Norman Goldenberg
President
Since 1997, Norm Goldenberg has held the positions of vice president, government/public affairs for TruGreen-ChemLawn; vice president, government/public affairs, licensee relations and technical services for Terminix International; and senior vice president - Terminix International and TruGreen ChemLawn. With over 33 years of experience in the pest control industry, he has received numerous industry awards, including Lawn & Landscape magazine’s Guardian of the Environment and Trendsetting Contractor Awards and the National Pest Management Association’s Pinnacle Award. He was also named “One of the 25 Most Influential People in the Pest Control Industry” by PCT Magazine.
A board certified entomologist, Norm holds a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in entomology from the University of Florida. He was named “Member Emeritus” of the Advisory Council to the Entomology Program at Florida A & M University in 1991. Norm serves as an advisor to the EPA (State of Florida and State of Tennessee) as well as the Entomological Society of America, the Florida Entomological Society and the American Chemical Society.
Mike Sisti
First Vice President
Mike Sisti has nearly 20 years of sales, marketing, and management experience within the green industry. Mike’s experience includes developing sales, marketing, and agronomic programs for several start-up lawn care companies, launching his own lawn and tree care company, and serving as a marketing consultant to a number a companies in the green industry. He is a contributing author for Landscape Management, Lawn & Landscape, and Golfdom. In addition to his turf knowledge, Mike is also a NJ Certified Tree Expert and an ISA Certified Arborist. Mike has completed coursework in agronomy from Rutgers University and Penn State. He holds a B.A. in Communications from Susquehanna University and an M.B.A. from Rider University, Lawrenceville, NJ.
Bill Klutho
Second Vice President
A former radio personality at KASU-FM and news director at WQNA-AM, Bill Klutho retains that personality as manager of public relations for John Deere. Currently president of the Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association, Bill’s two children, Charlie and Donovan, love to run and play in the green spaces around their house. Bill says, “It’s part of the heritage we hope to preserve with Project EverGreen.”
Thomas J. Delaney
Secretary
In addition to his work with Project EverGreen, Tom Delaney is director of government affairs for the Professional Landcare Network. He was with the Professional Lawn Care Association of America (PLCAA) for 15 years, during four of which he also served as executive vice president.
Prior to joining PLCAA, Tom spent 15 years as a state of Georgia pesticide regulator. During this time, he implemented the Treated Wood and Chemigation Programs for the state, which received national recognition. In 1994, he received Landscape Management’s Lawn Care Industry Person of the Year Award. In 2002, Tom was one of the recipients of the industry’s Leadership Award sponsored by Lawn & Landscape magazine and Bayer Environmental Science.
Kirk Hunter
Treasurer
T. Kirk Hunter is the executive director of Turfgrass Producers International (TPI), an international trade association of professionals involved in the turfgrass sod production industry.
Kirk served TPI as the education and meetings manager before being promoted to executive director. Growing up on a farm in Illinois, Kirk has always been actively involved in the agriculture industry. Prior to taking a position at TPI, he worked in ag machinery, ag buildings and ag chemicals. Kirk attended the University of Illinois, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in agronomy and a Master of Science degree in education. He also worked for the University of Illinois Horticulture Department on turfgrass disease programs and development of turf-related curriculum materials.
Chris Kujawa
Immediate Past President
Chris Kujawa is the executive vice president of sales and marketing for KEI (Kujawa Enterprises, Inc.), a four-season, full-service landscape management company. A Certified Landscape Professional, Charter Status (first-class in the country) through the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (now PLANET), Chris is one of only a few people so certified. He has over 25 years of experience in landscape management, design/build construction and erosion control.
Chris serves on the local Building Owners and Managers Association Board of Directors and is the recipient of their inaugural Vendor of the Year Award. He was the first president and chairman of the board of the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) Educational Foundation multi-million dollar scholarship fund, as well as ALCA’s Exterior Landscape Division chairman and Green Industry Conference chairman. Chris has served on the Curriculum Advisory Committee for the Ornamental Horticulture Department at Milwaukee Area Technical College, and on ALCA’s Accreditation Committee.
Alan White
President, Project EverGreen Canada
A proud Canadian, Alan White is the current president of Project EverGreen Canada and owner of Turf Systems Inc. based in Burlington, Ontario.
With over 18 years of business experience Alan truly believes in maintaining and preserving green spaces for all to enjoy. This belief has kept Alan busy both in business and representing the Canadian Landscape Industry. His efforts have included helping develop the IPM Accreditation Program in Canada as an active member on the IPM Council of Canada’s board of Directors and In 2004 was elected to the Provincial Board of Landscape Ontario.
Alan embraces many of the challenges facing the green industry today and views them as opportunities for the future. His passion for Project EverGreen has no borders. As president of Project EverGreen Canada, Alan feels together we can make a difference globally in ensuring green spaces remain part of our environment and our future.
Den Gardner
Executive Director
Den Gardner is executive director of Project EverGreen, a non-profit alliance of green industry associations, suppliers, end-users, individuals and other organizations that provide products and services to consumers to maintain healthy green spaces. Gardner has spent 20 years working in the green industry, first as the founder and current executive director of a national marketing association for green industry trade publications and marketers (TOCA), and now with additional duties as head of Project EverGreen. Gardner has worked in association management, marketing communications and the media throughout his 32-year business career. He has won numerous state and national writing and marketing communications awards. He has a passion for all that’s green (including golf and baseball) and travels the country promoting the benefits of healthy green spaces. He works and resides in New Prague, Minn., 45 minutes southwest of the Twin Cities.
Cindy Code
Board Member
Cindy Code is president of B Communications, a green industry consulting and communications firm. She has been involved in the green industry for more than 18 years as editor, account manager and publisher of Lawn & Landscape magazine. Code joined GIE Media after graduating from Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism with a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism. Code is an award-winning journalist honored by the Turf & Ornamental Communicators Association, the American Society of Business Press Editors and the Cleveland Press Club for her numerous contributions to the field. She is also an active member of several industry organizations, including vice chair of the Communications Committee for the Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment (RISE).
Dan Carrothers
Board Member
As chief operating officer for DATACORE Marketing LLC, Dan Carrothers has responsibility for managing all day-to-day operations as well as all operations employees; supporting quality control, client services, and business development; and overseeing the processes for hiring, training, and retaining employees as a member of the senior management team. Based in Kansas City, DATACORE provides marketing strategy, data management, analytics, and marketing program development and execution services.
Before being tapped to lead the DATACORE team as COO, Dan led the Green business for Bayer Environmental Science in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Prior to his tenure with Bayer, he worked in various roles with both Monsanto Canada Inc. in Winnipeg as well as Esso Petroleum Canada in Winnipeg, Toronto, and Edmonton.
Scott Frith
Board Member
Scott Frith started working at Lawn Doctor’s manufacturing facility in 1987, building equipment and outfitting franchisees’ vans, while attending school. After graduating from Seton Hall University, he worked for Bloomberg Financial Markets. Scott returned to Lawn Doctor and worked his way through the marketing department, earning the position of marketing director in 1999. In 2005, he was further promoted to vice president of marketing and franchise development.
In addition to serving on the Board of Directors for Project Evergreen, Frith has achieved the title of Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) from the International Franchise Association. His knowledge and experience have been instrumental in developing Lawn Doctor’s marketing strategies and tools. Scott has been featured in USA Today, Brand Licensing magazine, Grounds Maintenance magazine and Direct Marketing magazine, among others.
Margaret Bell
Director
Margaret Bell leads the marketing communications responsibilities for Syngenta Professional Products Lawn and Garden business. With over 30 years experience at Syngenta in communications, financial planning and management, and a pioneer in the initial stages of using data to help target end-use customers, Margaret has played an integral role in helping Syngenta get closer to their end-use customers by using advertising, public relations, direct and online media.
Prior to joining Syngenta Professional Products, Margaret was creative services manager, where she led a department of writers, designers and a proofreader. The department created all crop protection collateral.
Margaret holds a Bachelor of Science degree in textile chemistry from North Carolina A&T State University. She is currently a member of the Industry Advisory Council and the Diversity Task Group of the GCSAA, and on the Board of the Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association (TOCA) and Project Evergreen. She has held positions on the national and local level in the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA); served as regional director for NAMA Region V, chapter services chair, vice-chair chapter services, Carolinas/Virginia chapter (C/V) president and vice-chair programs, C/V Chapter.
Deborah Kuo
Director
Deborah joined HighGrove Partners in 2005. As Director of Customer Service and Marketing, she has spearheaded the company’s focus on becoming a customer-centric organization. Deborah led the company’s re-branding effort in 2006, which involved deploying new corporate messaging and generating a new brand image and website. Deborah’s vision is for HighGrove to be the “Nordstrom” of landscape companies and she has implemented a series of customer programs and feedback mediums as well as internal training initiatives to help achieve this goal.
Deborah holds a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising with a minor in Psychology from the University of Illinois. Her background includes broad experience in various areas of marketing and customer service in a variety of industries including financial services, insurance and software.
Prior to joining HighGrove Partners, Deborah served in senior-level marketing and customer service roles at Employease (now ADP Employease, Inc.). She was most recently the Director of Customer Service with responsibilities for leading and developing a team of Account Managers and Product Specialists.
Paul McDonough
The Davey Tree Expert Co.
Paul G. McDonough is manager, product sales and marketing for The Davey Tree Expert Company.
McDonough has over 30 years of green industry experience. He had been with LESCO, Inc. since 1995, where he held a variety of positions in national account sales. His most recent position was channel vice president. Prior to LESCO, McDonough held sales positions with Agriturf, Inc., Sandoz, Agro, Inc., Earthgro, Inc., and WMI Urban Services dba Trugreen/Old Fox.
Throughout his career, Paul has served as a board member and in leadership positions for several industry associations such as the Environmental Industry Council of Conn., the Mass. Association of Lawn Care Professionals, Ohio Professionals for Responsible Regulation, and the New England Agricultural Chemical Association. Additionally, he has served as an appointee on legislative and regulatory task forces related to industry issues in Connecticut, Massachuset and New Hampshire.
Jeff Bollig
Director
Jeff Bollig studied business and sports administration at the University of Kansas and Wichita State. In 1996, after six years as director of media relations for the Big 8 Conference, Jeff became the director of communications for GCSAA. In his spare time, he directs a CYO basketball program and coaches youth sports.
Sean Casey
Director
Sean Casey is vice president of sales with Nufarm Turf and Ornamental. A graduate of Purdue University, Sean is actively involved with RISE and PLANET. He resides in Greenwood, Ind. with his wife, Ellen and two daughters, Lauren and Rachel.
Bryan Gooch
Director
Bryan Gooch has served as a marketing manager for coated products at Agrium Advanced
Technologies since January 2008. He is responsible for product marketing and management for
the POLYON® and DURATION CR® brands of coated controlled-release fertilizers, and PRECISE®
controlled-release plant protection products. In his position, Bryan assesses product performance,
provides direction on new product development and product line extensions, and manages
marketing strategies. He is also responsible for the new Spread it & Forget it™ product line of one application, controlled-release fertilizers.
Prior to joining Agrium Advanced Technologies, Bryan spent 10 years working at Bayer
Environmental Science in various sales and marketing management positions.
Bryan holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Turfgrass Management from
Virginia Tech and a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina.
Kathy Mathers
Director
Kathy Mathers is vice president of public affairs for The Fertilizer Institute (TFI), the leading voice of the fertilizer industry, representing the public policy, communication and statistical needs of its production and distribution members. Mathers has extensive expertise in risk communication, having represented the industry in critical rapid response events such as the Oklahoma City bombing and communicated the fertilizer industry response in the wake of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 2001. In addition, Mathers leads the communication efforts surrounding TFI’s product stewardship program; which encourages farmers to utilize fertilizers in an environmentally sustainable manner. In addition to her public communication responsibilities, Mathers is an officer of the association and a member of TFI’s finance committee.
Rich Kalik
Director
Rich Kalik is based in Pittsburgh, where he serves as national accounts manager at BASF Professional Turf & Ornamentals. Rich joined BASF in 1993 and has served as both marketing manager and regional sales manager for the Turf & Ornamentals group.
Mark Miller
Director
Mark Miller learned the turf and ornamental business literally from the ground up. He began his career 30 years ago with ChemLawn Corporation as a spray technician, advancing to branch manager. Mark joined the PBI/Gordon employee owners over 20 years ago as a territory sales representative, later moving to the position of regional manager and eventually to Vice-President of Professional Product Sales. He is a member of GCSAA and a board member of Project Evergreen. Mark received his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Delaware in 1979, and remains a loyal fan of the Blue Hens.
Patti Niewoehner
Director
Patti Niewoehner is director of marketing services for Phoenix Environmental Care LLC, a value-added products company firmly committed to environmental and product stewardship. Her responsibilities include managing the company’s customer service, advertising and public relations programs.
Patti earned her business degree from Valdosta State University and joined Union Carbide’s Ag Division where she worked in sales and field development. She also marketed fungicides in the peach markets of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Patti spent several years with Sandoz Crop Protection as a territory manager in North Carolina, where she spearheaded new product launches and received the “Bell Ringer” award for outstanding sales results.
Patti worked with Griffin L.L.C. for eight years as manager, marketing services and later became herbicide product manager. At Griffin, Patti was named Sales Support Person of the Year. Patti is also active in her home community and has served on the Brooks County Zoning Committee and with the local victim assistance program.
Karen Reardon
Director
Steve Trusty
Director
Steve has been active in the green industry for well over 40 years. He has a B.S. in horticulture from Iowa State University. He and his wife, Suz, live near Council Bluffs, Iowa. They have operated Trusty & Associates for 25 years, supplying communications, market research and photography to the green industry. They are retail correspondents for Nursery Retailer and GardenChic magazines and contributing editors for SportsField Management Magazine. They are also frequent contributors to many other green industry publications.
Steve has hosted radio call-in shows on gardening, supplied gardening segments for TV and written newspaper columns. He is also a member of the Garden Writers Association. Besides Project EverGreen, he has served on the boards of a number of different green industry associations and currently serves on several committees. Throughout his life, he has been committed to helping people get more enjoyment - in an environmentally friendly way - out of their contacts with the turf and ornamentals that make up the green space of our environment.
Mark Urbanowski
Director
Mark Urbanowski is the senior marketing specialist for Turf, Ornamental and Technical products at Dow AgroSciences. Mark is a veteran of more than 16 years with Dow AgroSciences and has held various sales, marketing and finance positions.
Mark earned a Bachelor of Science degree in ornamental horticulture from Auburn University in Alabama. He volunteers with the Dow Venture Center Landscape and Gardening Club and is a Keep Indianapolis Beautiful Board Member.