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The GIE Media Horticulture Group announced the winners of its inaugural Horticultural Industries Leadership Awards, highlighting a busy Sunday at the OFA Short Course in Columbus, Ohio.
Representatives of all 50 states were honored for their leadership ability during a banquet in the winners’ honor, sponsored by Syngenta, Fafard and Syngenta Flowers. In addition, five individuals were presented national awards for going “above and beyond” at home, in the workplace, in their industry activities and in their community involvement. To see who won state awards, click here.
The national winners included Ken Altman (owner, Altman Specialty Plants in Vista, Calif.) for Horticultural Research; Cammy Walters (founder, Finally Free Ministries Nursery Division in Springtown, Texas) for Community Service; Don Shadow (owner, Shadow Nursery in Winchester, Tenn.) for Industry Development; Stan Cope (CEO, Bonnie Plant Farm in Union Springs, Ala.) for Employee Development; and Jenny Gunderson (owner, My Garden Nursery in Mill Creek, Wash.) for Charitable Giving. For profiles on the national winners, click here.
New OFA board members elected
Another highlight of the Short Course was the election of new OFA officers and board members. Here is who will be serving the association in 2012:
President: Mike McCabe, Lawrenceburg, Ind., is the president of McCabe’s Greenhouse & Floral, a 5-acre retail grower, garden center, and florist. Mike is the head grower and is also responsible for the day-to-day operations. Mike, a graduate of Purdue University with a degree in horticulture, has been an active OFA member for more than 35 years, serving on numerous committees and the board.
Vice President: Mark Foertmeyer, Delaware, Ohio, is the president of Foertmeyer and Sons Greenhouse, a wholesale/retail grower operation. Mark is responsible for sales, marketing, and general management. He worked inside and outside the industry before he founded his own company in 1988. Mark has served on the board and numerous committees.
Treasurer: Lisa Graf, Akron, Ohio, is an owner and partner in Graf Growers, a retailer greenhouse, garden center, and farm market business that includes a landscape division and vegetable farm. Lisa’s primary responsibilities are human resources, business development, and retail operations. Lisa has served on several OFA committees, including finance, strategic planning, and garden center. She attended the University of Akron, Ohio State LEAD Program, and Hixson’s Floral Design School.
Garden Center: Kate Terrell, Bettendorf, Iowa, is the nursery manager and assistant store manager at Wallace’s Garden Center, a full service garden center, gift shop, and nursery. Wallace’s has two locations in the Iowa Quad Cities. Kate handles sales, customer service, perennial growing, and serves as a nursery buyer/manager. In addition, she writes the company’s e-newsletters, maintains its web site content, manages the company’s Facebook page, and plans events. Kate was a finalist for the 2007 Young Retailer Award, and the company is consistently on Revolutionary 100 List. On Sunday at the Short Course, Kate was announced as the Iowa recipient of the inaugural Horticultural Industries Leadership Awards.
Grower: Mark Landa, Colonial Heights, Va., is the owner of Boulevard Flower Gardens at Ruffin Mill. He is responsible for customer service and supervision of growing, sales, and purchasing. He is a past chair of the Southeast Greenhouse Conference, active in the Chesterfield County Committee for Agriculture & Forestry Ag and the Virginia Green Industry Council. Mark is a graduate of Virginia State University.
Grower: Noah Schwartz, Pittstown, N.J., is the senior production coordinator and head grower for Garden State Growers, a wholesale grower of finished perennials, annuals, herbs, and vegetables. Noah plans all programs; coordinates all materials, production, nutrition, plant health, propagation, and trials; and oversees a staff of 120. Noah was GrowerTalks’ 2006 Young Grower of the Year, and the 1989 Future Farmers of America Scholarship winner.
Interior Plantscape: Lael George, Carmel, Ind., is the vice president – interior for Engledow Inc., a horticultural services business that has served the central Indiana commercial and high-end residential clients for nearly 80 years. Lael manages and coordinates sales, purchasing, and operations for the interior division, including special events, interior plantscaping design, installation and maintenance, holiday sales, and design. She is a graduate of Purdue University, an active OFA committee member and Short Course speaker.
Allied Trade: Cari Peters Raymond, Allentown, Pa., is vice president at her family’s company, J.R. Peters Inc. Cari heads the research and development team in order to bring new fertilizer formulas to the horticultural industry. She manages the active, onsite J.R. Peters Laboratory as well as provides technical support to growers using the lab or Jack’s products. She received her Ph.D. in Plant Sciences from the University of Maryland.
Green is gold for lucky winner
Hundreds of OFA attendees are sporting a neon green bracelet. It’s not just a fashion statement, it also supports GIE Media Horticulture Group’s scholarship program.
And on Sunday, anyone wearing this nifty accessory got a chance to win an iPad. Tom Grisham, sales manager of ag films at Berry Plastics in Brandon, Fla., was the lucky inaugural winner.
GIE Media will be drawing for another iPad on Monday.
If you’re at the show, come get your bracelet and return to the GIE Media booth (No. 1802) at 3 p.m. EST for a second drawing.
You’ll want to check in Tuesday …
The trade show portion of the OFA Short Course will be in full swing again on Monday. Be on the lookout for our daily e-newsletter covering all the day’s highlights, from the show floor to the classroom and boardroom.