2019 GardenComm Officer & Director Elections
Welcome to the 2019 GardenComm Election of Officers & Directors! Please review the instructions and candidate biographies before casting your ballot. Ballots have been sent directly to members, via email or mail. For questions, please call us at 212.297.2198.
ALL BALLOTS ARE DUE JULY 12, 2019
Officers
Every member is entitled to vote for GardenComm officers. The GardenComm Bylaws specify that the vice president shall succeed the president automatically unless the Nominations Committee recommends the officers serve a second term. The bylaws also specify that all officer candidates must have served at least one term as a national director or two terms as a regional director. To vote for officers, you may vote on the slate presented by the Nominations Committee or designate a write-in candidate of your choice for elected positions. If you choose the write-in option, any blank left for officer positions will cast your vote for the candidate recommended by the Nominations Committee.
Vice President
Maria Zampini
I’m a 4th generation nurseryman and proud of it! After graduating from Penn State with a BS in Horticulture, I ran the family’s 1000 acre wholesale nursery, destination attraction garden center and new plant research and development division. I took a new path in 2009 partnering with my father to form UpShoot LLC, a boutique horticultural marketing firm focusing on sales, marketing and licensing of new plant introductions and gardening related products. In 2012 I was named Director of Plant Development for the HGTV HOME Plant Collection.
I’m a freelance writer for both green industry trade journals and consumer gardening magazines. In January 2015 I released my first book with co-author Pam Bennett titled Garden-pedia: An A-Z Guide to Gardening Terms. Additionally I have spoken nationally and internationally on a variety of gardening topics.
Prior to being elected GardenComm Secretary in 2015, I served two terms as Region III director. I also served as co-chair of the Association Outreach Task Force. Additionally, I was the 1st female President of the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association and International Ornamental Crabapple Society and currently serve on the ONLA Legislative Committee. Locally I am on the Salvation Army Advisory Board.
Treasurer
C.L. Fornari
Since I have benefited from this organization for years, I am eager for it to grow and prosper into future years. Moving toward that goal, I'm willing to give my time on the ExComm. I have served as National and Regional director and am familiar with our strengths and challenges. I also believe that it's positive that I work in so many types of garden communications because our organization includes people who work in many niches.
Secretary
Denise Schreiber
I would like to help the organization reach its potential. I have been in the green industry for over 35 years as a nursery worker, an interiorscaper, greenhouse grower and horticulturist. I am a writer, lecturer, author, AAS judge, ISA certified arborist and radio personality. I am currently the co-chair of the Association Outreach Committee and have served on education, local arrangement, membership committees and a few others. I was also the Local Chair for Pittsburgh 2014.
Regional Directors
Only members residing in a region may vote for their regional director. Your ballot is configured to only allow you to vote for the regional directors in your region. A space is provided for a write-in candidate if you choose to vote for an alternate choice. If you choose the write-in option, any blank left for officer positions will cast your vote for the candidate recommended by the Nominations Committee.
A regional director's term length is two years. A regional director may serve two consecutive terms but must then leave the Board of Directors for a minimum of one year before seeking re-election.
Region IV
Paul Haden
Any excuse to bring plant people together to do something productive while having fun is good enough for me. The reason to get together might be a common interest in chlorophyll-based life forms, but we like the humans too. Plant people are great people! My dogs are great judges of character. They say I'm pretty awesome, but that I'm too strict when they want to mess with the evil kitty-kitty. Somebody has to be the go-between figure...
Helen Newling Lawson
I would like to serve as a GardenComm director to support and amplify the current direction the organization is taking. I'm excited about the rebranding and what the new name represents, and hope that it continues to build interest in and relevancy for our group. As both a freelance editorial writer and a marketing professional in the green industry, I have an understanding of the needs of both groups, and ideas for how each can better support and work with the other. I also want to use my understanding of marketing tactics to help create educational opportunities for members to market themselves and to better use technology and tools to improve and promote their work.
