Get to know your LCA Board of Directors. 

Get to know the dedicated leaders shaping the future of our industry and guiding the Landscape Contractors Association toward continued success.

LCA Officers

President

Zack Kline

A.I.R.

Zack Kline is the CEO and Founder of A.I.R., an ecological landscaping and lawn care company, and serves as the Mid-Atlantic Representative for the American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA). With over 20 years of experience in the landscape industry, Zack has been involved with LCA for the past five years. He serves on the Board to help LCA and its members become more sustainable and innovative in their business practices.

Zack is an Accredited Organic Land Care Professional, an AGZA Certified Service Professional, a Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (Level 1), and a Maryland Certified Fertilizer and Pesticide Applicator. He is also a graduate of the Mt. Cuba Center Ecological Gardening Certificate Program and was recognized as LCA’s Emerging Professional of the Year in 2022.

What he enjoys most about the industry is working in the outdoor environment and connecting with others who share his passion for the outdoors. In his personal time, Zack is developing a unique ecological landscaping project called the Self-Sustainable Sanctuary—a half-acre lot featuring 130 genera, 212 species, and over 480 plants native to the DMV area.

His advice for new members is: It's not about what you know or who you know, but who knows you and how you help each other out. Join us at our events and get involved!

Vice-President

Keith Bowman

McHale Landscape Design

Keith Bowman is the President of Horticultural Services and Business Development at McHale Landscape Design and has worked in the landscape industry for 22 years. He has been involved with LCA for 15 years and serves on the Board to help elevate the landscape industry and its partners.

Keith holds a B.S. in Turf Grass Science from the Pennsylvania State University and brings a strong academic foundation to his professional role. What he enjoys most about the industry is the community—“the down to earth people.”

Outside of work, Keith enjoys golfing and spending time with his little white dog, Zak.

His advice to new members is: Get involved and network with other landscape professionals. It's rewarding and you can meet awesome people. Take yourself out of your comfort zone.

Secretary/Treasurer 

Jeff Rossen

Rossen Landscape

Jeffrey Rossen is the Founder and Head Honcho of Rossen Landscape and has been in the landscape industry since he was 12 years old, when he raised koi and built his first pond. After earning a degree in Landscape Technology from Virginia Tech, he worked for two of the largest landscaping companies in the DC area before launching Rossen Landscape in 2003.

Jeff is a hands-on entrepreneur with deep roots in the community and a passion for outdoor beauty—especially through water features. He’s built his company from the ground up, growing from residential maintenance into a thriving design/build business. His leadership style centers on vision and instinct, empowering his team while keeping a pulse on both clients and staff needs.

A longtime supporter of the MD-DC-VA Landscape Contractors Association, Jeff currently serves on the LCA Board of Directors. Outside of work, he enjoys fishing, snowboarding, basketball, and spending time with his wife and three boys.

His advice for new LCA members is: Figure out what you care about and then identify the possibilities within that arena. Identify your passion and make it part of your profession. And be ready to earn it—don’t expect it to be easy.

LCA Directors

Kris Colby

Backyard Bounty

Kris Colby is the owner of Backyard Bounty and has been working in the landscape industry for 12 years. Before launching his landscaping career, he spent about 15 years as a corporate management consultant. Kris joined the LCA Board to help further the mission of creating shared value and meaningful connections among landscaping firms. He finds deep fulfillment in the industry’s ability to create something every day that helps the planet and endures. When he’s not working, you can probably find him wandering along the Potomac with a fishing pole.

His advice to new LCA members? Reach out, reach out, reach out—everyone is willing to help.

Matt Glover, CLT

Wray Brothers Landscapes, Bethesda, Maryland

Matt Glover shares: I’ve been fortunate to spend the last 30 years building a career in the landscape industry—a path that began as a teenager mowing lawns with a Lawn Boy push mower. I studied landscape technology at Montgomery College and the University of Maryland, and today, I’m proud to be part of the team at Wray Brothers Landscapes, where I’ve worked for more than a decade. My early professional experiences with Spring Gardens and Valley Crest, as well as running my own green business showed me how rewarding a career in the field could be. Getting involved in LCA really shaped a deep appreciation for the craft and community of landscaping. I love the wide variety of career paths the industry offers and that no two days are ever the same. When I’m not working, you’ll find me at the beach, coaching youth wrestling, or hiking in Shenandoah.

Paul Jester, PLA, ASLA

J&G Landscape Design, Inc. 

Paul Jester is a Landscape Architect with J&G Landscape Design and has been working in the industry for 11 years since graduating—though his roots go even deeper, having spent summers working in the field during school. He’s been involved with LCA for six years and serves on the Board to connect with others who are passionate about landscaping and to make a positive contribution to the industry and those working in it.

Paul began his career as a laborer with various companies and pursued design through formal education, earning a BS in Architecture from Catholic University in 2011 and a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Maryland in 2014. He has served on both the LCA and Maryland ASLA Boards and has worked on several LCA award-winning projects.

He loves being outside and improving outdoor experiences—whether by resolving drainage issues or designing beautiful outdoor living spaces—with the goal of making smart choices that lead to a better future. Outside of work, Paul enjoys camping, roller coasters, and spending time with his family. He’s also involved with the March of Dimes (Greater Maryland).

His advice to new LCA members: Get involved—involvement breeds friendship, knowledge, and investment in yourself and the industry.

Whitney Langone

Meridian Landscaping and Design

Whitney Langone is the Director of Landscape Programs at Meridian Landscaping & Design and has been in the industry for 23 years. She joined the LCA Board because she believes in the importance of a local resource that helps industry members network with peers, access independent training opportunities, and showcase the craftsmanship of their work.

After studying Urban Horticulture and Turfgrass Management in college, Whitney relocated to the Washington, D.C. Metro area. She spent 15 years as a horticultural consultant working with landscape contractors and real estate professionals, then transitioned to a national landscape supply company. In 2024, she joined Meridian Landscape as Director of Landscape Programs.

Whitney enjoys working with contractors and real estate professionals to solve horticultural challenges. One of her favorite aspects of the role is educating others about plants—why they thrive or struggle in certain environments—and helping people understand the “why” behind plant performance.

Outside of work, she spends most of her time shuttling her three girls to basketball tournaments up and down the East Coast.

Her advice to new LCA members: Speak up! The robustness and relevance of the LCA depend on the membership we serve. The more vocal and more involved new members are about why they joined LCA and what they’re looking for from the group, the better our offerings will be for all members, both new and old.

Robert Lehnhoff

Lehnhoff's Landscaping

Robert Lehnhoff brings valuable insight and leadership to support the association’s mission. His commitment to the industry helps strengthen the connections, standards, and resources that benefit all LCA members.

Shawn Lemke

Outdoor Living Supply

Shawn Lemke is a Senior Sales Manager with 27 years in the landscape industry. He has been involved with LCA for two years and serves on the Board to pay his experiences forward while learning from other top performers in the field.

Shawn began his career as a design/build contractor, a role he held for 19 years before transitioning into the nursery business for five years. He now manages stone and hardscape sales for Outdoor Living Supply, bringing a well-rounded industry perspective to his work and to LCA.

His professional achievements include being named a Belgard Master Craftsman in 2016 and receiving the American Horticultural Society Environmental Award in both 2012 and 2013. Shawn also holds advanced certifications from ICPI and NCMA (CMHA), is a Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (Level 1), and has been recognized nationally by his peers for quality and best practices.

Shawn loves that the landscape industry is full of innovation, creativity, and hard-working people committed to meaningful solutions. In his free time, he coaches youth baseball and is passionate about improving local facilities, surfing, bird hunting, and spending as much time outdoors as possible.

Advice for New LCA Members: Get involved! Ask a lot of questions and put yourself out there! Be open-minded and learn from other people that have gone before you. It will not only improve your business but will give you tools in your personal life as well. And above all, HAVE FUN!

Scott Pickett

Live Green Landscapes, LLC, Owings Mills, Maryland

Scott Pickett is the Production Manager with Live Green Landscape Associates and has been working in the landscape industry for 31 years. He has been involved with LCA for 22 of those years and serves on the Board to support the professional side of the landscaping industry—and to challenge himself professionally so he can continue growing in his own career.

Scott’s love for landscaping began when he was just 10 years old, working for a neighbor who instilled in him the value of hard work and keeping his word. He learned the fundamentals of horticulture and construction early on, including deadheading, proper pruning, and transplanting. In high school, he enrolled in the Career and Technology Center to deepen his practical knowledge. After graduating, Scott entered the industry full time—starting with a commercial contracting company, then moving to a nursery and tree farm, and later joining several high-end residential firms, where he continues to enjoy the residential side of the business most.

He is a Certified Professional Horticulturist, a Certified Landscape Technician, and holds ICPI certification. Scott values the comradery in the industry and the way professionals are always willing to help one another, regardless of which company they represent.

Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family.

His advice for new LCA members: Just ask, if you have a question or concern about something just ask. We are all here to help each other.

Barry Schneider

Surrounds, Inc., Sterling, Virginia

Barry Schneider is the President of Surrounds Inc. and has been in the landscape industry for 45 years. With more than 30 years of involvement in LCA, he serves on the Board to stay connected and informed—believing that being on the board is one of the best ways to stay in the know and build valuable relationships.

A lifelong landscaper, Barry is especially proud that his company has earned over 75 awards for excellence. He thrives in the industry’s challenges and values the culture of shared learning, noting how much professionals enjoy exchanging ideas to improve. For Barry, nothing beats hearing a client rave about how their “blah” yard was transformed into a stunning space to enjoy with friends and family.

When he's not working, Barry loves spending time on the Bay—sailing, paddleboarding, and kayaking.

His advice to new LCA members: Get involved—join a committee, attend events.

Oomer Syed, PLA, ASLA

Fine Landscapes, Sterling, Virginia

Oomer Syed is a Landscape Architect with Fine Landscapes and has been working in the industry for 26 years. He joined the LCA Board to provide leadership that promotes the landscape construction industry and has been involved with LCA for the past year.

With a background in landscape architecture and licensure to practice professionally, Oomer brings both expertise and passion to his work. He enjoys being outside, working with plants, and helping people create meaningful outdoor environments.

When asked about a personal interest he said: “The garden is never done.”