Ken Blaze
The Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association announced the recipients of several awards last week at its MGIX Member Summit. The meeting took place December 12 and13 in Columbus, Ohio. More than 271 attendees and sponsors enjoyed two full-days of education while building their professional network during a conference at a new venue.
Distinguished Contribution Award
Brian Decker, Decker's Nursery
The purpose of the ONLA’s Distinguished Contribution Award is to recognize and celebrate outstanding contributions to the nursery and landscape industries. Any Ohio resident, who has significantly contributed to any aspects of the horticulture field, is eligible.
Educator/Public Service Award
Tim Malinich, Ohio State University Extension
In 2005, the ONLA Board of Directors approved an awards category to recognize outstanding educators and/or public service employees. Candidates are those who have given their time and/or talents to benefit the Green Industry in one or more of the following ways: outstanding classroom teachers who have also served the adult community through outreach programs; researchers who have worked in areas of major industry needs; extension personnel who have consistently taken an active role in Green Industry activities; garden writers and radio and television personnel who have been complimentary to the objectives of the industry; government employees who have assisted the industry in preventing or solving potential problems, and arboreta and botanic garden employees who have served the industry in a variety of ways.
Service Award
Mark Gilson, Gilson Gardens
The ONLA Service Award, previously known as the Award of Merit, seeks to honor those people who have unselfishly given their time, resources or talents to serve the association. The ONLA Service Award is intended to recognize individual members who have served the ONLA in an outstanding manner in one or more of the following ways: officer, board of director, committee chair, committee member or membership service provider. Eligibility includes any member of any ONLA membership classification or representative of a member firm of the ONLA.
Young Professional of the Year
Gail Reinhart, Hidden Creek Landscaping
The ONLA's Young Professional of the Year award is to recognize young professionals, age 40 or under, who have contributed significantly to the success of their company of employment and have been actively involved in ONLA and/or national association activities. The ONLA wishes to not only recognize but to encourage participation, growth and achievement by young professionals involved in production, landscape, retail and/or maintenance aspects of our industry. The selection of the Young Professional of the Year is made by the ONLA Distinguished Contribution Awards Committee. The names of nominees should be forwarded to the ONLA office.
Legislative Advocate of the Year
Richard Posey, Buckeye Resources, Inc.
The ONLA presents this award, previously known as the Grassroots Volunteer Award, to deserving individuals in the Green Industry, who have shown outstanding leadership at the state level in legislative affairs. These individuals often provide testimony for Senate and House committees; leadership on the ONLA legislative committee,; work closely with the association's executive director and legislative consultants; and provide important insights to the ONLA executive committee.