorate in the learning sciences at Northwestern University. Before attending graduate school, she worked for a nonprofit housing development firm to increase and improve housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income households and special-needs populations in Westchester County, N.Y., and then for a variety of nonprofits in the areas of marketing and membership development. She is married to an architectural designer, has a daughter attending college in Madison, Wisconsin, and lives in the northern suburbs, where she spends most of her off-time growing her own gardens and looking after two precocious cats.

Lisa Smith works for Ryco Landscaping as Landscape Account Manager and Floral Container designer/Plant Purchaser. She is a committee member of ILCA & the FLIP committee (Illinois Landscape Contractors Association) (Future Landscape Industry Professionals).  She has in public speaking (iLandscape January 2018 & ILCA seminar March 2018) and had an article published (June 2018) in ILCA ‘Landscape Contractor’ Magazine.

Her mission is to speak to students and educators and give them knowledge and information about the “Green Industry”. That it is not “Just a Summer Job”.

Despite starting her early academic career studying and working with animals, Jessica's professional interest quickly became rooted in plants. Jessica has a diverse background focused on communicating science and promoting conservation with numerous stakeholders, including: scientists, the general public, and non-profit organizations. As The Morton Arboretum's first Treeologist, Jessica supports the Arboretum's mission and vision to be the leading center of tree expertise by communicating and sharing expert knowledge. While centered in the Science and Conservation Department, she works closely with Education and Marketing to help catalyze tree advocacy by creatively making tree science, horticulture, and conservation relevant and accessible to target audiences.

Additionally, she is also an Auxiliary Board Member for the Chicago Council on Science and Technology. She earned her PhD from West Virginia University, her MS from University of Maryland, College-Park, and her BS from Muskingum University.

Mary Warshauer of Rumson, N.J., currently serves as second vice president of the National Garden Clubs Inc. As second vice president, Mary supports and promotes “Plant America,” NGC’s initiative that focuses on gardens and gardening, with an emphasis on community service. In addition, Mary chairs the NGC finance committee, as well as helping guide the national organization and work to advance NGC’s mission: promoting civic and environmental responsibility, as well as a love of gardening and floral design. She also supports the organization’s major objectives—to foster education and participation in the organization’s many local, regional, national and international outreach programs.

Mary previously served as third vice president of National Garden Clubs Inc. She has held a variety of positions in National Garden Clubs Inc. on the national level, including serving as chairman of the Blue Star Memorial program and Water Quality and Conservation Committee. As an NGC executive committee member, she represented the organization’s Central Atlantic Region, where she served as region director and on the NGC Scholarship Committee. In addition, Mary was president of The Garden Club of New Jersey Inc., from 2009-2011. She also served in a number of roles in the Central Atlantic Region and has been a member of the Garden Club of Fair Haven, N.J., for over 30 years.

Mary holds a Bachelor of Science in education from Florida State University in Tallahassee.

jdemarino@SeedYourFuture.org

(610) 388-5436

Jessica became Seed Your Future's Marketing and Communications Intern in September 2019. She is a recent graduate of Albright College where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and was recognized with the prestigious Ed Flagg and M. Cornelius Trayes Award in Journalism for her writing. Jessica is passionate about helping nonprofits, stemming from her fundraising work for the Alzheimer’s Association. For the past four years, she worked alongside a team to encourage people to support the cause. As she continues her professional career, she aims to make a positive impact on the world around her. Seed Your Future’s mission to inspire the youth to pursue careers in horticulture spoke to Jessica, as the movement makes a difference for both the youth and environment. She enjoys writing and is excited to help the movement spread their message and continue to grow.

syoder@SeedYourFuture.org

(484) 798-5934

Susan is the Executive Director of Seed Your Future – a national movement to promote horticulture and encourage more young people to pursue careers working with plants. She joined Seed Your Future in September 2016 and brings with her more than twenty five years of experience working with nonprofit organizations. For most of her career, she has worked with organizations that focus on youth development and providing children, youth and families with opportunities to grow and thrive. 

She is passionate about the outdoors and the positive impact it can have on physical and emotional health. She is dedicated to finding more opportunities to move the traditional classroom outside, thus providing youth with the opportunity to learn about — and in — the natural world.

An avid outdoorswoman and gardener, her personal motto is “Think Outside – No Box Required.”