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Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA) Midwinter Conference Speaker Biographies
Tom Barrett
Tom Barrett is the owner of Green Water Infrastructure. He has over thirty years of successful landscape industry experience and is known as an accomplished corporate growth and change agent.
Jan-Gerrit Bouwman is Senior Vice President of Landscape Architecture, Sales Manager and Partner at Grant & Power Landscaping.
Jan-Gerrit was born in the Netherlands, received his Masters Degree in Landscape Architecture and Vegetation Science at the University of Wageningen in the Netherlands. He has lived in the United States since 1985 and has been in the green industry for 25 years. Jan-Gerrit has worked in many facets of the industry: garden center, landscape maintenance, landscape design and installation. He has held many different positions such as landscape consultant, landscape architect, sales manager and executive manager and also trained people in sales, management and personal improvement. He has over 20 years of management training including total quality improvement training and conflict resolution.
For over 25 years Jan-Gerrit has assisted over 4500 homeowners to improve their home’s landscape and helped to protect their investment.
One of the highlights of Jan-Gerrit’s career has been working with well-known sports figures such as Mike Singletary and Phil Jackson and radio host Spike O’Dell. Several projects that Jan-Gerrit has worked on have received gold and silver awards at the Cavalcade of Homes for landscaping and hardscaping. Jan-Gerrit has also received a beautification award for his home’s landscaping.
Jan-Gerrit is a member of ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects) and is involved in many organizations. He is a Registered Landscape Architect in the state of Illinois.
The main focus for Jan-Gerrit is helping people enjoy their outdoor living spaces and landscaping. At Grant & Power Landscaping Jan-Gerrit is a member of the President’s club, which means he has sold consistently over 1 million per year in residential landscaping projects and in 2006 over 2 million.
Larry Cammarata, CID
As a Green Management Consultant—Mr. Cammarata is leading a nationwide corporate focus/initiative related to horticultural based “Green Management” with a heavy emphasis into the area of Water-Soil-Plant balances and management. This focus is both internal and client based.
With the successful leadership of the Brickman, Eli Lilly & Company account and over 25 or more years of national and international experience in the design, management and installation of landscape and agricultural based water management systems, the Brickman Group has formed this “first of its kind ever” position and placed it under Larry’s development and leadership.
The primary focus/goal in this new initiative for Brickman Corporately and the Midwest Division is threefold:
- to support our customers in meeting their environmental objectives;
- to train existing and future team members in proper GREEN management practices;
- to gain a better understanding of what it means to be a “Green” company practically.
My desire is to only have an impact on our own business objectives, but also influence future governmental regulations and industry standards development for the betterment, improvement and growth of our industry—the right way…for the next generations.
Bernie Carranza
Keidra Chaney
Keidra Chaney is Emerging Media Specialist at DePaul University, working on social media initiatives for the Office of Advancement. She provides freelance consultation and workshop facilitation on social media, blogging, online content development and writing for the web. She is also a board member and web consultant for Teaching Artist Journal.
German Cutz
German Cutz is an Extension Specialist, Spanish Language Programming for the University of Illinois Extension. He provides leadership in Extension Programming for Hispanic/Latino audiences throughout the state of Illinois.
Mr. Cutz has experience working with Extension and multicultural audiences. He has worked for the National Bank for Agricultural Development in Guatemala carrying out rural and urban extension services, which included educational, financial and technical assistance. He also coordinated two USAID-Guatemala projects. To re-enforce his multicultural experience, he participated in a seminar on "Diversity and the American Experience: A Case Study in Boston" and in a doctoral seminar on multiculturalism in adult education at Ball State University.
Mr. Cutz is an expert on program planning, participatory methodologies and competency-based instructional objectives. He worked as national training coordinator for a World Learning Inc.-USAID-Guatemala. His activities included program planning, coordination and production of training materials, and delivery of training modules. He trained teachers, community leaders, volunteers, nurses, and small farmers in participatory methodologies. He has taught at Rafael Landivar University and San Carlos University of Guatemala, and at Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana.
Keven Graham
Keven Graham, ASLA, is a Principal with Planning Resources Inc. in Wheaton. Keven received his Associates degree in Architectural Construction Technologies from Illinois Central College and his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Iowa State University. A registered landscape architect in Illinois and Iowa, he has served the Illinois Chapter of ASLA in numerous positions including President. Keven is the 2008 recipient of the Iowa State University Design Achievement Award for Landscape Architecture.
Keven is one of the founding officers of the ASLA Sustainable Design & Development professional practice network and continues to work with the development of the Sustainable Sites Initiative.
Terry Guen
Terry Guen, FASLA, Terry Guen Design Associates, Chicago is principal and founder of Chicago based Terry Guen Design Associates, Inc. Ms. Guen’s firm is known for its creative, energetic, and thoughtful approach, offering a range of services, from large scale master planning, urban ecological planning, landscape and urban design. She is Landscape Architect for many of Chicago’s signature sustainable public spaces, numerous parks along Chicago’s lakefront, as well as Chicago’s Millennium Park.
Terry believes the success of a visionary design in landscape and sustainability falls to the understanding of talents, visions, and training of our Landscape Construction industry.
Terry has degrees in Landscape Architecture and Urban Design from the University of Pennsylvania, with a twenty five year practice focus in ecological planning and design. She teaches the Master’s Level Studio in Landscape Architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology, and was recently honored as a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects in the category of design.
Richard Hentschel
Richard Hentschel is an Extension Specialist Green Industry Programming for the University of Illinois. Mr. Hentschel graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a bachelor’s degree in ornamental horticulture and a master’s degree in horticulture focusing on Plant Pathology and Plant Physiology.
Mr. Hentschel joined Extension as an Educator in horticulture in Rock Island County, moving on to Kane County. From there he managed a not for profit Trade Association for pickled vegetables before returning to Extension in his current position. Richard currently serves the northeast region of Illinois working with many green industry associations throughout Illinois. Mr. Hentschel serves as a liaison between those groups and the University of Illinois. Other projects include the promotion of horticulture as a career choice through High School, Junior and Community College and four year school programs and educational efforts supporting management strategies for the Emerald Ash Borer in Northern Illinois.
Lee Keenan
Lee Keenan joined Countryside Industries in 1995 and was also named Executive Vice President in 2009. Lee currently oversees the Sales and Construction Departments to ensure installation, schedules and service standards are maintained for Commercial, Municipal, Rooftop and other various projects.
Grace Koehler
Grace Koehler is in charge of Sales and Marketing Development for Midwest Groundcovers, wholesale nursery operation located in St. Charles, IL. She has 20 years of experience in landscape plant materials and natural areas management. Koehler consults with landscape contractors and architects to create sustainable landscape solutions both on the ground and roof. She has developed and coordinated production and sales of green roof and native plant products for Midwest to meet the growing market demand. She is past President of the Midwest Ecological Landscaping Association, (MELA) and has served on the MELA Board of Directors since 2006.
Marco T. Lenis
Marco T. Lenis is widely recognized in the northern Illinois region as a tireless leader and advocate for the Hispanic community. He currently serves as Executive Director of Vocational Rehabilitation Management of Rockford, providing outreach and assistance to migrant seasonal farm workers in Illinois.
Previously, he was President and CEO of La Voz Latino Hispanic Resource Development Center for 24 years.
Mr. Lenis serves on numerous community boards and organizations. He has received the prestigious Top of Illinois Award from the Rockford Chamber of Commerce, the State of Illinois Human Rights Award and the US Small Business Administration Minority Small Business Advocate of the Year Award for Illinois.
Tom Lupfer, CLT
Tom Lupfer, CLT, owner and founder of Lupfer Landscaping, a full service landscaping business in the western suburbs. He serves predominantly residential customers with existing landscapes, and a smattering of commercial and municipal jobs. He graduated from Lyons High School and worked in the landscape business to fund his college education where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Northwestern University in Evanston.
After spending the next three years in the political arena and finding little satisfaction in the work, Tom decided to return to his roots. He started pushing a mower for his brother and it progressed from there. Tom saw the need to develop the unique quality of service provided by Lupfer Landscaping - determining what green or "sustainable" practices really are for a landscaping business. Armed with a thirty-five point checklist and considerable knowledge from a host of resources in the green business, Tom has developed a comprehensive plan for assessing existing sites and developing strategies to turn them into sustainable landscapes.
Tom prides himself on being a leader in the landscape industry and regularly attends continuing education seminars offered by the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association and has received his PLANET Certified Landscape Technician certificate, a nationally recognized standard of excellence.
Tom O'Donnell, Jim Gorsline, Steve Bartlett
A trio of Operational Management from Scott Byron and Co., Inc. will be discussing the daily activities, systems and processes currently in use. The divisions represented include Fleet & Safety - Tom O’Donnell, Maintenance - Jim Gorsline and Construction - Steve Bartlett. This group collectively has years of experience in running their respective departments and working in the industry. The combination of experience and skill has allowed them to work together creating processes and systems for desired outcomes, and then look forward to “Think Again” as to achieve best practices for success.
Jack Pizzo
Jack Pizzo is President, Principal Landscape Architect, Senior Ecologist, and Founding partner of Pizzo & Associates, Ltd., a firm dedicated to protection, restoration, creation and management of natural areas and natural landscapes.
Mr. Pizzo has been involved in teams to restore, design, construct and steward ecological restorations, sustainable developments, parks, preserves and natural landscapes throughout the country. His projects are as diverse as the natural world: 1 acre to 1000’s, high and dry to the water’s edge and below, remnant systems to the creation of wetlands / prairies, and private landowners to the federal government. He believes in blending landscape architecture and ecology in the right mixture to create beautiful, functional and cost effective spaces. He and his company are the most awarded ecological / sustainable landscape company in the Midwest.
He is an informative, inspiring, practical and entertaining speaker on restoring the environment. You will walk away ready to restore our shared environment.
Cris Poggi, CLT, CLP
Cris Poggi, CLT, CLP has over 18 years of industry experience. She has been managing the turf fertilization services for James Martin Associates, Inc. for the past 11 years. She has coordinated this effort through the means of both subcontractors and in house.
Kathy Richardson
Kathy Richardson is with Grant & Power Landscaping, Inc. as design team leader and marketing coordinator. Kathy received a BS degree in Horticulture and Landscape Design from the University of Illinois. She is a member of the Association of
Professional Landscape Designers, PLANET and ILCA. She has taken
seminars, classes and symposiums through ILCA, the Chicago Botanic
Garden, Morton Arboretum and PLANET. She has learned marketing
strategies and theories through seminars and experience. One of her
hobbies is photography and she has been lucky enough to have several
photos published in local and national magazines of Grant & Power
Landscaping projects.
Jay Rients
Jay Rients is the Commercial Sales Manager for Unilock Chicago, Inc.
Gene Rosendale
Gene Rosendale is a managing partner at ASA, The Alliance for Strategic Advantage. Gene has 33 years of experience in producing dramatic business results, within start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, across many industries, including professional services, manufacturing, distribution, service, and high-technology. He has held various line positions ranging from small and medium size business owner to Fortune 500 executive. His executive responsibilities spanned the disciplines of Sales, Marketing, Strategic Marketing, Business Development (alliances, mergers, and acquisitions), Technical Consulting, and Training.
Mr. Rosendale received his undergraduate business training at the Haas Graduate School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, where he was later awarded an MBA. He also completed an executive program at the Wharton Graduate School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He serves on the board of directors for two local technology firms, is a qualified Vistage International speaker, and has lectured at DePaul University's MBA program, the Southwest Suburban Philanthropic Network, and a variety of other organizations.
David Sanchez, BS, MS, OSHA Authorized Outreach Trainer
David Sanchez obtained an MS (Major in Industrial Chemistry) from University of Salamanca in Spain. Mr. Sanchez obtained his ISO 14001 auditor certification from Bureau Veritas, Spain and obtained his CSP and CIH from Universidad Empresa in Spain. He is an active member of American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE).
Mr. Sanchez is an OSHA General Industry and Construction Outreach Trainer and worked for the City Colleges of Chicago as Manager for the Center for the Professional Training and Development of Latino Workers. As a member of the Hispanic Safety Professional chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers, he has presented on the importance of bilingual programs in safety and the Hispanic workforce at its annual conferences.
Mr. Sanchez has been a trainer and the project manager for three DOL-funded training programs: Safety-1000: How to Prevent Amputations at the Work Place, Safety 400: Forklift certification in Spanish, and Safety 620: Forklift certification in Spanish, Polish and Train the Trainer. These programs were awarded with COL Susan Harwood grants. and successfully trained over 2,000 workers employed at over 200 companies in Chicago.
Gregory Schaumburg
Gregory Schaumburg is a senior designer with Hursthouse Landscape Architects and Contractors. He focuses his efforts intently on residential design, with an emphasis on creative small scale solutions that are both functional and memorable. His love of nature, design, and merging hardscape and planting elements permeates his work. Gregory is a “transplanted East Coast native,” and has lived in the Midwest since completing his Landscape Architecture degree at the Pennsylvania State University. He has enjoyed sharing various research and design explorations at venues including the Chicago Botanic Garden, ILCA design seminars, and the Morton Arboretum.
Greg Stack
Greg Stack is presently a horticulture educator with University of Illinois Extension in Cook County working from the Matteson Extension Center. He provides leadership in horticulture programs in northern Illinois for both the home gardener and commercial horticulturist with emphasis in the area of herbaceous ornamentals.
Stack graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a bachelors degree in ornamental horticulture and floriculture and a masters degree in horticulture. While at the university, he was president of the Horticulture club and elected to two honor fraternities.
He joined Extension as an advisor in horticulture in Will County, where he served for three years before joining the Cook County Extension staff as the special project leader for the Chicago Urban Gardening Program.
Stack is also responsible for training and coaching the state 4-H horticulture judging team and has been involved in the development of Extension displays at major Chicago flower Shows and horticulture trade shows.
Pat Sund
Pat Sund has been with Countryside Industries since 1997 and was recently named Executive Vice President. Pat has been estimating for 12 years and currently manages a department of six, generating over $75 million in bids annually, including Plantings, Walls, Pavers, Green Roofs, etc.
Marcus vandeVliet
Marcus vandeVliet is a full time consultant, primary to the landscape and construction industries. Areas of consultation include Business Management, Overhead & Operations systems, Training and Strategic Planning. He is the past president of the NJNLA, and is presently a member of the ANLA Horticultural Standards Committee. Prior to consulting Marcus managed both small (9 employees) to large companies (400 employees). Marcus has spoken for National and State Trade Associations throughout the USA and Canada.
Marcus has been selected by the ANLA to develop and teach a two-year landscape business management program. The Masters in Landscape Business Management program has been developed to provide ANLA members with an intense, comprehensive business management course to help them succeed in a highly-competitive environment for landscape installation services. This five-semester “mini-MBA” for landscape installation firms is meant to improve the profit and market position of small to medium companies.
David J. Yocca, RLA, ASLA, AICP, LEED AP
David Yocca is the Principal Landscape Architect/Planner at Conservation Design Forum (Elmhurst, IL, and Ann Arbor, MI), and strives for the integration of human- scaled, ecologically-based elements and systems in all of CDF’s work to benefit current and future generations. David has served as planner and landscape architect for dozens of high-performance, sustainable projects at the site, neighborhood, and community scale in a variety of contexts, including green building/sites, parks, streetscapes, villages, and campuses. David also works to promote and educate about sustainable practices, and is one of the green practitioners helping to develop the Sustainable Sites Initiative, a new planning tool based upon the success of LEED.