Leading the Organization

The Horticultural Research Institute is governed by a 22-member Board of Trustees appointed by the Board of Directors of AmericanHort. The HRI Executive Committee is elected by the HRI Trustees.

Myriad other volunteers assist HRI in many ways, including

  • assessing industry relevance of grant proposals
  • reviewing the scientific merit of grant proposals
  • evaluating scholarship applications
  • participating on the editorial board of the Journal of Environmental Horticulture
  • providing financial guidance as members of the HRI Investment Committee

If you are interested in investing your time and talents with HRI, please contact Jennifer Gray

Financial Foundation

The financial foundation of Horticultural Research Institute is its endowment fund and annual giving program. Charitable donations and their investment returns are the backbone of the Horticultural Research Institute. The responsibility to execute the wishes of each donor is one that HRI takes very seriously. HRI leaders take pride in the trust bestowed on them by donors. As part of their commitment to the horticultural community, HRI ascribes to the “Donor Bill of Rights” and contracts with professional investment advisors at Vanguard. All Horticultural Research Institute research activities are supported through the endowment and annual giving. Horticultural Research Institute retains AmericanHort for management services, helping to keep low overhead costs and to remain proactive and focus on smart research and green industry needs.

Industry Leadership

Horticultural Research Institute is governed and guided by a volunteer Board of Trustees representing all facets of industry business segments and all regions of the United States.

  • Executive Committee

    Management of HRI affairs is handled by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee consists of the Immediate Past-President, President, President-Elect, and three other Trustees as elected by the Board of Trustees.


    Jonathan Berry, President, J Berry Nursery, Grand Saline, TX, Region III

     

    Leigh Geschwill, Immediate Past President, F and B Farms and Nursery, Woodburn, OR, Region IV

     

    Jim Eason, Eason Horticultural Resources (EHR), Ft. Wright, KY, Region III

     

    John Rausch, Star Roses & Plants, West Grove, PA, Region I

     

    Ed Tankard, Tankard Nurseries, Exmore, VA, Region III

     

    Mark Yelanich, PhD, Metrolina Greenhouse, Huntersville, NC, Region III

     

    Dan Batson, Treasurer, GreenForest Nursery, Inc., Perkinston, MS, Region III

     

    Harvey Cotten, Development Committee Chair, Horticultural Consultant & Author, Huntsville, AL Region III

  • Board of Trustees

    The HRI Board of Trustees is composed of twenty-two (22) persons; four (4) per region, plus six (6) Executive Committee members. Members of the Board of Trustees are appointed by the Board of Directors of the AmericanHort. The activities and affairs of HRI are conducted and all corporate powers are exercised by or under the direction of the HRI Board of Trustees.


    Ed Bemis, Bemis Farms Nursery, Spencer, MA, Region I


    Shane Brockshus, Bailey Nurseries, MN, Region II


    Mike Hiller, KCK Farms, Dayton, OR, Region IV


    Jonathan Jasinski, Microplant Nurseries, OR, Region IV


    Peter Mezitt, Weston Nurseries, Hopkinton, MA, Region I


    Amy Morris, N.G. Heimos Greenhouses, IL, Region II

     

    Denise Mullins, Smith Gardens, WA, Region IV


    Ryan Overdevest, Overdevest Nurseries, LP, Bridgeton, NJ, Region I


    Ben Rough, J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co., Boring, OR, Region IV


    Bennett Saunders, Saunders Brothers, Piney River, VA, Region III


    Matt Sawyer, Bennett’s Creek Nursery, Smithfield, VA, Region III


    Steve Taber, Southwest Wholesale Nursery, TX, Region III


    Simon Traskey, Qualitree, Rosedale, BC, Region IV


    Lloyd Traven, Peace Tree Farm, PA, Region I


    Maria Zampini, UpShoot LLC, Fairport Harbor, OH, Region II

  • Investment Committee

    This committee is appointed by the HRI Board of Trustees and consists of the current president of HRI, the President and CEO of AmericanHort, and at least three other members. The Investment Committee is bound by the HRI's investment policy. They are responsible to report and/or recommend actions to the Board of Trustees.


    Mark Reiner,  Chair, Oakland Nursery and Acorn Farms

     

    Dale Deppe, Spring Meadow Nursery Inc.

A group of people are standing in front of a wall of flowers.

HRI Executive Committee: (l-r) Brian Decker, HRI Past President; Mark Yelanich, President-Elect; Leigh Geschwill, Immediate Past President; Jonathan Berry, President; Ed Tankard; and John Rausch