COLUMBIA, Md. – The Association of Professional Landscape Designers recently named Eric Gilbey as its president, succeeding Danilo Maffei.
The association serves to advance the promotion of landscape design and promote its members as qualified and dedicated professionals. Gilbey takes on this role with the primary responsibility of building brand awareness of APLD and its mission, while professionally developing and growing the association’s membership. He is currently the product marketing manager for the landscape industries at Vectorworks, a global design and BIM software provider.
“I am eager to engage with our APLD members and
community, and I look forward to helping advance public awareness of the
landscape design practice, including sustainable site design and better
landscape performance,” Gilbey said. “In the last decade, there has been a
shrinkage of professionals in not only landscape design, but also landscape
architects and contractors. My hope is to increase outreach to the next
generation of designers to encourage them to pursue a landscape career and find
ways to improve landscapes through design and performance. This brings us to
see APLD as a community of mentorship and outreach.”
Gilbey was elected after serving as president-elect for the
past two years. He received an associate of applied science degree in landscape
contracting and construction and a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture
from Ohio State University. In 1999 and 2013, Gilbey respectively became licensed as a
landscape architect in Ohio and Maryland. After joining APLD in
2008, he served on the DC-MD-VA APLD Chapter board and was later elected to
serve on the APLD Board of Directors.
“As the Immediate Past President of APLD, I’ve
had the pleasure of serving as president for the past two years with Eric as
the president-elect,” said Maffei, who is also the principal at Maffei Landscape Design. “From the moment I
began my leadership journey on APLD's Executive Committee, I knew Eric was the
obvious choice to succeed me. He’s very genuine in his relationships, generous
with his time and steadfast in his commitment to service in the landscape
industry. Those are qualities that any organization seeks in a member and
leader, and we are fortunate to have him as our next president.”