LPU: Speakers
Paul Altznauer, with 28 years of experience in the green industry and a degree in horticulture, brings a blend of practical expertise and academic knowledge to his work. Passionate about plants and environmental sustainability, he excels in areas such as landscape design, plant cultivation, and eco-friendly gardening practices.
Julie Fogg started her career in the pest management industry at Van Waters and Rogers in 1986. She worked in various positions through her 38 years in the business, retiring from Veseris in 2021. Julie came out of retirement in 2022 to join Missquito Mosquito Control as the Business Development Manager after 9 months. Julie returned to the distributor side of the business by joining SiteOne Landscape Supply Pest Management Division in December 2022 as a Business Development Manager and is certified in Category 41. Julie is currently the treasurer for Hands United Foundation.
Ben Gandy has developed operating systems and implemented key strategies that have propelled several businesses to profitability, market leadership, and successful transitions including Scapes Landscape, one of America’s top 100 companies. Ben’s lean production expertise is unparalleled, having spent several years working with the nation’s largest landscape provider deploying their lean initiatives on a national level. He has been to virtually every landscape market in the U.S. implementing lean on a cultural and practical level. A long-time industry leader, Ben exhibits a down to earth practical approach to consulting. He is committed to simple solutions that drive results. With a passion for operations; systems-based management strategies and lean thinking, Ben is positioned to guide others in pursuit of their vision.
Elmer W. Gray earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from Clemson University in 1985. In 1990, while working as an entomologist for Clemson University, he earned his Master of Agriculture degree specializing in Medical and Veterinary Entomology. Gray currently works as an entomologist with the University of Georgia, Department of Entomology where he supervises the operation of the NIH/NIAID supported Black Fly Research and Resource Center. This center maintains the world’s only black fly colony and conducts a variety of research related to black fly biology and control. The center also serves as a resource for other researchers providing all stages of the black fly life cycle. He also serves as the Public Health Extension Entomologist for the University of Georgia, Cooperative Extension Service. This role focuses on mosquito control training, education and outreach. In 2023, Elmer won the IPM Communicator award, recognizing his efforts to promote IPM based mosquito control practices.
With over 40 years of experience in Design/Build, Jud Griggs consults with companies across the country to help them improve their operations as well as Sales and Marketing processes. Working with Jim Paluch at JP Horizons for two years exposed Jud to the intricacies of consulting with companies guiding them through the challenges of everyday business and helping them attain their goals. His ability to observe and assess a company and then offer solid solutions and ideas to help a company take the next step in their growth is invaluable. Speaking on topics ranging from customer service, sales, and sales management, Strategic planning, and budgeting, makes Jud a sought-after speaker as well.
Jeff Harkness has spent over 28 years working with the owners of commercial and residential services companies. A leading advisor with hundreds of transactions under his belt, Jeff provides his expert guidance on growth and exit strategies via private equity, or strategic buyers. His team at 3PG Advisors works closely with owners and families on succession planning, business valuation, strategic growth, profit planning, and capital funding.
Dr. Bethany Harris is the Center for Urban Agriculture Director, where she has the opportunity to work with multiple groups, including industry clientele, Extension agents, professional associations, government agencies, and non-profit organizations to tackle a wide variety of urban challenges in the areas of nursery and landscape, food production, sustainable turfgrass, pest management, and urban forestry.
James Herrin is one of two Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agents in Fulton County. He is currently serving as the interim County Extension Coordinator. His career with Extension began in fifth grade as a 4-Her. James earned BS and MS degrees from UGA studying environmental monitoring and aquatic ecology. Before joining UGA Extension James supported communities around the United States in using qPCR to track sources of pollution and monitor COVID-19 infection rates via wastewater monitoring. Originally from Effingham County, James enjoys fishing and paddling with his wife and son.
Dirk Hessman is a Field Service Manager for Hunter Industries, specializing in commercial and golf. His territory includes the southeastern US including TN, MS, AL, GA, LA, and the FL panhandle.
Clayton Hulen is a General Manager at SiteOne Landscape Supply, specializing in mulch and soil production strategies. With over 50 years of experience in the green industry, he has a proven track record of delivering high-quality landscape supplies at competitive prices. Clayton began his career in the 1960s with his family’s business, Green Bros. Nurseries, expanding it to over 20 locations in the metro Atlanta area. In 1992, he launched Green Bros. Earth Works, which rapidly grew to six locations, creating jobs for over 75 associates. In his free time, Clayton enjoys outdoor activities and spending time with his grandson, Wesley, hunting and fishing where he resides in Cherokee County.
Bobby Jackson gained his first Green Industry experience as a kid on family farms and with his small-town recreation department in South Carolina. He started a lawn maintenance and irrigation business as a young adult. Bobby joined Smith Turf & Irrigation as a delivery driver and later held various branch and sales positions within the company in Charlotte, Lexington and Greenville, SC. Before joining The Toro Company in 2014, Bobby spent six years with another irrigation manufacturer. He currently represents Toro and Irritrol irrigation products in a geography from Nashville, TN to Hilton Head Island, SC and resides in Greenville County, SC. Bobby recently served on the board of the Carolinas Irrigation Association for four years. He holds Landscape Irrigation Auditor and Landscape Water Manager certifications from the Irrigation Association and has been recognized as an EPA WaterSense partner.
David Jespersen is an associate professor in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at the University of Georgia in Griffin. His research focuses on the physiology of abiotic stresses in turfgrasses. His research program combines whole plant physiology with underlying molecular biology in a systems biology approach to understand the mechanisms of stress tolerance. Dr. Jespersen has published 34 publications in addition to 4 book chapters and has helped secure over $15.1 million in funding for projects as PI or Co-PI, including participation in several large multi-institution grants. He has been a graduate student advisor or committee member for 20 graduate students, and teaches graduate and undergraduate courses including Turfgrass Physiology and Ecology, and Plant Physiology.
Donna Jones heads up sales at Ace Resin and has been instrumental in the development of resin bound permeable surfacing in the UK for over 25 years. She brings a deep passion for the landscape industry and sustainable solutions, and she is excited to introduce Ace Resin's permeable surfacing to the USA market. Donna is dedicated to advancing best practices through a strong commitment to education, innovation, and quality, ensuring best practice in the Landscape industry.
With an eye for detail and a commitment to simplicity, Eric King marries nature’s best elements with his clients’ highest hopes and imaginations. So it’s no surprise that he has a long list of satisfied clients and a host of award-winning designs throughout Atlanta. From outdoor rooms that blur the lines between interior and exterior spaces to lush gardens that beg you to sit and stay for a while, Eric achieves dramatic results by first listening to his clients, then studying the land.
Eric Marlowe is an ANR Agent at UGA Extension Gwinnett where he leads community activities, classes, and events while expanding school programs. Since earning his landscape architecture degree at UGA, he has worked in residential landscape design and construction.
Dr. Alfredo Martinez is a Professor within the Department of Plant Pathology, University of Georgia, Griffin Campus. He is an Extension Specialist working on the development and transfer of information of new and recurring turfgrass diseases. Alfredo holds a PhD. from the Department of Plant Pathology in Montana State University (Bozeman MT). Alfredo has been at UGA for 24 years.
Brian Niles has been working in the landscape industry for close to 30 years, having worked in distribution, contracting and manufacturing. Niles has been with Hunter for 8 years as a Sales Manager and currently in the role of Specification Manager for the Southeast.
Dr. Bodie Pennisi is a Professor and statewide Extension landscape specialist in the Department of Horticulture at the University of Georgia. She received her Master of Science in 1996 and Doctoral degrees in 1999 from Environmental Horticulture Dept. of University of Florida in Gainesville. She joined the Horticulture Department at UGA in 2000. Dr. Pennisi is responsible for planning and coordinating a statewide Extension program to support the professional landscape industry, and conducting applied research with emphasis on sustainable landscape practices.
Juan E Pérez is an irrigation representative for Rain Bird with more than seven years of experience in the industry. Rain Bird factory trained technician and IA certified irrigation technician. With a history of assisting contractors in the field, Juan provides expert technical support and ensures optimal irrigation performance.
Juan E Pérez es un representante de riego para Rain Bird con más de siete años de experiencia en la industria. Técnico capacitado en la fábrica de Rain Bird y técnico de riego con certificación IA. Con un historial de asistencia a contratistas en el campo, Juan brinda soporte técnico experto y garantiza un rendimiento óptimo del riego.
Aida Ricetti is Director of Sales for Hardscape. com. This company was born out of the necessity to provide our clients with innovative products that accompany the changes available in technology, in responsible sourcing and production. We transitioned naturally and easily from a Custom Natural Stone Supplier, into a distributor of Porcelain Pavers. Once we realized we were able to create our most beloved natural stones without having any issues with staining, spalling or color differences, it became our mission to align ourselves with innovative producers of porcelain that were also looking to change the hardscape industry for the better.
Kevin Rinschler has over 25 years of experience in the green industry and started his career in contracting, moved on to distribution and in 2024 joined Rain Bird as the Water Conservation Manager for the SE and FL regions. He has an extensive technical knowledge base in irrigation controls, 2-wire and pump systems. This past year he fulfilled his term serving 10 years on the IA Certification Board.
Dr. Joseph Roberts is the state turfgrass pathologist for South Carolina with a faculty appointment of 70% Extension and 30% Research. My tenure home is within the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences and I am located at the Pee Dee Research and Education Center in Florence, SC. My extension activities include organization and participation in educational programs offered as turfgrass research field days, regional and national organization conferences and trade shows, reports in trade publications and in online outlets, and diagnosis of disease and nematode issues in turfgrasses. Research in my program is centered on innovative strategies to limit turfgrass and crop loss from plant pathogens including fungi, bacteria, and nematodes.
Owner of The Pruning Guru, Rick Smith is a certified Georgia Nurseryman and a Georgia Certified Landscape Professional, both credentialed through the University of Georgia.
Ken Thomas started his first business fresh out of college with $1,000 and a pickup truck. He went on to own and operate three of Atlanta’s most successful landscape companies including Scapes Landscape, one of the top 100 landscape companies in America which was acquired by ValleyCrest in 2008. Ken served for three years in leadership at ValleyCrest Landscape Maintenance, then went on to start Envisor Consulting, a nationally recognized consulting group focused on developing landscape business leaders. During his 30+ year career, Ken and the Envisor team have developed the keys to success in the landscape industry. An astute businessman who is not afraid of digging in the dirt, Ken knows the secrets and systems of thriving landscape operations. More recently, Ken spent two years as the interim COO at the Greenery, Inc., a 60-million-dollar regional company serving the low country of SC, GA and North Eastern FL. Ken is a true visionary with a down-to-earth approach. Today Ken is passionate about helping business owners overcome their obstacles to business success.
Michael Tous is Vice President and co-owner of Grass Masters, Inc., a full-service hardscaping design build and lawn maintenance-company located in Lumberton, New Jersey. He has over 30 years of experience in the hardscape industry. Michael is an ICPI certified instructor and is fluent in both English and Spanish. Mike has been a longtime supporter of MAHTS, dedicating his time and expertise, instructing courses for his industry peers. Mike holds both ICPI and NCMA certifications and over the years has led a variety of Hands-on training skills in both the English and Spanish languages.
Rob Trawick received his BS and MS ornamental horticulture degrees from Auburn University. Before working with UGA Extension, Rob was the ANR Agent in Baton Rouge for Louisiana State University.
Dr. Clint Waltz joined the UGA Turfgrass Team in 2001 as a Turfgrass Extension Specialist. He has state-wide responsibilities in all turfgrass management areas, including turfgrass water management. Additionally, he serves as an ex officio board member for the Georgia Urban Ag. Council. He also serves the golf course industry through the Georgia Golf Course Superintendents Association. Clint is well published in scientific journals and makes regular contributions to the newsletters of the State’s trade associations. Furthermore, he makes numerous presentations to turfgrass professionals form golf course superintendents to homeowner groups. Clint has been responsible for the turfgrass website www.GeorgiaTurf.com.
Cindy Whitman has been working in the construction industry since 1997. In September 1999, Cindy started her journey in the world of manufactured and natural stone installation. In 2003 she started her own stone installation company, All About Stone, in Arizona and shortly after in Nevada. It was a world wind of experiences. In 2017, Cindy decided to remove herself from being self employed and start a new career in Construction Sales with Solstice Stone.
Julia Willingham is a Business Development Manager with SiteOne. She grew up in Chattanooga, TN where she currently lives with her family. Julia received her undergraduate degree in Biology and her master’s degree in Entomology from the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Before working with SiteOne, Julia was the County Agricultural Agent in Catoosa County with University of Georgia Extension. Julia loves talking about bugs and working with pest control professionals to help solve issues.