Meet Your 2023 WSNLA Officers Shaping, Leading & Serving Their Industry WSNLA

Washington State Nursery & Landscape Association

Katie Miller WSNLA President

As President, I am looking forward to being the change I want to see in the industry.

As President Elect I will continue to learn from this great group and be here to listen to all concerns from our membership - in particular from the retail members. I will serve you on the Urban Forestry Council with pride and continue to work towards pollinator health in our environment.

How did you become involved with WSNLA and what has your involvement looked like over time?

KM: I was first introduced to WSNLA after finishing college in 2008, I was looking for my first horticulture career and found a customer service role at Skagit Gardens on the WSNLA Career Center. As an employee of Skagit Gardens, I started attending the WSNLA Annual Meeting in 2010. We often set up vendor booths at events as another way of gaining exposure to local customer sales. It was in late 2018 when I was approached about joining the board in the Grower Caucus position and got more deeply involved in the organization.

TC: I first became a CPH (or back then WCN) in 1993 and have been involved as a member of the Executive Board for the last two years. I look forward to continuing to serve and trying to help the WSNLA for all they have done for me personally and our industry.

As Vice President, I believe that there are many others coming from unconventional paths looking for a place to land. It is my hope to get to know you better and introduce you to a fabulous industry filled with dedicated, interesting, and amazing people. Please send me a email at kirsten@gardensALIVEdesign.com and we’ll set up a time to meet so we can get to know and serve each other better!

KL: It was the Certified Professional Horticultural certification that first drew me to WSNLA. As a new landscape designer coming from an unconventional path, I wanted to ensure that my knowledge was on par with industry standards. It was then that I posted sticky notes of Latin names around my home, printed pictures and flash cards of all of the plants on the test list and dove into additional books and classes about landscape design principles. I was grateful for the rigors of the test, for the classes offered to prepare and to the WSNLA for the professional endorsement. Over time, this gratitude evolved into action with volunteer efforts in chapters and committees from which meaningful business relationships and friendships evolved. Thank you, WSNLA, for a supportive start into a fabulous second career.

I will be a good steward of our associations resources and continue to ask questions and listen to our membership on their most important needs going forward.

MP: I got involved with the Olympic Chapter after moving here from Californa. I passed the WCN certification in 1999. At our chapter meetings there was always an issue that was of interest to me, or that I had some previous experience with, so naturally I was roped in to getting more involved. It was my pleasure to move through the executive board positions serving as President in 2014.

TG: Just like the Borg of Star Trek, I was slowly assimilated into WSNLA somewhere after starting my company in 1999. I chose WSNLA and my thenbusiness partner chose WALP to be highly active with. I’ve slowly increased my responsibilities when there was a ‘need’ or something interested me.

Come join us!

How would you describe the work of the Board? And, how does it work to shape our industry?

KM: The work of the board is driven by passion for the industry and the people in it. Everyone serving on the board sees a future in Horticulture, many have made horticulture their life’s work in one capacity or another. Because of the advocacy, education and outreach that is sponsored and promoted by WSNLA it helps connect the member businesses with resources and evolving information within our state, it connects businesses and organization and ties it all together by connecting us with the consumers we serve.

TC: The work of the Board is critical in both sustaining our industry and providing for its future. The Executive Director, Finance Director and the Board continue to strive to meet all challenges that come our way. From lobbying for important legislation that affects us all in this industry to promoting plants, gardening, and current pertinent issues - the WSNLA is essential to protect our industry as a whole. Our group serves all members and is absolutely proactive in setting standards, goals, and the future of nursery/landscape businesses state wide.

KL: When you peek behind the curtain of an organization, you see the Oz-like magic and the real function. Sitting amongst growers, retailers, suppliers, and educators has given me the privilege to participate in a broader end game for our industry. It isn’t just, “who can help guide me through the permit process” or “have you used this product to solve this issue?”. The conversations have to do with involving a younger generation in our industry, promoting pollinators and urban trees in a time of climatic alarm, supporting legislation for growers to retain their fields and still support wildlife needs and encouraging internships in our industry. With voices spanning the landscape industry sitting at the table, a deeper understanding is gained for everyone in attendance in order to take a balanced approach in moving forward in which member interests are at the forefront.

MP: The work of the board is to listen to members needs in regard to protecting and promoting their businesses, educating our workforce and many others whose actions affect our industry. With this information, and staff input, we decide which programs and actions should be prioritized. It is not always easy with the time and resources available. Our staff is amazing and WSNLA has been successful in so many areas responding to the changing Industry dynamics, not the other way around.

TG: ‘Work’ might not be the best word, it’s more like a quarterly gathering of both personal and industry friends. We come together to look at events taking place in our horticultural community and decide how can we, as an Association, support changes and represent our members.

During your tenure on the board, what has been the organization’s greatest achievement?

KM: The advocacy arm of our organization served its greatest purpose in 2020 by providing clarification and direction during the early days and weeks of COVID Lockdowns to define nursery and greenhouse businesses as essential and advocate for a clear path for all horticulture businesses to continue to operate during an incredibly uncertain time.

TC: What is our greatest achievement the last couple years? I will have to pick two. Lobbying for us to stay open during the pandemic as essential businesses allowed for record business volume and a myriad of new gardeners for us retailers. Personally for me, the pollinator promotion to save the bees is extremely

For more from your WSNLA Executive Officers turn to page 20

Cascade Tropicals is a Supporter of Promoting Careers in Horticulture! In support of this industry effort, Cascade Tropicals donated 100 2 inch plants to distribute to students interested in horticulture careers. Their contribution created buzz and enthusiasum throughout the WSU and University of Idaho events. Thank you Cascade Tropicals for supporting and helping to promote the awesome careers that make up your industry!