CNLA hands out awards, names new board members

WALLINGFORD, Conn. – The Connecticut Nursery & Landscape Association (CNLA) recently gave David Goodwin the Award of Merit 2011. The general manager of Planters’ Choice Nursery in Newtown/Watertown was praised for having worked in every facet of the landscape business for the past 30 years, from running his own design/build/maintain landscape company to working in retail, wholesale and growing nurseries.

Goodwin has helped spearhead the effort to help bring solid industry experience and science to the sometimes emotion-filled debate on invasive plants, and continues to serve on the Connecticut Invasive Plants Council to this day. He’s held every major office of CNLA and now also serves on the CT Nurserymen’s Foundation board.

Young Nursery Professional Award
Jeremy Webber of Sunny Border Nurseries, Kensington, received the state’s Young Nursery Professional Award, sponsored each year by the New England Nursery Association (NENA). His passion as a plant expert geek and many years working for several Connecticut landscape and horticultural firms, plus volunteer efforts on behalf of CNLA, made him a perfect candidate for the award.

“Our recipient finds it difficult to stop talking about plants, or learning more about them,” said NENA Director Peter House in presenting the award. ““He also has a passion for photography of plants.”

Bousquet Elected CNLA President
Steve Bousquet of American Landscape Service, North Franklin, was elected as the CNLA President for 2011-2012.
Peter House, East Haven Landscape Products, East Haven, is the new CNLA Vice President.
David Taddei, Mountainview Landscaping, Hamden, is CNLA’s new treasurer.
Todd Burnett of Canterbury Horticulture stays on for a term as past president.

Other nursery/landscape industry leaders elected to the CNLA Board for this year are:

Brian Kogut, Kogut Nursery, Meriden
Darryl Newman, Planters’ Choice Nursery, Newtown
Jason Scire, VanWilgen’s Garden Center, North Branford
Kevin Sullivan, Chestnut Hill Nursery, Stafford Springs