May 2012 Management
Introducing GPN’s 40 Under 40

If you want to see what lies ahead for the horticulture industry, then this is a good place to start GPN’s inaugural 40 Under 40!

These 25 men and 15 women are some of the brightest minds in horticulture and they are already charting the course for the industry’s future.

The 40 individuals in the Class of 2012 were nominated by their peers for their achievements in and out of the greenhouse and you should get to know them now.

They range in age from 24 to 39 (as of the entry deadline, Jan. 31, 2012), they come from diverse backgrounds and their accomplishments are wide reaching, but they are definitely the ones to watch because they are making things happen now.

GPN is proud to present the next generation of leaders in the horticulture industry.

Layci Gragnani
Ornamental Marketing and Sales Director
Greenheart Farms, Arroyo Grande, Calif.
Age: 28

Accomplishments:
Vice president of Central Coast Greenhouse Growers Association
Responsible for developing innovative advertising and promotional campaigns and materials to sell roses to a new generation of consumers.
Active participant in OFA committees
Off the Clock: Favorite vacation spot: Chicago during the months of April to October.
Plans to compete in six half marathons in 2012.
Extracurricular: Has a goal of visiting all 50 states before her 30th birthday currently she is at 44.
In her family tree: Related to Davy Crockett on her mother’s side but, “Don’t worry, you will not see me in a raccoon hat any time soon.”

Kurt Van der Wetering
General Manager
Ivy Acres, Baiting Hollow, N.Y.
Age: 37

Accomplishments:
Oversees day-to-day operations of Ivy Acres’ approximately 25 acres of greenhouse production and a peak staff of 200 employees.
Responsible for the design, expansion and construction of 6.5 acres of greenhouses that are performing ahead of original expectations.
Serves as chairman of the advisory council for Cornell University’s Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center and is on the board of directors of the Long Island Farm Bureau.
Off the clock:
Can’t live without: “My iPhone 4S. I am waiting for a model with a corkscrew like my Swiss army knife. Then it would be complete.”
Favorite food: Fish broiled, baked, blackened, fried, raw or Swedish.
Favorite movies: Oceans 11, 12 and 13.
Hidden talent: A few years ago, Kurt took a “sabbatical” from Ivy Acres so he and his wife could manage a hotel in Vieques, Puerto Rico.

Aaron Leech
Head Grower
Duwayne’s Greenhouses,
Hudsonville, Mich.
Age: 29

Accomplishments:
Directs team of assistant growers and production crew for large root and sell supplier.
Proficient in advanced greenhouse technology and trains staff on equipment use.
Participant in Michigan State University’s College of Knowledge program.
Off the clock:
Hobbies: Enjoys late model short track racing and even served on the pit crew at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla.
Favorite movie: A River Runs Through It. “It has a great moral about life and how they turn to their love of fly fishing to escape the troubles of life.”
Extracurricular: Helped lead a group of students from his church on a mission trip to Alaska.
You might not know: Aaron is an
Eagle Scout

Dave Van Belle
President
Van Belle Nursery,
Abbotsford, British Columbia
Age: 39

Accomplishments:
Responsible for helping implement lean flow manufacturing practices and driving significant technological improvements in company back office processes.
Responsible for helping re-brand nursery as two distinct operating units Young Plants and Retail Ready
Recipient of the Business in Vancouver’s 40 Under 40 Award.
Off the clock:
Hobbies: Reading, spending time with his children, traveling and running.
Favorite foods: “There are too many to list. I haven’t often run into food I didn’t like that’s why I need to run.”
Favorite reads: Wall Street Journal, WORLD magazine and historical biographies.
Hit the road: Dave has traveled to 47 states and seven provinces in Canada.

Tom Costamanga
Director of Plant Quality
Mid-American Growers
Granville, Ill.
Age: 36

Accomplishments:
Developed on-site production of anaerobically fermenting microbes as a front line of defense for the prevention of pests and pathogens in the greenhouse.
Implements innovative research and production practices in the greenhouse like Kaizen (Japanese for “improvement” or “change for the better”) techniques as well as Leibig’s Law of the Minimum (plant growth is controlled, not by the total amount of resources available, but by the availability of the scarcest resource”).
Made successful transition from academic world at University of California-Davis to commercial greenhouse production.
Off the Clock:
Favorite hobbies: Deep sea fishing (the Sea of Cortez is a favorite destination) and watching and playing soccer.
Favorite food: Surf & Turf “bringing the best of sea and land in many possible combinations.”
Secret life: Father is a surgeon who has operated on a number of famous people including professional wrestlers and members of the Manson family.

Gladys Andiru Opiyo
Grower
Shenandoah Growers, Harrisonburg, Va.
Age: 33

Accomplishments:
Reorganized production systems in 17,000-square-foot greenhouse, improving overall efficiency and product quality.
Improved company’s propagation of mint plants by 50 percent from 40 percent to 90 percent.
Created a successful propagation program of rosemary plants to supply half of company’s plug requirements for year-round production.
Off the clock:
Can’t live without: Coffee.
Books on the nightstand: Flower Confidential and The Orchid Thief
Favorite vacation spot: A native of Uganda, Gladys likes to return to her home town of Moyo and “just relax and enjoy time at home with my parents and siblings.”
Getting a real education: Gladys left Uganda to go to college in Costa Rica and became fluent in Spanish in three months.

Stephanie Whitehouse Barlow
Sales and Marketing Manager
Peace Tree Farm, Kintnersville, Pa.
Age: 28

Accomplishments:
Responsible for creating new marketing and sales materials and programs that reflect the latest fashion trends and are in tune with today’s consumers.
Manages the daily, weekly and seasonal contact with new and existing customers.
Managed the company’s installation and implementation of Picas software.
Off the clock:
Favorite vacation spot: Vancouver, British Columbia her honeymoon destination with husband, Nick.
Favorite books: Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen and The Brand Gap by Marty Neumeier, “A really must read for grower and retailers.”
Family war stories: Paternal great-grandfather, Arch Whitehouse, was a Royal Air Force pilot during World War I, fought the Red Baron and wrote more than a dozen war-themed books in the decades that followed.

Amelie Brazelton Aust
New Business Manager
Fall Creek Farm & Nursery, Lowell, Ore.
Age: 27

Accomplishments:
As a Fulbright scholar was first in her class earning a law degree from the Munich IP Law Center in Germany.
Has co-authored a book on genetics and intellectual property.
Helped design and establish launch of company’s ornamental berry plant collection (BrazelBerries) as well as the commercialization model for Fall Creek Genetics collection of blueberry varieties.
Off the Clock:
Quilting is an “outlet that keeps my hands busy while my brain can relax and open up to colors, design and think about anything that comes to mind.”
Speaks fluent German and loves to travel and go on international adventures with her husband.
Extracurricular: Active member of Junior League of Eugene, which supports foster families through fund raising, supply drives, direct child care and parent training.

Matt Blanchard, PhD
Technical Services Specialist
Syngenta Flowers, Gilroy, Calif.
Age: 29

Accomplishments:
Develops and implements industry-focused training programs that cover genetics, ornamental controls and growing media the help growers improve overall efficiencies and savings.
Developed bedding plant growing media selection tool and temperature and light guide to aid growers.
Taught bedding and pot-crop production and PGR courses at Michigan State University.
During academic career, authored or co-authored more than 20 refereed journal articles, 50 trade journal articles and two book chapters.
Off the Clock:
Enjoys traveling, hiking, being outdoors and exploring new trails and parks.
Favorite vacation spot: Glacier National Park.
Favorite read: National Geographic magazine.
You might not know: Matt is an Eagle Scout.

Chrissy Hipshier
Grower
Hortech Inc., Spring Lake, Mich.
Age: 30

Accomplishments:
In charge of a 31 greenhouse growing area that includes a vast array of stock beds and liner and propagation houses credits the success of the growing area to her team who “is nothing short of awesome.”
Certified Green Industry Professional by the Michigan Nursery & Landscape Association and West Michigan Shoreline Naturalist
Extracurricular: Frequent volunteer for the Muskegon Conservation District helping with native plant and tree sales, invasive plant removal and other projects.
Off the clock:
Favorite food: Mom’s homemade lasagna.
Loves to travel and recently visited the Galapagos Islands.
It takes two: Has an identical sister who is a zookeeper. “I’m flora, she’s fauna.”

John Mossel
Co-Owner
Grand Flower Growers, Wayland, Mich.
Age: 34

Accomplishments:
Founded company with brother, Todd, while both were in their early 20s and now supplies annuals to Home Depot stores throughout the Chicago area.
Company has received Home Depot’s “Grower of the Year” award three years in a row.
Has a keen eye for detail and market trends and helps develop tagging, containers and genetics for regional and national plant programs
Off the clock: Favorite reads: Business books a favorite is Launching a Leadership Revolution.
What’s for dinner? Grilled filet, baked potato and asparagus.
Favorite movie: Christmas Vacation is a “Mossel family tradition”
The Rx files: John almost died from a rare blood disease when he was 13. “If my parents had listened to my doctor, I would not be here today.”

Chad Miller, PhD
Assistant Professor
Kansas State University,
Manhattan, Kan.

Accomplishments:
Working on integrating technology into the classroom, promoting student-centered learning and increasing student engagement.
Investigating various ways to develop and integrate horticulture in K-12 classroom.
Leads the annual Kansas FFA Career Development floriculture contest
Off the clock:
Favorite read: Tuesdays with Morrie. “Every now and then I go back and re-read it, to remind me what really is important in life.”
Hobbies: Enjoys cooking (and eating what he cooks), wine tasting, playing tennis and traveling.
You might be surprised to learn:
Chad climbed Mount Villarica, an active volcano in Chile.

Dave Konsoer
Director of Sales
Proven Winners, Hinsdale, Ill.
Age: 39

Accomplishments:
Supervised and managed nearly 60 “roadshows” to help educate growers and retailers on new varieties, production issues and merchandising techniques.
Has helped complete more than 50 total garden center resets for more successful merchandising and traffic flow
Manages Proven Winners relationships and programs with the Home Depot and Lowe’s
Off the clock:
Favorite book: “Living in Chicagoland my entire life The Devil in the White City (by Erik Larson) is such an intriguing book and among other things, highlights an interesting period of Chicago’s history.”
Favorite food: “I’m a junkie for desserts.”
Special talent: Started collegiate career as a music education major and performed in an eight-person a cappella singing group.

Landon Bolick
Director of Purchasing and Product Development
Layman Wholesale, Trenton, S.C.
Age: 34

Accomplishments:
“Architect” of company’s perennial plant programs for big box retailers.
Serves as bridge between outside growing operations and sales force.
Helped drive the company’s perennial production from 50- and 72-cell trays into 128- and 162-cell trays
Participates in company-sponsored project that visits local elementary schools and helps with reading and music programs.
Extracurricular:
This even-par golfer’s favorite movie: Caddyshack.
Can’t live without: University of North Carolina football and golf!
Favorite vacation spot: the Caribbean Islands.
In his family tree: Distant relative won the Virginia lottery.

Greg Mitchell
Production and Propagation Manager
Stacy’s Greenhouses, York, S.C.
Age: 37

In charge of production and propagation of 260 acres (outdoor and under cover) in four locations.
Responsible for forming relationships with plant breeders, young plant growers and other suppliers.
Working to develop a scholarship program to award to best students in the community.
Extracurricular: Works with a local hort/ag high school teacher to help students with growing and fundraising activities.
Off the clock:
Can’t live without: South Carolina Gamecock football
Favorite authors: Tom Clancy, James Patterson and John Grisham
Secret talent: Nearly perfected the Happy Gilmore golf shot.

John Morgan
Technologist
Bob’s Market & Greenhouses,
Mason, W. Va.
Age: 29

Accomplishments:
Responsible for creating company’s comprehensive online presence including website, blogs, social media outlets, e-newsletters
and web-based video channel.
An oft-requested speaker for the company at local gardening clubs and hospitals and serves as on-screen spokesperson for local new affiliates’ gardening-related stories.
Recently nominated for the 40 Under 40 in West Virginia.
Off the clock:
Can’t live without: High speed internet.
Favorite meal: Homemade pot roast with home grown vegetables.
Extracurricular:
This former high school teacher is very active in his church and donates his computer skills along with his sound skills for the church choir.
John has traveled around the world on mission trips including into the bush of Kenya to help with medical outreach.

Leah James
Co-Owner
James Greenhouses, Colbert, Ga.
Age: 38

Accomplishments:
Recipient of Young Professional Award from Georgia Green Industry Association
First generation grower, along with her husband Ken, established nationally recognized young plant company from the ground up.
Member of Georgia Green Industry Association, Southern Nursery Association, and Perennial Plant Association
Off the clock:
Hobbies: reading, shopping and crossword puzzles.
Can’t live without: the Howard Stern Show.
Favorite food: Enchiladas poblanas from Agua Linda in Athens, Ga.
All in the Family: Mother and stepfather started garden center/hardware store about the same time Leah and Ken founded James Greenhouses. “The four of us have been able to share in the ups and downs of building a business togetherand both companies are healthy and growing.”

Tim Moore
Inventory Control/Sales & Marketing
Lucas Greenhouse, Monroeville, N.J.
Age: 34

Accomplishments:
In charge of company inventory control for both liner materials and finished product and tracking production on the sticking line.
Helps develop innovative customer programs to help them try new plants and be more successful.
Responsible for the creation and development of company’s marketing efforts including wide-ranging color catalog and website.
Off the clock:
Can’t live without: a GPS. “There is no doubt this device has reduced our in-car arguments by 50 percent.”
Hobbies: All kinds of sports. “I was leaving our house [recently] and there were seven pairs of cleats lined up next to the door.” He and his wife have three sons, ages 10, 9 and 8.
Secret life: State chess champion three out of four years in high school, “before I lost to someone apparently less cool than me my final year.”

Susan Raker Zimmerman
Sales & Marketing Team Leader
C. Raker & Sons, Litchfield, Mich.
Age: 30

Accomplishments:
Developed company’s fundraiser program for non-profit organizations and helps design program’s combo planters and vegetable/herb combos.
Helped create a company program from $11,000 in sales in 2006 to more than $1 million this year.
Recipient of 2011 Michigan Cooperation Award from National Association of Agricultural Educators for work with Future Farmers of America.
Off the Clock:
Hobbies: Softball, gardening, reading and cooking.
Favorite Movies: Rudy. “I love the underlying message to be persistent in following your dreams.”
Extracurricular: Susie was instrumental in persuading and assisting Jonesville, Mich., in participating in the America in Bloom program.
From the Raker family tree: “Contrary to popular belief, Gerry Raker is not father. My father is Dave Raker (Gerry’s brother) who is retired from the business.”

DeVonne Friesen
Sales & Marketing Manager
Van Belle Nursery, Abbotsford, British Columbia
Age: 39

Accomplishments:
Responsible for helping rebrand nursery as two distinct operating units Young Plants and Retail Ready
Developed new brand message pyramid for company that “fueled the redesign of our complete digital and print marketing suite.”
Extracurricular:
Can’t live without: “relationships with people close to me. Without my family, friends and team members, life would be dull indeed!”
Off the Clock:
Favorite hobbies: Reading great literature and golfing.
Favorite foods: Thick-cut New York steak and blueberries for dessert.
Secret Life: Has a home library with more than 1,000 volumes of fine literature.

Josh Roggenbuck
Owner
The Flower Farm, Bad Axe, Mich.
Age: 28

Accomplishments:
Dedicated to helping customers become better gardeners and be successful by offering comprehensive education/coaching, garden pharmacy and off-site tours to horticultural hot spots around the state.
Business has been voted Best of the Best Greenhouse and Best of the Best Floral by local community.
Finalist for 2010 Michigan Farm Bureau Young Farmer Achievement Award
Off the clock:
Favorite movie: It’s a Wonderful Life. “I’m a small town guy, and I am reminded of my community and myself every time I watch it.
Favorite quote: from It’s a Wonderful Life. “Dear George, no man is a failure who has friends.”
Hobbies: Traveling, cooking, darts, golf and hunting.
Extracurricular: Active in local community’s beautification projects and recently served as president of Bad Axe Chamber of Commerce.

Tabitha West
Office/Greenhouse Manager
Cedar Valley Nurseries, Ada, Okla.
Age: 35

Accomplishments:
A former hospital lab technician, Tabitha has played an instrumental role in developing the company’s plant disease prevention and diagnostic programs.
Developed innovative performance incentive program for production crews.
Currently serving as president of Oklahoma Nursery and Landscape Association
Off the clock:
Favorite movie: Mary Poppins “reminds me that anything is possible and fires my imagination.”
Favorite food: Kraft macaroni & cheese or a grilled steak cooked by her husband or both!
She’s Royalty: Tabitha was once the Snow Princess in her hometown and got to wear a crown and ride on a float during the Christmas parade.

Brian Krug, PhD
Extension Specialist
University of New Hampshire Extension, Durham, N.H.
Age: 35

Accomplishments:
Recipient of Alex Laurie Award for most significant applied floriculture research paper published in refereed American Society for
Horticultural Science publications.
Instrumental in creating new and innovative electronic delivery methods (video, online, podcasts) for presenting research and educational materials.
Greatest personal accomplishment: “Other than getting my wife to marry melearning to surf.”
Off the clock:
Favorite food: “Mmm, ham! Baked, grilled, on a sandwich, in an omeletI can never get enough.”
Favorite vacation spot: Walking the streets of Paris.
Not many people know: Brian placed first in Milk Tasting at the Iowa Future Farmers of America Dairy Foods Competition in high school.

Jessica DeGraaf
Program Manager
C. Raker & Sons, Litchfield, Mich.
Age: 31

Accomplishments:
Graduated magna cum laude with M.A. degree in marketing from Michigan State University
Spent a year working in Germany for a breeder company to learn more about the European market and the differences in horticulture marketing in Europe and the United States
Responsible for helping market new upscale brand of plants for independent garden centers using new and unique plants and genetics.
Off the Clock:Favorite movie: Braveheart “William Wallace just makes you want to stand up and fight for what you believe in.”
Can’t live without: Toothbrush, Smartwool socks and licorice.
Family life: Jessica is 5’3″ and her husband is 6’8″

Dan Gerace
Production Coordinator
Welby Gardens, Denver, Colo.
Age: 38

Accomplishments:
President of Colorado Nursery and Greenhouse Association, board member of Colorado Floriculture Foundation and chairman of the certified Greenhouse Grower program.
Overcame fear of public speaking and is often invited to teach seminars on pest management and other horticulture topics
Off the clock:
Hobbies: kayaking, fishing and skiing with 8- and 10-year old sons.
Favorite movie: Heat with Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino. “It is the perfect mix of good vs. evil.”
Secret family life: During World War II, his maternal grandfather spent a month in jail for not wearing the black shirts required by Benito Mussolini.

Chad Olson
V.P., Operations
Olson’s Greenhouse Gardens, Salem, Utah
Age: 32

Accomplishments:
Helped design and build Olson’s state of the art greenhouse facility.
Instrumental in company expansion while improving production efficiencies and product quality.
Actively participated in company’s Veriflora certification process.
Off the clock: Favorite food: authentic Mexican like carnitas or carne asada with homemade beans and rice.
Favorite books: The Game of Work and Who Moved My Cheese? “I think work is much better if you try to make it fun. We always need to look for new ways of doing things to not get stagnant in life.”
You might not know: Chad speaks three languages (English, Spanish and Portuguese). When he was 19, Chad served a two-year church mission in Brazil. “You really grow up fast living away from your family in another country from ages 19 to 21.”

Yudisne “Judy” Albano
Facility Manager/Facility Grower
Riverview Flower Farm,
Riverview, Fla.
Age: 39

Accomplishments:
Helped spearhead company’s efforts to refurbish and reestablish older propagation facility purchased in the fall of 2011 and had it up and running for spring 2012 to meet the demands of major customer.
A native of Venezuela, Albano has made the transition to life in the U.S. while developing her advanced technical skills, producing the highest quality plants and establishing a superior work ethic.
Devoted to trialing new products and finding new production methods to help increase efficiency or existing techniques.
Off the Clock:
Favorite Reads: Spanish novels like El General en su Laberinto by Gabrielo Garcia Marquez, based on the last days of Simon Bolivar’s life and fight to unify Venezuela, Columbia and Ecuador.
Vacation spot to visit: Angel Falls in southeast Venezuela.
Can’t live without: Chocolate.
Secret Life: Dog whisperer “My friends say I can speak with dogs because I understand what my dog [is thinking].”

Jennifer Kurtz
Sales, Marketing & Brand Manager
Kurtz Farms, Cheshire, Conn.
Age: 39

Accomplishments:
Created Urban Gardener program that provides unique products to help busy consumers get into gardening “As easy as 1-2-3.”
Adeptly juggles demands of big box customers, IGCs and retail florists for wholesale growing company while continuing to grow Urban Gardener brand.
Donates portion of the Urban Gardener profits to the Tommy Fund (www.tommyfund.org) to help fight childhood cancer.
Extracurricular: “Mini extreme couponer” for local food pantry. Each week, Jen and her son, Christian, shop for items that are donated to the pantry.
Off the clock: Can’t live without: Dunkin’ Donuts coffee with her dad. “I’ve been going to the same DD for almost 17 years.”
Not many people know: Jen’s family survived the second largest hotel fire in American history in Puerto Rico in 1986.

Matt Altman
Chief Operating Officer
Altman Plants, Vista, Calif.
Age: 34

Accomplishments:
At the age of 22 he was “drafted” to be GM of Altman’s Salinas, Calif., operation that grew from $5 million in sales to $20 million in five years.
Helped lead company’s rapid entry into rose business in 2010 and put the company in a position to grow nearly 1 million roses in just several months.
Responsible for improving communication and systems operations across companies four different divisions.
Off the Clock: Hobbies: traveling, reading and the plant business. “There’s not much time for the first two.”
Favorite foods: Mexican food and the artichoke soup at Gino’s Restaurant in Salinas, Calif.
From the family files: Grandfather, Mike Kashkin, was a pioneer in bromeliads who traveled to the rainforests to bring new species to the U.S. and sell them at his store, Fuchsia Land in L.A.

Roberto Lopez, PhD
Assistant Professor, Extension Specialist
Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.
Age: 33

Accomplishments:
Youngest recipient of Purdue University Extension Specialist Association’s Early Career Award.
Actively involved with OFA’s outreach and educational programs and has been invited to speak in English and Spanish at more than 75 regional, national and international industry conferences.
Involved with leading edge production research in such areas as LED lighting, sustainability and energy conservation.
Extracurricular: In the community, Roberto donates his time and works with high-risk teenagers as well as senior citizens on horticulture related topics.
Off the clock: Can’t live without: A watch. “Maybe having a grandfather and an uncle who are watch repair technicians has something to do with it?”
From the family file: Roberto is a first generation U.S. citizen and the first in his family to graduate with a bachelor’s, master’s and PhD.

Brian Trader, PhD
Coordinator of Domestic and International Studies
Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pa.
Age: 33

Accomplishments:
Coordinates Longwood Gardens’ educational programs that focus on young adult to adult learners.
Manages Longwood’s College and University Internship Program responsible for approximately 30 paid internships per year and recently developed international intern program.
Recipient of Excellence in Teaching Award as an assistant professor at Mississippi State University and Outstanding Recent Alumnus Award from Virginia Tech.
Off the clock: Favorite food: Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Cakes.
On his nightstand: Non-fiction colonial history books, Virginia Tech magazine and plant catalogs.
Call him the Godfather:
Brian’s greatest personal accomplishment “is to be loved and trusted enough to be selected the godfather of five intelligent, caring and beautiful kids.”

Bill Calkins
Business Manager-Independent Garden Centers/Product Marketing Manager-Ball Seed Co.
Ball Horticultural Co., West Chicago, Ill.
Age: 35

Accomplishments:
Responsible for spotting the latest retail and consumer trends, product positioning and developing programs for retail garden centers.
Participates on numerous horticulture industry committees and boards to help “facilitate innovation, industry unification and help move the industry forward.”
Active participant and presenter at industry events on IGC-related topics as well as emerging green goods trends.
Extracurricular: Participated in a one-year “service adventure” project with the Mennonite Church in Norristown, Pa.
Off the Clock: Favorite movie: Major League because the Cleveland Indians win the World Series.
Favorite food: Big hamburgers
Can’t live without: “Music available at the push or click of a button.”

Kate Santos, PhD
Director of Research and Development
Costa Farms, Goulds, Fla.
Age: 30

Accomplishments:
Developed one of the largest unbiased trials programs in the country that helps provide growers, retailers and breeders with insight into how varieties perform.
During her graduate school career, Kate was published in five different scientific publications on research primarily related to nutrient uptake.
Off the clock:
Can’t live without: my Kindle.
Hobbies: In no particular order mountain climbing, writing, reading, painting, baking, yoga and kayaking.
Favorite vacation spot: “Somewhere quiet and secluded on a mountain, by a lake or a river”
Out of this world ambition:
“I would drop anything I was doing, regardless of the point I was at in my life, for an opportunity to travel into space.”
Family fish stories: In 1969, Kate’s great uncle, Alphonse Bielevich, caught the world’s largest Atlantic cod (98 lb., 12 oz.) a record that still stands today.

Kate Terrell
Purchasing Manager
Wallace’s Garden Center, Bettendorf, Iowa
Age: 32

Accomplishments:
Makes frequent radio, television and newspaper appearances to help educate consumers on horticulture related issues
Active OFA board member and co-chair of OFA Garden Center Committee.
Recipient of Iowa State University’s College of Agriculture Outstanding Senior in Community Service
Off the clock:
Hobbies: Tailgating and watching Iowa State Cyclone football games, seeing Broadway shows, traveling and family