President’s Message
A New Season Dear VNLA Members, I am proud to serve you as the President of VNLA’s Board of Directors for 2019. Please join me in thanking Aaron Williams for his service last year during a time of transition. He is an exemplary mentor and a valued colleague to the VNLA Board. Recently, the VNLA Board experienced a few changes. I want to thank Brad Bobenrieth, Paul Munn and Virginia Rockwell for their time, dedication and expertise while serving on the Board. I also have the pleasure of introducing Neal Beasley and Marshall Saunders, who joined the Board this past January. They will help to revamp the Virginia Certified Horticulturist (VCH) program and represent our interests at state meetings. I also wish Jim Owen well as he spends a year in Canada on sabbatical. During the last year, we have worked tirelessly to analyze and review processes and responsibilities. After hours of review and discussion we made several decisions to streamline member communications and more efficiently administer the Virginia Certified Horticulturist (VCH) exam. We are pleased to work with Leading Edge Communications, who will publish the VNLA newsletters and Guide to Virginia Growers Guide. You will notice a refreshed newsletter format with a focus to provide members with timely and pertinent content along with updates on what’s happening in the VNLA universe. The VCH exam is now offered in an online format and was proctored in several locations this spring. Special thanks goes out to the VCH Committee for getting this task accomplished. We will continue to improve processes to enhance the VCH program. In the near future, we look to implement updated membership management software tools and a refreshed VNLA website. A goal is to significantly improve the delivery and availability of resources for you and more user-friendly processes to access and manage your membership information online. In closing, please be sure to join us at Eastern Shore Nursery of Virginia on August 1 for Field Day. We are very thankful to this year’s host and look forward to a fantastic day! Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have at brenthunsinger@gmail.com. I wish you all a healthy and productive spring! Respectfully, Brent Hunsinger 2019 VNLA President
4 • VNLA News • Summer 2019
Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association 5101 Monument Avenue, Suite 203 Richmond, VA 23230 Tel: (804) 256 2700 • Fax: (804) 709 0288 Email: info@vnla.org Published by: Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street • Franklin, TN 37064 Tel: (615) 790-3718 • Fax: (615) 794-4524 Email: info@leadingedgecommunications.com 2019 Officers and Directors Year indicates start of volunteer service to VNLA Board of Directors Executive Committee President Brent Hunsinger 2015 Brent’s Native Plantings • Fredericksburg, VA Vice President Christopher Brown, Jr. 2013 Lancaster Farms • Suffolk, VA Secretary Treasurer Legislative/Policy Chair Seana Ankers 2017 Meadows Farms • Chantilly, VA Past President Aaron Williams 2014 Board Recruitment Williams Landscape & Design • Williamsburg, VA Executive Director Shellie Archer Richmond, VA Directors Matt Deivert 2017 MANTS Board Rep., VNLA South Riding Nurseries • Bristow, VA Jeffrey Howe 2016 Windridge Landscaping Co. • Afton, VA Mitzi Marker 2017 Research Foundation Chair Sandy’s Plants • Mechanicsville, VA Cecilia Palmer 2017 Continuing Education Chair West Winds Nursery/Shade Tree Farm • Sudley Springs, VA Scott Price 2016 David Scott Price Design • Earlysville, VA Jim Hassold 2018 Membership & Communication Chair SiteOne • Richmond, VA Jason Stern 2018 Eastern Shore Nursery of VA • Melfa, VA Neal Beasley 2019 Certification/VCH* Chair Timmons Group • Richmond, VA Marshall Saunders 2019 Saunders Brothers • Piney River, VA Ex-Officio, virtue of office: Non-voting Laurie Fox, Ph. D. VA Tech Hampton Roads AREC • VA Beach, VA Jim Owen, Ph. D. VA Tech Hampton Roads AREC • VA Beach, VA David Seward J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College Montpelier, VA * VCH = Virginia Certified Horticulturist
