Proven Winners names latest PWCLP recipients

The Proven Winners Certified Landscape Professional (PWCLP) program designates landscape industry professionals who have demonstrated a professional expertise in the effective use of the Proven Winners plant brand. Meeting specific criteria, and selected from a submittal process, designees are professional experts with Proven Winners plants, enhancing their landscape projects with Proven Winners plant varieties, and showcasing their use in landscape designs and projects.

Three landscape professionals recently earned the distinction – Eric Harshman, Mark Thomaschefsky and Renee Clermont.

Harshman is a native of Bluffton, Indiana, and currently resides in Lexington, Kentucky. He is a graduate of Indiana Tech University (business administration/marketing) and Rutgers University (golf turf management). Harshman joined the Berea College Facilities Management Department in 2015 becoming the grounds superintendent, overseeing all college grounds – including the Berea College Athletic Complex and its facilities.

Prior to joining Berea College, Harshman has had a career in ground management, most notably in the sports turf world. Eric also served as the assistant sports turf manager at Louisville Bats Baseball Club, Louisiana State University and at the University of Kentucky. Before joining Berea College, Harshman was also the head groundskeeper for the Lexington Legends Baseball Club.
Already in his short tenure at Berea College, the Berea College Soccer Field has been named the Field of Excellence Award winner in 2017 and 2018 as well as continuing efforts to maintain the distinction of Tree Campus USA.  In 2019, Berea College was honored with the designation of Bee Campus USA.
 
Harshman has been happily married for 14 years to his wife Katie. They have three children, Emma, Elyse and Felix. In his spare time, Harshamn enjoys running and spending time with his family.

Thomaschefsky, owner and president, is a graduate from Kishwaukee College with degrees in landscape design and golf course management. He has been a landscape contractor serving the Sauk Valley area since 1988 and serves on the tree board for the city of Sterling, Illinois. 

Four Seasons Landscaping is a design/build firm based in Sterling. Thomaschefsky is involved in the full process, from initial conceptual design to the final installation. With more than 30 years’ experience, his involvement ensures that each project receives his utmost attention to detail and that his clients are completely satisfied with the quality of the work.

Thomaschefsky enjoys taking a client’s landscape from overgrown and outdated to one that is modern, and one that both the client and he are proud of. It is also very satisfying to see a worn-out, weed-infested lawn be transformed into one that can be the envy of the neighborhood. 

“We have only one earth and if we don’t do our part to take care of it,” he said. “Future generations will not be able to enjoy the natural resources we have today.”

Clermont has also been named a Proven Winners Certified Landscape Professional. Clermont joins a small but prestigious class of other landscape professionals who have demonstrated outstanding skill in designing, installing and maintaining Proven Winners plants.

Clermont is the owner and principal designer of Second Nature Designs, offering landscape design options, fine gardening, custom containers, maintenance and garden coaching for residential or commercial clients on the island of Martha's Vineyard.

Clermont has a dual certificate in Landscape Design at the acclaimed Landscape Institute of Harvard University (formally Radcliffe) and The Boston Architectural College. Her study focused on landscape preservation and history, horticulture, design and construction management. “A beautiful landscape begins with an innovative design” has been her philosophy since she planted her very first professional garden in 2003.