Maria Zampini, President

UpShoot LLC
Madison, OH

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.