Elizabeth Barnes is the Forest Pest Outreach Coordinator with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources and previously worked as the Exotic Forest Pest Educator at Purdue University. She studied biology as an undergraduate at Mount Holyoke College and received her Doctorate in plant-insect interactions from the University of Denver where she studied tent caterpillars and fall webworms.

As Senior Director of Parterre Ecological, Miles Connors oversees the daily operations and strategic growth of this dynamic division within Parterre Garden Services. With expertise in invasive plant management and native plant restoration, Parterre Ecological is dedicated to restoring wetlands and woodlands, establishing wildflower meadows, and advancing green infrastructure initiatives across Greater Boston, Maine, New Hampshire, Cape Cod, and the Islands. The firm collaborates with residential homeowners, landscape designers, historic cemeteries, city parks, and urban wilds to create resilient and ecologically rich landscapes. Miles holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Planning and Policy and a Master’s in Sustainable Landscape Planning and Design from the Conway School of Landscape Design. Prior to his role at Parterre Ecological, he served for nearly a decade as Head Gardener for the Newport Restoration Foundation, where he developed his passion for working with people and plants.

Blake Dinius graduated with a degree in Biology from the University of Massachusetts—Boston. Soon after, he began a seven-year career in ecotoxicology, where he directed studies on bees, lacewings, springtails, earthworms, and other critters. As an extension educator, Blake is committed to delivering science-based education that you can rely on. Blake offers programs on anything entomology-related: From pollinator gardening to tick bite prevention to guided butterfly walks.

Jennifer Forman Orth is an Environmental Biologist for the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, where she works on a number of botanical and entomological issues, including insect pests, invasive plants, plant resources for pollinators, and mosquito control. Jennifer completed her Ph.D. at UMass Boston, where she studied the odd breeding system of Japanese knotweed. She also has a master’s degree from Boston University’s Center for Energy and Environmental Studies.

Jen Kettell, BCMA is a consulting arborist serving the New England area (and occasionally beyond!). As the owner of Radiant Leaf Consulting, she shares her passion for horticulture through the training she provides to both homeowners and green industry professionals. She started landscaping as a teen, continuing to farming, greenhouse production, and finally the Arnold Arboretum before she began building Radiant Leaf Consulting. Today, Radiant Leaf is celebrating over ten years as a small local business.

Laurie Manning is a Pesticide Inspector II for the last 21 years for Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. Laurie is also the Worker Protection Standard Coordinator for Massachusetts.

Kerry Ann Mendez is an award-winning garden educator, author, design consultant and proprietor of Perennially Yours based in southern Maine. As an exceptionally popular educator and communicator, she has presented hundreds of lectures to thousands of gardeners in 23 states. In 2014 she received the Gold Medal award from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society for “Exceptional teaching and writing that increases public enjoyment and appreciation of horticulture.” Kerry Ann has written four gardening books, the most recent being The Budget Wise Gardener and The Right-Size Flower Garden. Her e-newsletters go out to almost 10,000 subscribers throughout the United States. In 2016 Kerry Ann started producing international gardening Webinars that have been enjoyed by thousands. To learn more about Kerry Ann, please visit her web site pyours.com.

Kelly Perry holds the position of Director of Horticulture, Greenhouse Operations and Educational Outreach at Swan Point Cemetery, a 200-acre, active, nonsectarian historic garden cemetery located at 595 Blackstone Boulevard in Providence, Rhode Island. In this capacity, she is responsible for: producing the greenhouse’s annual ornamental plant material; implementing the seasonal decoration programs; caring for the arboretum and ornamental gardens; developing landscape projects; leading grounds and garden tours, workshops and lectures; and coordinating all floral and planting displays for Swan Point’s grounds and facilities. Kelly is also very active in the cemetery and green industries. She serves as the current President of the Rhode Island Cemetery Association, Past President of the New England Cemetery Association, and the Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association.

Trevor Smith is Design and Education Manager at Weston Nurseries in Massachusetts. He holds several landscape certifications and is a past President and a current Trustee of the Ecological Landscape Alliance. He is an award-winning regenerative landscape designer, specializing in green infrastructure, native plant design, habitat creation, and implementation of ecological design principles. He is passionate about the natural world which inspires his commitment to sustainable landscaping practices in an era of climate change.

Award-winning container garden designer Deborah Trickett has worked in the gardening industry for over 30 years, starting with her first job in a greenhouse at age 13 until the present as the owner of The Captured Garden. Deborah is a frequent lecturer, speaking at the New England Spring Flower Show, The Connecticut Flower Show, the Newport Flower Show, the Northwest Flower and Garden Show, as well as The Philadelphia International Flower Show. She has also shared her passion for perennials at the Perennial Plant Association Annual Symposium. She was a featured speaker at the Grand Garden Show on Mackinac Island. She has taught classes and workshops at the Arnold Arboretum in Boston. Her work has been featured in The Boston Globe, The American Gardener, Garden Gate and New England Home magazines as well as on the TV show New England Dream Home.

Educational Session Handouts

Design Tips for Striking Sustainable Flower Gardens • Location: Coolidge • Kerry Ann Mendez, owner, Perennially Yours •  Download session handout

Time-saving, Mighty-mite Shrubs That Outshine Perennials • Location: Coolidge • Kerry Ann Mendez, owner, Perennially Yours • Download session handout