News from KNLA

Saying Goodbye to Two Awesome Board Members

Brent Grunfeld, Monrovia

Brent has been on the KNLA Board for years and had event planning down to a science. Brent is a doer in life and was definitely a doer on the KNLA Board. During our rough two-year timeframe, it seems likely that the KNLA may not have made it through without his leadership. Brent led the planning and execution of the Winter Education and Expo, our largest funded event of the year. He worked with designing logos, creating mailers, scheduling timeframes, procuring spaces, catering, loose ends — he really did it all! Although that was where Brent felt that he contributed most, he was present in everything KNLA and very thoughtful in his suggestions for ways to improve the association overall.

Brent Grunfeld, Monrovia

In my first year of Executive Directorship, Brent helped to keep me on task, called when he thought I was missing something or needed to think something through further. He had this process down and honestly, I don’t know what I would have done without this past year to learn from him. Brent is a well-liked member of our Board of Directors and we all miss him. Brent is now hopefully able to spend more time with his family and friends, go on those trips that he always said “no” to, and continues to hit home runs for Monrovia!

Thank you for your friendship, wisdom, and guidance, Brent!

Eric Garris, Guthrie Center – Formerly at Bernhiem Forest

Eric has also been on the KNLA Board for quite some time and had his own special set of talents that he brought to the table all year long. Eric was the person we turned to at trade show time when we were discussing CEU’s and how to report, when to report, what to report, and who to report it to. He was the CEU paperwork magician! Eric had a pulse on what Arborists, specifically, needed and wanted and was always super helpful in providing the pertinent information needed to have a successful educational outing.

Eric Garris, Guthrie Center – Formerly at Bernhiem Forest

Eric not only was helpful with CEU’s, he was always there on “Game Day” ready to help set up, help organize the speakers, presenters, and help make sure that everything went smoothly.

We are happy for Eric in that he is working at the Guthrie Center in Bardstown managing projects for them. I’m sure he is doing a fantastic job and we hope he is enjoying every bit of it!

Eric, we miss that friendly smile that you always provided to each and every one of us and your unwavering assistance to do whatever it takes. Thank you for your friendship, positive energy, and knowledge!

Welcoming our New Vice President

Jeff Wallitsch, Wallitsch Garden Center

Jeff Wallitsch has worked at his family’s business, Wallitsch Garden Center, learning the ins and outs of the business and gleaning everything there is to know from his parents. Jeff has recently moved into more of a leadership role at Wallitsch as he transitions to ownership in the hopes of continuing to provide quality plants and service for many years to come. We really appreciate his ability to provide his leadership to this organization as well!

For those of you who have not had the pleasure of meeting Jeff Wallitsch either at a KNLA event or at Wallitsch Garden Center, you are truly missing out! Jeff has a been a board member for quite some time and has displayed immaculate character and strong work ethic in everything that has been put in front of him. Jeff has been front and center at all of the KNLA Winter Education Expos and Summer Outings checking folks in, printing badges, taking money and really just making sure that everything went smoothly for those events. He is also proficient with technology and helping us to be more innovative and streamlined. On that note, Jeff is currently working hard to bring our website into the 21st century. Over the past year, we have purchased a new membership and events database that will be seamlessly built into a new website for the KNLA. It will be fantastic and really easy to navigate.

Jeff Wallitsch, Wallitsch Garden Center

Please help us to welcome Jeff as our new Vice President of the KNLA. We look forward to his many ideas and leadership in the years to come!

KNLA Hall of Fame Inductee

Todd Ryan

Please help us to congratulate Todd Ryan from Valley Hill Nurseries, our newest member of the KNLA Hall of Fame! As I’m sure it was in the past years, this nomination was an easy one, a no-brainer so to speak. Todd joins this distinguished group of horticulturalists with a wealth of experience in the Green industry. Valley Hill Nurseries opened its doors in 1972 and Todd worked alongside his Dad learning about plants and the “old way” of growing and harvesting trees. Eventually Todd took over the business and has determined in his years of growing trees that the “old way” is still the best way!

Todd has been on countless boards, the President of the KNLA, and he has brought a wealth of knowledge and friendship to those of us who know him. Oh the stories that we could tell….and were told at his award presentation!

Thanks to David Listerman, Bob Couch, Kim Fritz, and Michael Mueller for giving him the proper introduction... or should we say roast? If you missed it, know there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. We are so excited that we are able to award Todd with this deserved distinction!

Congratulations, Todd!

Todd and his wife with Michael Mueller

Welcome our New KNLA Board Member

Craig Grigsby

Weare so excited to welcome Craig Grigsby to our KNLA Board. Craig has spent many years in the Nursery Industry. He studied Horticulture at Eastern Kentucky University and knew that working with plants was something that he wanted to do in some way.

Craig Grigsby, KNLA Board Member

Many of you interacted with Craig in the years that he worked as a Sales Manager at Walnut Ridge Nursery & Garden Center. Now Craig is Kenton Abrams’ right hand man running the sales office and keeping everything organized over at the ever-growing Abrams Nursery. This is a huge undertaking. Having done this on his own for many years, Kenton understood that he needed someone who knew what it took to manage an office, keep records in order, and manage the day to day comings and goings. Who better than Craig, who already comes with a background with plants and sales management!

Craig has been a great fit at Abrams and we know he will be a great fit on the KNLA Board.