Nov 18, 2013

ANLA and HRI Hire Research TeamSource: ANLA

The American Nursery and Landscape Association (ANLA) and the Horticultural Research Institute (HRI), ANLA’s research affiliate, have hired the staff team that will provide leadership to the organizations’ research efforts on behalf of the horticulture industry. Dr. Joseph Albano joins the team as research director. Albano comes to ANLA and HRI from the USDA-ARS Horticultural Research Laboratory (USHRL) in Fort Pierce, Fla., where he has served as research horticulturist for more than 14 years. His research focus with USDA-ARS has been on plant nutrition, water quality and conservation and alternative substrates. He led a major multi-researcher, multi-location collaborative water quality project funded by the Floriculture and Nursery Research Initiative (FNRI). Jennifer Gray joins the staff as research programs administrator. For approximately 15 years, Gray served in numerous capacities for the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association, including communications and marketing activities, editing The Buckeye magazine and overseeing grants and scholarships. Since 2007, she has served as associate executive director for the association. For ANLA and HRI, her primary responsibilities will include managing the fundraising campaigns, staffing the volunteer leadership groups, and overseeing the competitive grants program funded through HRI’s $11 million endowment fund. Albano and Gray will officially begin employment in November, and will transition to the new AmericanHort organization when the ANLA/OFA consolidation takes effect in January. Gray will work from the office in Columbus, Ohio and Albano will join the Industry Advocacy & Research staff team based in Washington, D.C. For more information on HRI, visit www.HRIResearch.com.