Meet AmericanHort’s New Board of Directors Leadership

AmericanHort has announced the election of four new members to its board of directors, along with the election of a new slate of board officers. The official welcome and installation will take place at Cultivate’22 in Columbus, OH.

“We are excited to welcome these leaders who come from various segments of the green industry and encompass diverse experiences, skills, and backgrounds,” says Ken Fisher, President and CEO of AmericanHort. “We also appreciate the dedication and commitment of our officers and the leadership they provide our organization and industry, particularly during the challenges of the past few years.”

Advertisement

The new slate of officers includes Jon Reelhorn of Belmont Nursery as the new chairman of the board, and Rob Lando as the new vice chairman of the board. Cole Mangum of Bell Nursery will become the immediate past chairman and J. Harvey Cotton will continue to serve as board treasurer in a non-voting position.

  • Jon Reelhorn is owner and president of Belmont Nursery in Fresno, CA. Belmont Nursery is a third-generation business that loves being part of their local community and includes nursery growing, greenhouse growing, and a retail garden center. Reelhorn is a graduate of Fresno State University with a degree in Plant Science, a graduate of the California Ag Leadership Program, and a graduate of the Executive Academy for Growth and Leadership. He is very active in his industry having served as a board member with the California Farm Bureau and California Nursery and Landscape Association (now Plant California Association). He held several committee roles with the American Nursery and Landscape Association (ANLA) and has been chairman of the Horticultural Research Institute (HRI).
  • Rob Lando co-founded and grew Ohio-based AgriNomix into North America’s largest supplier of automation to nurseries and greenhouses. At the start of this year, AgriNomix and Zwart Systems joined forces to become part of the newly formed AdeptAg, where he continues to be involved with business development and R&D projects. Lando recently formed Western Roots LLC to allow him to continue to use his industry experience to work with growers on strategic planning and management issues. He is an active board member for Neighborhood Alliance, a Northeast Ohio non-profit that provides essential services to Lorain County residents in all stages of life. Lando was first elected to the AmericanHort board of directors in 2018, prior to which he served as a member on the AmericanHort Finance Committee.

The AmericanHort membership has also elected the following new board directors:

  • Kurt Becker is Executive Vice President (EVP) of Dramm Corporation, located in Manitowoc, WI, which has been a leader in watering tools and accessories for more than 75 years. As Executive Vice President of Commercial Products Sales & Marketing, he has decades of experience collaborating with growers on pest management, irrigation systems, humidity management, and air movement. In addition to managing the commercial business for Dramm, Becker leads marketing for the group and has been instrumental in Dramm’s support of Cultivate and AmericanHort. His industry activities have included serving as a director for Bedding Plants Incorporated, Ohio Florist Association, and America in Bloom.
  • Matt Edmundson, President of Arbor Valley Nursery in Brighton, CO, is a second-generation nurseryman and third-generation business owner of Arbor Valley Nursery. Arbor Valley Nursery is a hybrid supplier growing balled and burlapped shade and ornamental trees as well as container grown woody shrubs, western natives, perennials, and ornamental grasses. Its facility offers the latest technology in irrigation and water quality management as well as scale for producing, holding, and shipping products to markets including landscape projects and retail garden centers. Edmundon is a graduate of the University of Colorado-Boulder and has served in various leadership roles with the Colorado Nursery and Greenhouse Association, the Colorado Nursery Research and Education Foundation and the GreenCo legislative committee.
  • Kent Fullmer is President at Fullmer’s Landscaping, Inc. in Dayton, OH, a residential landscape design and build company. His father started the business in 1962, Kent assumed ownership of the company in 2005 and continues to lead the second-generation company with passion and integrity. Fullmer brings high energy to the art of landscaping and his goal to provide positive personal experiences to Fullmer’s Landscaping’s clients. He has considerable experience working across the industry as he has served on the board of directors of the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association, is currently serving on the AmericanHort Landscape Contractor Committee, is a certified arborist as well as a member of the International Society of Arboriculture.
  • Ann Tosovsky is President of Home Nursery Inc. a field and container production nursery headquartered in Albers, IL. The business includes production facilities in Illinois and Tennessee and distribution centers in Illinois and Missouri. Tosovsky is a third-generation owner and leader of the business that celebrated its 100th Anniversary in 2021. Not thinking this was the life for her, she attended Eastern Illinois University and pursued a degree in business. She worked her way around the company and learned the processes and procedures of the business gaining experience in sales, marketing, and administrative tasks. Tosovsky transitioned to the role of president in 2012. She has considerable experience working across the industry and the community having served on a variety of industry boards and organizations including the Illinois Green Industry Association Board of Directors, Madison County Extension Education Foundation Board, Hortica Advisory Council and Hortica Insurance Board Member, The Gardens at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Advisory Board, and the Rotary Club of Edwardsville Board of Directors.

These new directors will join current directors Mike Gooder of Plantpeddler Inc, IA; Steve Mostardi of Mostardi Nursery, PA; Lyndsi Oestmann of Loma Vista Nursery, KS; Ed Overdevest of Overdevest Nurseries LP, NJ; and Jonathan Saperstein of Everde Growers, TX.

Top Articles
Dutch Lily Days Offers Meeting Place for Breeders and Growers

AmericanHort and its members also thank outgoing board members Tom Hughes of Hughes Nursery & Landscaping LLC, IA, who served six years on the board including immediate past chairman, and Gerry Docksteader, Advanced Horticultural Solutions, MD; Joe Hobson, Midwest Trading Horticultural Supplies Inc, IL; and Amy Morris, N. G. Heimos Greenhouses, IL, who served three-year terms as board directors.

0