NJ Plants - Speaker Bios

Don't miss this year's "All Star Cast" of professionals speaking at NJ Plants.

Sharpen your skills, expand your expertise & update your knowledge - in depth courses for beginners & advanced sessions for experienced professionals.

Below are confirmed speakers for NJ Plants. More to come as the show approaches so check back often.

Click here for the full schedule of seminars & classes.

Click here for the schedule of pesticide classes and list of credits for NJ & NY.

Schedule and speakers can change without notice.

		Judy Sharpton - Keynote Speaker Program Number 1 – 2 hours - The Twelve Most Common Store Development Problems Based on work in dozens of retail garden centers over more than 15 years of non-bulldozer store renovation projects, this program will outline ... [More]

		Paver Pete - Director of Education & Information and Regional Sales Director with Techo-Bloc Corporation Peter M. Baloglou - With 15 plus years in the industry, “Paverpete” has authored numerous articles and has appeared as a leading hardscape expert on more than 25 national and local television and radio programs including “H... [More]

		Craig J. Regelbrugge - VP for Government Relations, ANLA Labor In The Landscape Industry DescriptionThere are few issues facing green industry business as pressing as the looming labor crisis. Immigration issues, I-9 audits, manditory E-Verify and the dismantling of the current gu... [More]

		Carlos Mejias - Northeast STIHL Carlos's Bio Carlos Mejias is a product Applications Specialist with Northeast STIHL. Carlos has been employed by Northeast STIHL since 2005. Carlos previous power equipment experience was working at a power equipment dealers... [More]

		Bill Silverman - Owner AdviCoach Four Keys to Strong Growth and More Free Time Description: This presentation gives practical ideas that you can use right away to grow your business and reclaim hours of time for the rest of your life, including: The thr... [More]

		Dave Hessong - Snow Consultant with EDC Professionals Site Engineering & Snow Plowing Efficiencies Dave's Bio Dave Hessong has over 35 years of snow plowing experience and is considered an expert in snow plowing logistics. He was Field Manager responsible for all 14 competition v... [More]

		Adam Sokoloff - Owner Sunrise Signs Inc My passion for inbound marketing coupled with proven results have led me to starting this blog with the goal of helping other members of the small business community. So now that you’ve found me, here are the events that brough... [More]

		Heidi Hesselein, Co-Owner of Pleasant Run Nursery The Renaissance Garden - Planting for All Seasons Presented by Heidi Hesselein & Daryl Kobesky Description: In all the gardens we make, our focus is on 3 main objectives: increasing plant diversity, adding seasonal i... [More]

		Daryl Kobesky, Pleasant Run Nursery The Renaissance Garden - Planting for All Seasons Presented by Daryl Kobesky and Heidi Hesselein Description: In all the gardens we make, our focus is on 3 main objectives: increasing plant diversity, adding seasonal in... [More]

		Dr. James Murphy - Rutgers University Course Title: NJ Certified Fertilizer Applicator Update Course Description: NJ implemented a Certified Fertilizer Applicator regulation, along with application dates and formulation restrictions to all fertilizers commerciall... [More]

		James Flanagan, Certified as a Motor Carrier Inspector Can you and your fleet survive a roadside inspection? Be audience to a bumper to bumper eye opener! James Flanigan graduated from St. Francis College located in Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1996 with both Bachelors and Associates Degrees... [More]

		Pat Donavan Can you and your fleet survive a roadside inspection? Be audience to a bumper to bumper eye opener! Pat's Bio With 27 years in the Landscape Industry as an owner/operator, and 27 years as a Police Officer for the Port Authori... [More]

Pedro Perdomo, - Rutgers University Course Title: Disease Control in Turf: Culture, Season, and Selection NJ Credits: 2 - 3B, 2 - 6 NY Credits: 1 - 3A, 1 - 3B, 1 - 25 Course Description: Turfgrass disease is one of the serious and costly reasons for injury an... [More]

		Constantine G. Pergantis, Nite Lites, Focus Industries Constantine's Bio Constantine G. Pergantis has been in the lighting industry since 1985. He started out working for a Manufactures Representative in the DC area specializing in decorative lighting. He later became the East Coas... [More]

		Dr. Jim Conroy, The Tree Whisperer® and Ms. Basia Alexander, The Chief Listener Cooperative BioBalance®--Paradigm Shifting to Restore Balance in Nature Description: Lead by: Dr. Jim Conroy, The Tree Whisperer® and Ms. Basia Alexander, The Chief Listener Can Nature be in balance? Yes. Learn about resto... [More]

		Marcus VandeVliet Winning the Price War Description In a down economy it is more important than ever to know your costs and understand your pricing. Nationally recognized green industry consultant Marcus VandeVliet will discuss: · Why competi... [More]

		Bruce Crawford - Director of Rutgers Gardens As Director of Rutgers Gardens Bruce Crawford oversees a 180 Acre outdoor teaching classroom, horticultural research facility and arboretum. He is also adjunct professor in the Landscape Architecture Department, at Rutgers -... [More]

		H. Bruce Hellerick - Brickman, Senior Horticulture Specialist Greening Your Landscape Description: Each customer’s needs are unique and distinctive. Creating a “Sustainable Landscape” means partnering with your customers to achieve their ecological, environmental and economic goals. Th... [More]

		Scott Tapp “Helping Trees Recover from the Halloween Snow and Ice” Description Discussion will include a review of the extreme weather events of 2011 including the above average rainfall, Hurricane Irene and the October 29th snow. What ... [More]

		Craig Magalen – Sr. Account Executive Kohler Engines Why Kohler Closed Loop EFI Description: Benefits of Kohler Closed Loop EFI for commercial landscapers and users of commercial equipment. A focused discussion on fuel economy, performance, emissions, and other benefits of Kohl... [More]

		Roseann Primerano, Esq. - Staff Counsel Office of CNA Insurance Managing Risk For Snow Plow Contractors Description: The presentation is designed to help contractors manage and understand risk transfer in contracts (namely insurance and indemnification clauses) and managing risk through P... [More]

		Glen Burkholder - Lawn Equipment Parts Company Handheld Power Equipment Maintenance Seminar Description: The do's and don't's of maintaining and caring for handheld power equipment. Glen's Bio:Glen has over 25 years experience in the Outdoor Power Equipment Industr... [More]

Sabina Tirpak - Rutgers University Course Title: The IPM Approach to Abiotic Turf Disorders January 24 - Tues. 1:30 - 2:30 NJ Credits: 2 - 3B, 2 - 13 NY Credits: 1 - 3A, 1 - 3B, 1 - 25 Course Description: Turfgrass stands can be injured and damaged by bi... [More]

Dr. Jim Lashomb - Rutgers University Course Title: Southern Pine Beetle (SPB): A Serious Threat to Forests of NJ and Eastern Pine Barrens NJ Credits: 2 - 3A, 2 - 6B Course Description: The recent outbreak in NJ’s Pine Barrens, with SPB now also attacking Pitch ... [More]

		Vern Warta - Regional Service Consultant for Toro & Storr Tractor Company Landscaping Equipment Maintenance Discussion 1. Preparing your equipment for the coming season. 2. Grease, oil and lubrication. 3. Blade maintenance 4. Gasoline – not what it used to be 5. Diesel system maintenance and fue... [More]

		Dr. Jason Grabosky - Rutgers University Course Title: NJ Licensed Tree Expert Update Course Description: NJ's voluntary Certified Tree Expert has been legislatively changed to NJ's Licensed Tree Expert, but has yet to be implemented due to the lack of rules and re... [More]

Pat Hastings - Rutgers University Course Title: Label Warnings, PPE, and You: Perfect Together NJ Credits: 3 - CORE, 2 - PP2 NY Credits: 1.5 - Core Course Description: Employers must provide their applicators and early-entry workers with personal protectiv... [More]

Dr. Ann Gould - Rutgers University Course Title: BLS Update: TLC for our Oaks and Others NJ Credits: 2 - 3A, 2 - 6B NY Credits: 1 - 3A, 1 - 25 Course Description: Bacterial leaf scorch (BLS) affects many different shade tree species such as American elm, r... [More]