- Diane Blazek (All-America Selections/National Garden Bureau)
- Ricardo Campos (Fred Gloeckner & Company)
- Jim Daly (Smithers-Oasis)
- Jan Patranella (Ball Horticultural Company – Retired)
- Liza Roeser (FiftyFlowers)
- Lloyd Traven (Peace Tree Farm)
Diane Blazek – All-America Selections/National Garden Bureau
(first term expires 2023)
For more than 30 years, Diane has been immersed in gardening both personally and professionally. She brings a passion to the subject based on a history in the field of horticulture publishing as well as a love for gardening and culinary exploration. Growing up on a small family farm in northern Missouri, Diane spent years helping her parents plant, tend and harvest a large home vegetable garden. As the president and publisher at Ball Publishing for 15 years, she led the way in connecting the commercial side of the industry with consumers via the live focus groups called Consumer Buzz Live! Diane also managed Ball Publishing’s entry into consumer garden book publishing. Since December of 2009, Diane has been leading both All-America Selections and National Garden Bureau through an exciting period of growth as they establish themselves as inspirational resources in the minds of garden communicators, public gardens, growers, garden retailers and home gardeners. All-America Selections has doubled in size with the addition of trials for Vegetative Ornamentals and Herbaceous Perennials, an expanded website, more Display Gardens and an ever-increasing social media presence. National Garden Bureau has also more than doubled in size with the addition of new programs, social media, therapeutic garden grants and new membership categories. With both organizations, the connection to the consumer is of topmost importance and by using that connection, she provides direction and insights to the industry as well as to GardenComm, an organization for Garden Communicators where she serves as a National Director. Diane serves as Executive Director of All-America Selections and National Garden Bureau.
Ricardo Campos – Fred Gloeckner & Company
(second term expires 2024)
Jim Daly – Smithers-Oasis
(second term expires 2024)
Jim Daly is Vice President of Global Floralife & Grower Operations and Corporate Research with Smithers-Oasis. Jim leads Floralife and Grower divisions for Smithers-Oasis along with companywide research. A recognized leader in the research and development of post harvest care and handling products, Jim Daly has been in the floral industry for more than thirty years. During that time, he has worked on every continent except Antarctica, spending time in over thirty-three countries in the world, working with the flower and plant markets. His contributions have included work on improved manufacturing procedures for care and handling products, innovative approaches for crop treatments, and developing products for all stages of transport care, from grower to end consumer.Jim has published many articles on trade within the floral industry. He co-authored the Flowers and Plant Care manual published by the Society of American Florists and wrote the Floralife® Care and Handling manual. He has conducted seminars on care and handling around the world, educating growers, transportation companies, and a wide range of retailers including wholesalers, supermarkets, big box chains and independent businesses. Jim has served on numerous committees for the Society of American Florists, including the Wholesale Council, and is the current chair elect for the American Floral Endowment.
Jan Patranella – Ball Horticultural Company, Retired
(second term expires 2024)
Jan Patranella, recently retired from the Ball Horticultural Company in West Chicago, Illinois. She graduated with a Floriculture degree from Texas A&M University and an advanced degree from The Ohio State University. During Jan’s 42 years of service, she held various positions. In her early career she managed the Seed Department, Customer Relations and Supplier Relations Departments. For the last 17 years, she directed corporate strategy for the Ball companies in Asia and Australia, The Gardens at Ball and Technical Services. Jan was active in industry organizations, such as American Seed Trade Association, Cultivate, National Garden Bureau, All America Selections and local community outreach programs.
Liza Roeser – FiftyFlowers Founder
(first term expires 2023)
Liza Roeser disrupted the flower industry after completing a Peace Corps assignment in Ecuador – one of the world’s largest exporters of cut flowers – in the 1990’s. She saw and seized the opportunity to export directly from farm to consumer and founded Farm Exports in 1998 and FiftyFlowers in 2003.
Today, Liza is an active champion of the flower industry and is a member of the board of The Society of American Florists, the Association for Wedding Professionals International, and NorCal Flower Association. Liza advocates for the industry on Capitol Hill annually as a lobbyist for the flower industry, working with lawmakers to make sure the voices of her peers are heard. She also serves on the Board of Entrepreneurs Organization and takes pride in mentoring budding entrepreneurs.
Liza speaks at conferences and on stages around the world, sharing her knowledge and passion for flower sourcing, entrepreneurship, and women’s empowerment in business. She has been nominated as Idaho Business Review Woman of the Year (2019) and has been featured in Inc.com, Idaho Business Review, BRIDES, as the feature cover story of Greenbelt Magazine, and interviewed on many broadcast outlets. Follow Liza on Instagram @TheFlower CEO.
Lloyd Traven – Peace Tree Farm
(first term expires 2024)
Friends and fellow horticulturalists have called Lloyd a ‘mad scientist’ and ‘plant geek’ due to his passion for growing quality plants matched only by his commitment to using advanced technology combined with sustainable and organic growing techniques.
Lloyd graduated summa cum laude from Delaware Valley College of Science & Agriculture in 1979 and attended Cornell University Graduate School in floriculture and ornamental horticulture. In the 1980’s Lloyd worked in market research and special projects at Ball Seed Company developing Spark Plug, pelleted seed products and worked on the Genesis Seed project.
Lloyd and wife Candy purchased the Peace Tree Farm property in Bucks County, Pennsylvania in 1983. They have grown Peace Tree Farm from ‘the little greenhouses up on the hill’ to an established and respected operation among international horticulture. Lloyd is a technology guru and advocate for small growers, being among the first to successfully invest in sophisticated environmental control systems for their operation. He conducts seminars and makes presentations at growing industry conferences and conventions.
As an author Lloyd has contributed to GMPro Magazine, OFA Bulletin, Greenhouse Product News, Greenhouse Grower, and GrowerTalks. He is a member of the Council of Advisors for GMPro Magazine and Greenhouse Product News.
Ken Altman – Center for Applied Horticultural Research
(three terms 2012 – 2021)
Owner/Founder of Altman Plants and Center for Applied Horticultural Research, Ken Altman began a plant collection in 1975 in his Los Angeles backyard. What started out as an innocent hobby, based on an avid interest in plants, slowly transformed itself into a wholesale nursery business encompassing over 880 acres in three states. The business began with a plant catalog of unusual succulents. The retailers loved the unusual and varied plant material and so did their customers. Altman Plants became more and more important to these retailers because of their quality plants and innovative products. Recently, Ken has founded The Center for Applied Horticultural Research (CfAHR), a non-profit organization with the purpose of addressing, through research, the practical issues the nursery and floriculture industry face.
Bill Foster – BioWorks,
Inc.
(three terms 2010 – 2019)
Bill Foster is President & CEO of BioWorks, Inc. BioWorks provides environmentally response, safe and cost-effective solutions to the horticulture industry. Education: B.S. Va Tech; M.S. Univ. of Florida. Experience: Superintendent, Ornamental Horticulture Research Station – Auburn University. Various Management, Marketing, and Research & Development positions with The Scotts Company and IMC Vigoro prior to joining BioWorks in 1998. Professional Organizations: BPIA – BioPesticide Industry Alliance (founding member and former Chair Person); Member – OFA, SAF, America In Bloom.
Martha Trubey – Berger Peat Moss
(three terms 2008 – 2017)
Enjoy working with Berger, St. Modeste, Quebec, Canada, since 1997 as a Technical Sales Representative in North Central Texas. Advise commercial greenhouse growers in solving cultural problems while assisting with media, tissue, water, and fertilizer analysis. Serve as Member of TNLA Education Committee since 2010. Serve as a Sales Judge for Agriculture Business class at Texas A&M University since 1989, and enjoy working as Horticulture Advisory Committee member as Skyline Eco-Tech Cluster, Dallas, TX, since 2008. HOBBIES: cycling, gardening, reading, hiking and playing the piano. EDUCATION: B.S. in Horticultural Science, Minor in Business, December 1985, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.
Justin Marotta – Possum Run Greenhouse
(three terms – 2008 – 2017)
Founder of the Possum Run Greenhouse, a 100,000-square-foot growing and retail space in Bellville, Ohio, grew up in a greenhouse family. In fact, after World War II, his grandfather’s operation northeast of Cleveland supported three families—his granddad’s, his dad’s and his uncle’s. “I was the first one in my family to go to college, and I had no intention of working in the greenhouse industry,” Marotta asserts. After graduating with a degree in business administration from Ashland (Ohio) College in 1972, Marotta went to work as a personnel director for a large retailer. “But subconsciously, I found myself being drawn back into a business I could control myself,” he says. “So, in 1974, I returned to the only industry I knew. I bought a dilapidated building with a small greenhouse in Bellville, and Possum Run was born.” Though the business started out serving only other growers, today Possum Run generates a balance of wholesale and retail sales, and has 24 employees, about 800 wholesale clients and anywhere between 5,000 and 10,000 regular retail customers. Marotta attributes his long-term success to the brand Possum Run has built in the community. He notes that the company always seeks the latest and greatest in the marketplace for its customers, and that he and his wife, Lynn, who introduced the retail side of the business, grew the company based on consumer demand.
Jan Couch – Syngenta
(three terms 2007 – 2016)
Graduate of Texas A&M University in Horticulture. Graduated Summa cum Laude Winner of student paper based on research project “Rapid Graft Propagation of American Hybrid Grapes” at ASHS Southern Region Conference. Began work as an agricultural sales rep for Stauffer Chemical Company. In the field of Horticulture have worked with Smither’s Oasis, Scotts, Uniroyal/Chemtura. Work with Syngenta customers as Ornamental Sales Specialist for 8 states. Extensive experience advising greenhouse and nursery growers on the use of plant growth regulators and crop protection products in the South. Past State Chair of the Education Committee of The Texas Nursery and Landscape Assn and current Education Committee member, former TNLA regional officer and board member, Steering Committee member for Southwest Growers Conference. Member and committee chair person with the Native Plant Society of Texas Boerne Chapter, mentor with Maples for Boerne project and active in Cibolo Nature Center. Hobbies—Wildlife and vegetable gardening, cooking, pets.
Wanda Weder – Highland Supply Corporation
(three terms 2007 – 2016)
Owner, Highland Supply Corporation. Highland Supply Corporation is the world’s leading manufacturer of floral packaging solutions. Founded in 1937, HSC has been an innovative force in floral packaging for nearly seven decades. Our founder, Erwin Weder, introduced decorative foil to florists in the early years – demonstrating that decorated potted plants sold more quickly and for a higher price than plain items. That watershed moment was the beginning of a legacy filled with innovation: Beauty Corsage Bags, Plastifoil® florists foil, Clearphane® film, Speed Covers®, Speed Sheets®, SizzlePak® shred and many more. Today, that spirit of innovation continues with Monza* & Tessera* plant wrapping sheets and rolls, Gossamer Cloth® and Flora Fuente® flexible vases. Developing packaging solutions to enhance and upgrade your potted plants and flowers is what Highland Supply does best. We’ve been helping our customers succeed since 1937.
