The Southern Nursery Association has elected board members for the 2010-2011 term.
The complete slate of officers is as follows:
Randall Bracy, President, Bracy’s Nursery, Amite, La.
William Boyd, Vice President/Treasurer/Director Chapter 3, Flower City Nurseries, Smartt, Tenn.
Eelco Tinga, Jr., Past President and Director Chapter 1, Tinga Nurseries, Castle Hayne, N.C.
Richard May, Director Chapter 2, May Nursery, Havana, Fla.
Jeff Howell, Director Chapter 4, Rocky Creek Nursery, Lucedale, Miss.
George Hackney, Immediate Past President, Hackney Nursery Company, Quincey, Fla.
One of the first SNA Board of Directors actions was appointing Karen Summers as interim executive vice president for the association to fill the position made vacant by the departure of Steve Newton last year.
The appointment comes after the SNA board of directors has set new directives for organizational change to rebuild and strengthen the association to achieve financial health and once again become an integral part of the horticulture industry in the southeast. Over the past few years, the association’s financial stability has been shaken by the economic downturn, a decline in membership and no longer depending on a trade show for the major source of income.
The newly elected board of directors plans to focus on member services that will promote the economic welfare of members as well as the association.
Summers, who served as director of administration from 1988 to 2006, will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the association as well as implementing the board’s strategic direction and plans.
“I’m delighted that Karen has agreed to be our interim executive vice president,” said newly elected president Randy Bracy. “Her previous eighteen-year tenure with the association makes her an ideal choice to head our organization through this period of transition.”