AIB Announces New Officers and Board Members

Jennifer Zurko

America in Bloom (AIB) announced the election of new board members and officers following its annual meeting on March 5, 2016.

Katy Moss Warner, president emeritus of the American Horticultural Society, was elected president of the board. Evelyn Alemanni of ALLEA and Tony Ferrara of Arroyo Consulting Group were elected first and second vice presidents, respectively. Dr. Marvin Miller, Ball Horticultural Company, was elected treasurer, and Dr. Jack Clasen was elected secretary. Dr. Charlie Hall, Texas A&M University, serves as the past president.

Linda Hart of Holland, Michigan, Walter Heath of Morro Bay, California, and Leslie Pittenger, Belpre, Ohio, were elected as new board members.

Linda Hart is Community Outreach Coordinator for the Holland, Michigan Visitors Bureau. Her role is to increase awareness of the organization and its resources to the area’s businesses for their corporate business travels. Linda is active in several local community organizations, including Holland in Bloom, and she chaired the local committee that hosted the 2015 AIB symposium in Holland. Holland, a five-bloom AIB city, has been in the program for six years.

Walter Heath is a retired biochemist from Morro Bay, California, a five-bloom AIB city. He is the co-founder and president of Morro Bay in Bloom, and recognizes how participation in AIB has raised awareness of the importance of green spaces to creating economic development. Walter is also active on the Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce board of directors.

Leslie Pittenger is City Auditor for Belpre, Ohio, and volunteers for numerous local organizations. As an active member of the Belpre Garden Club and Belpre High School Greenhouse boosters she works with local students to complete environmental and beautification projects. She has completed the Ohio Tree Commission Academy course and has her Commercial Applicator license for pesticides through the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Belpre has been in the AIB program for five years.

Others on the board of directors are:

Bobby Barnitz, Bob’s Market & Greenhouse
Drew Becher
Marshall Dirks, Proven Winners
Dale Fisher, Jon Carloftis Fine Gardens
Edith Makra, Metropolitan Mayors Caucus
John Manchester, Mayor of Lewisburg, West Virginia
Diana Weiner, Gerry Foundation

For information about America in Bloom, visit www.AmericaInBloom.org. GT