AmericanHort Community Connectors
A group of highly engaged industry professionals who are guiding the association and making a mark in the industry.
Representing the Entire Industry
The AmericanHort Community Connector groups represent the future generations and each segment of the green industry: garden retail, greenhouse, interior plantscape, landscape and nursery businesses.
Each member donates time, expertise, and talent to participate in these groups that guide AmericanHort initiatives and support the evolving needs of the horticulture industry and its individual segments.
How Community Connectors Works
Community Connectors meet regularly to discuss key projects and provide insights to address the needs of members.
These professionals are a sounding board for new ideas, and help ensure AmericanHort initiatives and offerings are valuable, relevant assets for all members.
Community Connector Groups
Garden Retail Community Connectors
Community Leaders
Sonya Harrison, My Secret Garden
Tanner Jones, Family Tree Nursery
Liz Lark-Riley, Mahoney’s Garden Center
Community Advisors
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
Jake Scott, Piedmont Feed and Garden Center
Sarah Polzin, Down to Earth Garden Center
Rob Sproule, Salisbury Greenhouse
Ryan Watkins, Brownswood Nursery
Heather Wheatley, Proven Winners
AmericanHort Board Liaisons
Christine Fortman, Berridge Nurseries
Brian Lloyd, Olson’s Greenhouse
AmericanHort Staff Liaison
Meagan Nace, AmericanHort
Generation Next Community Connectors
Community Leaders
Andy Fields, Goodmark Nurseries
Melinda Knuth, North Carolina State University
Lyndsey Zinni, Millcreek Gardens
Community Advisors
LaCresha Brody, BASF
Jacob Carson, AdeptAg
Chris Cerveny, Bridge City Global, LLC.
Annie Glaser, Foertmeyer & Sons Greenhouse
Marcus Jansen, PanAmerican Seed
Jaime Manlove, North Creek Nurseries
Hailey Middleton, Breezy Hill Nursery
Ankit Singh, University of Maine
Cara Widder, Proven Winners
AmericanHort Board Liaisons
Joe Allio, Petitti Family Farms
Scott Valentine, Express Seed Company
AmericanHort Staff Liaison
Rachel Rawls, AmericanHort
Greenhouse Community Connectors
Community Leaders
Matt Foertmeyer, Foertmeyer & Sons Greenhouse
Broch Martindale, Corteva AgriScience
Jennifer Moss, Moss Greenhouses Inc
Community Advisors
Chris Cerveny, Bridge City Global, LLC.
Bob Dickman, Dickman Farms LLC
Danielle Ernster, BioTerm Solutions
Denise Godfrey, Olive Hill Greenhouses
David Hoffman, Hoffman Nursery
Amy Morris, N.G. Heimos Greenhouses
Susie Raker-Zimmerman, Raker-Roberta’s Young Plants
Nathan Sell, Kientzler North America
Doug Schuster – Root 58 Greenhouses
Arlyn Smith, Saunders Brothers Inc
Kaitlyn Sterner, JR Peters Inc.
Jason Twaddell, Ball FloraPlant
Mary Werth, Suburban Lawn & Garden Inc
Garrett Owen – The Ohio State University
AmericanHort Board Liaisons
Ken Altman, Altman Specialty Plants LLC
Derek Clark, South Central Growers
Patricia Dean, Wadsworth Control Systems
AmericanHort Staff Liaison
Rachel Rawls, AmericanHort
Interior Plantscape Community Connectors
Community Leaders
Morgan Coling, Oasis Plantscaping
Genevieve Reiner-Mills, Oakland Interiorscapes
Molly Turpin, Growing Green Inc.
Community Advisors
Barbara Arnold, Franklin Park Conservatory
Kelley Carmona, 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
Jennifer Ricciardi, The IGS Plantscaping Group
Mariana Reyes, Village Green Tropic Interiors
Parker Titera, Down to Earth
AmericanHort Board Liaisons
Emily Showalter, Willoway Nurseries
AmericanHort Staff Liaison
Meagan Nace, AmericanHort
Cindy Whitt, AmericanHort
Landscape Community Connectors
Community Leaders
Carrie Hancock, JMR Landscaping
David McKinney, The Iowa Arboretum & Gardens
Drew Stevens, Brownswood Nursery & Landscape
Community Advisors
Joe Burns, Color Burst
Kurt Everett, Loma Vista Nursery
Jeff Gibson, Ball Horticultural Company
Joe Hobson, Midwest Trading
Brett Jones, SiteOne Landscape Supply
AmericanHort Board Liaisons
Kent Fullmer, Fuller’s Landscaping, Inc.
Bradd Yoder, Star Roses and Plants
AmericanHort Staff Liaison
Kamron Newberry, AmericanHort
Nursery Community Connectors
Community Leaders
Colin Jones, Manor View Farms
Jake Pierson, Pierson Nurseries
John Terhesh, Breezy Hill Nursery
Community Advisors
Carlos Bogran, BioWorks
Paul Cappiello, Yew Dell Gardens
Ray Defeo, Prides Corner Farms
Bobby Garcia, Greenleaf Nursery
Scott Klittich, Otto & Sons
Lyndsi Oestmann, Loma Vista
Gerardo (Gerry) Spinelli, University of California
Chris Wichman, Belmont Nursery
Matt Wolff, Baxter Wholesale Nursery
AmericanHort Board Liaisons
Harvey Cotten, Horticultural Consultant, Speaker, and Author
Tom Fessler, Woodburn Nursery & Azaleas Inc
Ed Overdevest, Overdevest Nurseries LP
AmericanHort Staff Liaison
Jennifer Gray, AmericanHort
Michael Martin, AmericanHort
Roundtables
The AmericanHort Community Connectors 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.