John Mark Courtney

Aquascapes Unlimited Inc., Pipersville, Pa.

Nursery Manager

Responsible for germinating 100 percent of the company’s native wetland perennials and successfully re-creating through hybridization all 18 naturally occurring Pitcher plant sarracenia hybrids. Has grown and supplied unique wetland varieties for major botanical gardens like the U.S. Botanical Garden, the Smithsonian, the New York Botanical Garden and Longwood Gardens.

Almost 200 Miles and Counting: John Mark has snowboarded more than 1 million vertical feet at Jackson Hole, Wyo., and been awarded the Gold Belt Buckle for his accomplishments.

Finding That Right Balance: His favorite book, The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac, “is a great story of self development and explores the delicate balance of one life lived in the wilderness and in the city.”