Summer Brings New Leadership Roles Across Horticulture Industry
July 15, 2022 
Harini Korlipara, Darby McGrath
Terra Nova Nurseries Inc., a world leader in plant breeding and genetics, has promoted Harini Korlipara from Lab Manager and Research Director to General Manager of the company. Korlipara has been an integral member of Terra Nova’s personnel for more than two decades. Her new role will involve collaboratively managing the company’s breeding program, operational efficiencies, budgetary administration, and vital interrelationships among these areas of activity.
Korlipara will work closely in the new position with other members of Terra Nova’s management team, which is responsible for overseeing the business’s budget; streamlining lab and liner production; supervising licensees, stock and trial material for brand new Terra Nova varieties; and other managerial duties.
Korlipara will continue her tenured roles involving lab research, plant breeding, tissue culture production, and ST3 sales in North America. She additionally will maintain her role as a member of Terra Nova’s licensing team, where her focus is to provide support and stock to licensees at various levels, with a primary concentration upon international licensees.
“We could not be more excited to announce the promotion of Harini to General Manager,” says Ken Brown, Managing Owner of Terra Nova Nurseries. “Harini is an extremely valuable and admired member of the Terra Nova family, and she has been instrumental for nearly 25 years in the success of our growth and more than 1,000 new varieties.”
Korlipara joined Terra Nova in December 1999 as a research assistant and plant breeder, and she has since held positions with increasing levels of responsibility.
Her preceding Terra Nova positions have included Laboratory Research Assistant, in which she provided extensive internal breeder support; and Laboratory Manager, where she oversaw the development of new varieties with improved habit and growth traits, disease resistance and increased liner and plug productivity. Korlipara also held the titles of Breeder, with a crucial focus on laboratory breeding and production; and Principal Breeder of composite plants, offering a diverse and wide range of special support for the breeding team. She additionally worked as Terra Nova’s Laboratory Division Manager in charge of all Tissue Culture sales; Global Supply Chain Manager, including sending stock to and visiting/training all production labs and cutting farms around the world; and Director of Research and Laboratory Development.
Eric Smith
Eric Smith Is New President of FNGLA
On July 1, Eric Smith, Sales Manager for the Horticulture Division of BioSafe Systems, was installed as President of the Florida Nursery, Growers, and Landscape Association (FNGLA). Formal installations for Secretary/Treasurer, Vice President, and President took place at FNGLA’s Annual Convention in Orlando. The event includes passing the torch from the former President Sarah Spatola of Ecologel Solutions, LLC, to Eric Smith. This particular year also celebrated the 24-year tenure and retirement of FNGLA’s CEO, Ben Bolusky.
“I’m very excited to be taking on this role in a new era for FNGLA and working with our new CEO Tal Coley,” Smith says.
Eric has been an active member of the FNGLA since 2008, having served at different levels of leadership in three separate Chapters (Frontrunners, Action, and Tampa Bay), including State Representative, Board of Directors, and Chapter President. His membership in the association has helped him connect and engage with Florida’s diverse green industry.
Eric’s current position with BioSafe Systems promotes sustainable crop protection, water treatment, and sanitation solutions throughout Florida and helps add a state-wide perspective to the leadership position.
New Head of Research and Development at Vineland
The Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in Ontario has appointed Darby McGrath, Ph.D. as Vice President, Research and Development. In her new role, McGrath will guide the direction of Vineland’s innovation portfolio to maximize real-world impact with a team of more than 50 scientists and technicians.
McGrath joined Vineland in 2013 as Research Scientist and was named Program Leader in 2018. She also leads Vineland’s Greening the Landscape Research Consortium.
McGrath holds a Master’s degree and a Ph.D. in Social and Ecological Sustainability from the University of Waterloo. She is an Adjunct Professor at Brock University and the University of Waterloo.
“For almost a decade, Darby’s strong collaborative approach and innovative spirit have helped Vineland become a leader in green infrastructure research through the establishment of successful relationships across the horticultural sector. I look forward to her bringing that spirit and drive for excellence to this new role,” says Vineland President and CEO Ian Potter, Ph.D.
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