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| ABOUT US |
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Joanne Kostecky has built her company over the last 28 years into one of the most award-winning Landscape Design/Build companies in the country. Her outstanding design abilities have coupled with a unique business sense to bring national renown to her designs. Her organization service has included terms on the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Nursery and Landscape Association (PLNA) for eight years as well as membership on its Awards and Long Range Planning committees. She is past president of the National Landscape Association and currently serves as Regional Director for the American Nursery and Landscape Association. In 2007 she will become the first woman president of that organization in its 132-year history.Joanne has been involved in her community: She served as president of the Junior League of the Lehigh Valley. She was founder of outlets for high school students after hours. She was a member of the board of directors for the Pennsylvania Stage Company-a Lort D professional theatrical company. She raised funds and worked to purchase the second shelter through the Junior League for Turning Point, a shelter for abused women. She attended Rutgers University. She is a Certified Professional Landscape Designer (from Association of Professional Landscape Designers) and a Certified Landscape Design Critic (from the National Federation of Garden Clubs.) Pictures of several of her gardens have appeared in "Perennials," a coffee table book published by Rodale Press. She has been a featured speaker at Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association/Penn State's Winter Nursery Conference, Perennial Plant Association's International Symposium, American Nursery and Landscape Association Management Clinic, Landscape Ontario, Mid Atlantic Hardy Plant Society, Iowa Landscape and Nursery Association, Region II Garden Writers Meeting at the Philadelphia Flower Show, and The Garden Writers Association National Symposium, as well as a variety of other regional green industry conferences. Joanne was the recipient of the governor's award for 50 Best Business Women in Pennsylvania. She was presented the Girl Scout's Women of Distinction Award. She was given the 2004 Spotlight Award by the Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal in recognition of her many and varied years of community service. Her company has been recognized with the Excellence in Business Award from the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce and nationally by Working Woman Magazine. Additionally, Garden Design won a record 14 Merit and 2 Honor Awards from the national Perennial Plant Association; more than 35 Gold, 16 Silver and 8 Bronze Awards for design excellence from Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association; 6 design awards from the Association of Professional Landscape Designers; and numerous Lehigh Valley Builder's Association's recognition of Excellence in Landscape Design. Over the years, the company has also been rewarded with Most Creative/Best of Show and Most Educational trophies for their booth displays in Home Show. In February of 2005, Joanne received the Hall of Fame Award from the National Landscape Association. She is the first woman to ever receive this award in its 54-year history. She also received the Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association's Hall of Fame Award. She is the first woman to receive this award in its 101-year history. There is no connection between the two awards. They are awarded to members of the green industry for a lifetime of achievement. There is only one person recognized in any year. |
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Scott Rothenberger has been with Garden Design for nine years as conceptual designer and planting planner. He is director of landscape design and sales. This position was created to better integrate the creativity of design in all phases of client contact and presentation. Scott believes firmly in the interconnection of architecture and the landscape. He completes Garden Design's site studies, defines and analyzes the clients' requirements, and develops the conceptual and final renderings. Scott has a Business Marketing degree from Arizona State University and a degree in Architectural Technologies. "I believe that a large space of just plants can be a lovely collection of plants. But when you add the architecture to the space i.e. paving, walls, structures, features and statues, is when you create the dynamic of an outdoor environment." Scott has continued his green industry studies by attending design and horticulture courses at Rutgers University and Penn State. Scott has appeared in the New York Times with an article on his garden in Barto, PA. It is being featured in the summer of 2006 on the International Garden Writers Symposium tour. |
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Kirk R. Brown is a graduate of Cornell University and serves as business manager for Garden Design. He has 30 years experience with a combination of management, custom design, manufacturing and marketing for national retail display and green industries.At Garden Design, Kirk studies all aspects of the financial side of the business. He estimates the designs, prepares contracts, schedules our five crews and keeps focused on the importance of the company's mission statement and philosophy. As a member, Region II National Director and outgoing national Membership Chairman of Garden Writer's Association, he is the author of or contributor to numerous books, magazines and newsletters. He has been published and distributed internationally. His first green industry hard cover reference book, "Landscape Contractor" was released to high school guidance programs throughout the US and Canada in 2001. In 2002 he was presented with the "Green Achiever Award" by the Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association for his outstanding contributions to the state's horticultural programs. In 2003 and 2004 he served as chairman of the PLNA/Penn State Winter Nursery Conference. In 2005, he serves on the Local Arrangements Committee for the international Garden Writers Symposium being held in the Brandywine Valley to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Longwood Gardens. During one day of the six day combined seminar/trade show/garden tour program that he has helped to plan, the group will be coming to the Lehigh Valley to tour three of the company's gardens. |
| John Besz |
| Audrey Borger and her interest in gardening began as a young girl when she followed her dad around with watering cans and little tools. She followed her dream by starting a horticultural degree in 2002 from Lehigh Carbon Community College. At the school she was encouraged to work on my Associates Degree by instructors like Professor Teresa Heisey, Dr. Michal Kubik, and classmates. She graduated in 2005. Her work experience ranges from two years of Naval service, cashiering, receptionist, security, and working with the mentally ill. Her son Stephen has followed he lead in the Navy and expects to graduate in June from the Nuclear Engineering School. Her other three children share an interest in the pursuit of art. This is the first job where she could actually work with the nature that she loves. Her long term goal is to fix up her own two acre property! |
| Robert A. Breunig is one of the first three Certified Landscape Technicians (CLT) recognized by the Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association. This national certification program is sponsored by the American Landscape Contractors Association and tests applicants on fifteen separate landscape contracting subjects. The hands-on testing is both technical and very rigorous. We congratulate Robert on this significant achievement. Robert serves as crew chief for one of our field installation crews. His usual team members include Adam Harrison and Matthew Kuntzman. |
| Ann Kemmerer worked for Deco Plant Company in Dallas Texas-a hydroponic company that installed plants indoors. She has worked in a number of gardens for herself and her friends. As she answered the question about why she likes working at Garden Design, she said: "The whole nature thing is what I enjoy most. I'm happiest just playing in the dirt!" We all share her enthusiasm and fun spirit. Look for her to be working with Jim on Hort Services. |
| Gregory Olawski enjoys working with the team as a field supervisor in our horticultural services division. He is very articulate on the subject of gardening with 20 years experience in the industry. His education includes stints as an architecture student at Penn College of Art with a transfer into the landscape architecture track at Temple. His choice of the last was predicated on his need to have a hands-on working experience at their landscape collection. He got a full-time job offer from the owner of Meadowbrook to take on the nursery at his garden center and the cultivation of his many garden rooms. His education continued with night classes at Temple with a later transfer to Delaware Valley College when his mentor Doug Kane transferred his professorship. Doug's teaching strengths included a passion for ecologically-friendly design and re-introduction of natives to the designer's palette. His high degree of verbal skills has allowed Greg to develop throughout his client base a greater understanding and appreciation of the fine art of landscape design and installation. It is a pleasure to have Greg on our multi-talented Horticultural Services staff. |
| Jim Perna PCH serves as our Horticultural Services Director. He has been with us since 2000 and received the coveted Pennsylvania Certified Horticulturist in 2005. He received his Certified Pesticide Applicators License in 2000. This multi-talented professional gardener continues his education on a regular basis with Extension service pest walks, seminars and the annual Penn State/PLNA Winter Conference. He has taken a hands-on pruning course at Rutgers University. In our winter season he continues to hone his skills at the Franklin Hill Winery. At home, his garden has received National Wildlife Federation Certification as a wildlife backyard habitat. In his greenhouse, he starts a lot of his own plants from cuttings or seeds. He is an active "Ponder." Ask him about his Koi. He grows an extensive crop of summer fruits and vegetables. Ask him about his pesto. He is usually to be found working side by side with one of our other Horticultural Services Team Members: Joshua Buckallew, Ann Kemmerer, Gregory Olawski and Audrey Borger. |
| Paul Shumaker serves as nursery manager for Garden Design. He is a graduate with a Horticultural degree from Delaware Valley College. He has additional business administrative course work from DeSales University. His agricultural background includes management positions with several wineries and large-scale commercial farming operations. |
