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Speakers

Larry Weaner | Principal + Founder | Larry Weaner Landscape Associates

Larry Weaner traces his success to a lifetime of observing nature. As a child, he observed the wild vegetation along the railroad tracks behind his childhood Philadelphia home. His observations over the ensuing 40 years inform an array of influential projects, from small residential properties to major public spaces.

Larry founded LWLA in 1982 after receiving his associate's degree in Ornamental Horticulture from the Pennsylvania College of Technology and has gone on to design prestigious public and private landscapes. He served on the Board of Directors and as the Environmental Committee Chair for the Association of Professional Landscape Designers. Larry’s New Directions in the American Landscape educational series, established in 1990, is credited as the town square for ecology-based landscape design.

Ryan Harmer, BA, MPS – CBP Certified Pool and Spa Building Professional ℠, BioNova

Ryan Harmer, a native of Hamilton Square, NJ, graduated from Virginia Tech in 2001 with a degree in Communication and a minor in Leadership Studies. He then went on to receive the degree of Master of Professional Studies in Leadership Education and Development from the University of Maryland. Ryan was commissioned as an Officer in the United States Navy through the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets. During his 14 years in the Navy he earned his “Wings of Gold” as a Naval Flight Officer and flew aboard the P-3 Orion as both a navigator/communications officer and the Tactical Coordinator. He deployed to several locations including Sigonella, Curaçao, Kinloss, Scotland, and various countries throughout the Middle East. Following his naval service he worked with the Federal Government with the Department of the Interior and has private sector experience in sales and logistics. Ryan currently resides in Robbinsville, NJ with his wife and two children.

Jeff Taphouse, CMHA Instructor

Jeff Taphouse is the USA Commercial Sales Director for Techo-Bloc and has been with the company more than 10 years. Before becoming a Hardscape Consultant for Techo-Bloc, he was a licensed builder specializing in landscape and hardscape design for residential and commercial projects. Jeff has always had a passion for sustainable building practices and has been designing and installing permeable pavements and other BMPs on residential and commercial projects for more than 18 years. Jeff is a certified instructor for the Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association (CMHA) and has delivered educational presentations throughout the United States and Canada.

Eric Gilbey, VectorWorks

Eric Gilbey, PLA ASLA APLD uses his professional experience as a practicing landscape architect in Ohio and Maryland, and his experience in CAD and BIM, in his role as product marketing manager for the landscape industries at Vectorworks, Inc., where he continues to develop an understanding of design and visualization workflows used by land planning and site design professionals. He is a past-president of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers and past president and trustee of the Maryland Chapter of ASLA. He continues to serve as a leader of ASLA’s Digital Technology Professional Practice Network. Eric writes and speaks for several green industry associations and helps landscape architects and designers develop best practices, including sustainable site design and site-specific BIM. Eric received an Associate of Applied Science degree in Landscape Contracting and Construction and a Bachelor of Science degree in Landscape Architecture from the Ohio State University.

Ann English, PLA, ASLA Montgomery County, DEP

Ann runs a program that educates and incentivizes voluntary implementation of green infrastructure solutions called RainScapes, which is housed on the Watershed Restoration Division of the County DEP. RainScapes are green stormwater tools that meet MS4 stormwater compliance requirements and add back pieces of healthy ecosystems to start the process of restoration of habitat and watershed health. The program offers these effective tools, such as green roofs, rain gardens, permeable pavements and water harvesting, with a message that Clean Water Starts at Home. The program offers educational materials, training for professionals and lay audiences, guiding participants to green stormwater solutions for their retrofit environments and offering rebates (RainScapes Rewards) for those projects. My passion is making connections between what is and what can be and empowering people who work with the built environment to better the quality of life and prospects for a healthy future. Green infrastructure work requires understanding the science of the biological systems, the skills required to accomplish an installation and maintenance of that system, the psychology of aesthetics and social motivation and the financial reality of scaling a project. The challenges get me excited to think and act everyday.

Dan Mabe, AGZA

Founder of the American Green Zone Alliance® (AGZA) comes from the gas-powered landscape maintenance industry. Seeking a safe and responsible transition solution for lower - impact operations of lawn and garden equipment, Dan has devoted over two decades to developing and applying clean battery technology for the grounds maintenance industry.  

Richard Ogawa, Gardenland Power Equipment

Richard Ogawa is the CEO of Gardenland Power Equipment and the Co-Founder & CEO of Towa Industries Inc., with over 20 years of leadership in the outdoor power equipment (OPE) industry. Growing up in his family’s OPE store, Richard combined his entrepreneurial spirit with a deep commitment to innovation, driving the industry forward with cutting-edge products, technology, and service. Under his leadership, Gardenland Power Equipment has grown into a $13 million enterprise and is recognized as the #1 Rated Outdoor Power Equipment Retailer in Northern California. His passion for sustainability and forward-thinking solutions led him to co-found Towa Industries Inc., where he is revolutionizing battery and power management technology. From on-site and mobile charging solutions to gas-to-battery conversion products, Richard is empowering landscapers to transition toward sustainable, battery-powered solutions, shaping the future of the industry.

Zack Kline, A.I.R.

Zack Kline is the CEO and Founder of Rockville, MD-based A.I.R. (a Montgomery County Green Certified Business), which offers natural, organic lawn care, robot-mowing, and ecological landscaping services. Kline is an Accredited Organic Land Care Professional, Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional, and Maryland Certified Pesticide and Fertilizer Applicator, who studied Marketing and Information Systems at the Perdue School of Business at Salisbury University (SU). While attending SU Kline developed a business plan for A.I.R. to solve the issues of gasoline-powered outdoor power equipment, synthetic fertilizers, and pesticides, as well as non-native invasive plant use; winning the business school’s competition that provided seed money for A.I.R. to get started in 2011.

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