Advisory Councils
AmericanHort Advisory Councils consist of members across horticulture who bring industry insights directly to the association.
What is the Role of AmericanHort Advisory Councils?
To help ensure AmericanHort initiatives and offerings are valuable, relevant assets for all members, Advisory Councils:
- Listen to the industry. Councils identify new trends, challenges, opportunities, and needs across every sector of horticulture.
- Strengthen programs and services. Council members offer practical feedback that improves AmericanHort advocacy, education, research, events, and other member initiatives.
- Connect member perspectives with leadership. Councils give important industry insights a clear, structured path to AmericanHort staff leadership and the Board of Directors.
Get Involved
Advisory Councils welcome AmericanHort members who want to influence the direction of the association and share what they see in the industry.
Meet the Advisory Councils
Each council includes member leaders, an AmericanHort Board liaison, and a staff liaison.
Advocacy Advisory Council
Council Chair
Jordan Rolfe, Olson’s Greenhouse Gardens
Council Members
Kurt Becker, Dramm Corporation
Joseph Burns, Bees N’ Blooms
Arianna de Ona, Costa Farms
Tom Demaline, Willoway Nurseries Inc
Matt Edmundson, Arbor Valley Nursery
Tyler Francis, Michael Francis Roses
Alan Jones, Manor View Farm Inc
Janet Kister, Sunlet Nursery Inc
Bert Lemkes, Tri-Hishtil, LLC
Jennifer Moss, Moss Greenhouses Inc
Scott Powell, Dutchman Tree Farms
Chris Robinson, Robinson Nursery Inc
Jeff Stone, Oregon Association Of Nurseries
Bradd Yoder, Star Roses and Plants
AmericanHort Board Liaison
Joe Allio, Petitti Family of Farms
AmericanHort Staff Liaison
Matt Mika, AmericanHort
Garden Retail Advisory Council
Council Leaders
Tanner Jones, Family Tree Nursery
Liz Lark-Riley, Mahoney’s Garden Center
Jake Scott, Piedmont Feed and Garden Center
Council Members
Neil Anderson, Gardens of Babylon
Bob Berbee, Dutch Mill Greenhouse and Leo Berbee Bulb Co.
Samuel Di Rito, Collier’s Greenhouse and Garden Center
Jessie Jacobson, Tonkadale Greenhouses
Sonya Harrison, My Secret Garden
Sarah Polzin, Down to Earth Garden Center
Rob Sproule, Salisbury Greenhouse
Ryan Watkins, Brownswood Nursery
Heather Wheatley, Proven Winners
AmericanHort Board Liaisons
Genevieve Reiner Mills, Oakland Nursery, Inc
AmericanHort Staff Liaison
Meagan Nace, AmericanHort
Generation Next Advisory Council
Council Leaders
Andy Fields, Goodmark Nurseries
Melinda Knuth, North Carolina State University
Lyndsey Maruna, Millcreek Gardens
Council Members
Jacob Carson, AdeptAg
Ryan Foster, MasterTag
Annie Glaser, Foertmeyer & Sons Greenhouse
Cassidy Gutter, Neal Glatt Sales & Strategy
Alexander Henson, BASF Professional Turf & Ornamentals
Marcus Jansen, PanAmerican Seed
Hailey Middleton, Breezy Hill Nursery
Ankit Singh, University of Maine
AmericanHort Board Liaisons
Scott Valentine, Express Seed Company
AmericanHort Staff Liaison
Roni Petersen, AmericanHort
Greenhouse Advisory Council
Council Leaders
Matt Foertmeyer
Broch Martindale, Harrell’s LLC
Jennifer Moss, Moss Greenhouses Inc
Council Members
Bob Dickman, Dickman Farms LLC
Danielle Ernster, BioTerm Solutions
Denise Godfrey, Olive Hill Greenhouses
Josh Henry, Ball Horticultural Company
Susie Raker, Raker-Roberta’s Young Plants
Nathan Sell, Kientzler North America
Doug Schuster, Root 58 Greenhouses
Arlyn Smith, Saunders Brothers Inc
Trevor Stark, Hoffman Nursery Inc
Kaitlyn Sterner, JR Peters Inc.
Mary Werth, Suburban Lawn & Garden Inc
Garrett Owen, The Ohio State University
AmericanHort Board Liaisons
Patricia Dean, Wadsworth Control Systems
AmericanHort Staff Liaison
Rachel Rawls, AmericanHort
Interior Plantscape Advisory Council
Council Leaders
Morgan Coling, District Green, LLC
Molly Turpin, Growing Green Inc.
Council Members
Barbara Arnold, Franklin Park Conservatory
Kelley Carmona Gaeta, Greenscapes of Silicon Valley
Eric McKie, Green Oak Garden Center LLC
Kayla Miller, Greenscapes of Silicon Valley
Nathan Parker, Parker Interior Plantscape Inc.
Jennifer Perez, Growing Roots
Mariana Reyes, Village Green Tropic Interiors
Parker Titera, Down to Earth
AmericanHort Board Liaisons
Emily Showalter, Willoway Nurseries
AmericanHort Staff Liaison
Cindy Whitt, AmericanHort
Landscape Advisory Council
Council Leaders
Carrie Hancock, JMR Landscaping
David McKinney, The Iowa Arboretum & Gardens
Drew Stevens, Brownswood Nursery & Landscape
Council Members
Joe Burns, Color Burst
Kurt Everett, Loma Vista Nursery
Joe Hobson, Midwest Trading
Brett Jones, SiteOne Landscape Supply
AmericanHort Board Liaisons
Bradd Yoder, Star Roses and Plants
AmericanHort Staff Liaison
Kamron Newberry, AmericanHort
Nursery Advisory Council
Council Leaders
Colin Jones, Manor View Farms
Jake Pierson, Pierson Nurseries
John Terhesh, DPC Horticulture
Council Members
Christopher Brown, Jr., Lancaster Farms Inc.
Paul Cappiello, Yew Dell Gardens
Joseph Davenport, GreenForest Nursery
Ray Defeo, Prides Corner Farms
Bobby Garcia, Greenleaf Nursery
Scott Klittich, Otto & Sons
Hilliary Metzger, Home Nursery Inc.
Lyndsi Oestmann, Loma Vista
Paul Westervelt, Saunders Brothers
Gary Whitehurst, Worthing Farms
Chris Wichman, Belmont Nursery
Matt Wolff, Baxter Wholesale Nursery
AmericanHort Board Liaisons
Tom Fessler, Woodburn Nursery & Azaleas Inc
AmericanHort Staff Liaison
Michael Martin, AmericanHort
Spanish Advisory Council
Council Members
Carlos Bogran, BioWorks
Raul Cabrera, Rutgers University
Pablo Costa, Van Belle Nursery
Ryan Kincaid, District Green, LLC
Javier Lopez, Altman Specialty Plants LLC
Lyndsi Oestmann, Loma Vista Nursery Inc
Gladys Opiyo, Profile Products LLC
Claudio Pasian, Ohio International Horticultural Intern Program
Juan Ponce, Metrolina Greenhouses
Lilliam Pujol, BioBee USA
Rosa Raudales, University of Connecticut
Alfredo Rios, Loma Vista Nursery Inc
Rupert Saavedra, Hoffmann Heimos Greenhouses LLC
Gary Vogel, East Coast Nurseries, Inc.
AmericanHort Board Liaisons
Robert Saunders, Saunders Brothers
AmericanHort Staff Liaison
Alenjandra Feliciano, AmericanHort
Roundtables
The AmericanHort Advisory Councils coordinate and host discussions with industry peers on timely topics and challenges. Members are welcome to participate.
HortScholars
Recipients gain real-world insights through professional development sessions, networking, and mentorships.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who can serve on an Advisory Council? Current AmericanHort members may apply.
- How long do Advisory Council terms last? Chairs and vice chairs serve a one-year term. Council members serve up to three years.
- Can I serve on an Advisory Council again? Yes. After any term ends, members may reapply after a one-year break.
- How often do Advisory Councils meet? Councils meet regularly throughout the year.
- How do council insights reach AmericanHort leadership? Each council has a Board Liaison and a staff liaison who carry member insights directly to staff leadership and the Board of Directors.