Oct 31, 2025

FNGLA welcomes second class of Emerging Leaders program

The Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association’s (FNGLA) Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) recently launched its second class, marking the start of a nine-month program designed to develop the next generation of leaders in Florida’s nursery and landscape industry.

Class II is composed of 15 professionals from across the state, representing a range of companies within Florida’s horticulture industry. The program blends the Foundations of Agricultural Leadership Certificate program, offered online by the University of Florida IFAS Center for Leadership, with four in-person sessions hosted throughout Florida.

The following individuals were selected to participate in ELP Class II:

• Alberto Arazoza, Arazoza Brothers, Miami, Florida
• Aaron Bass, Carden & Associates, Winter Haven, Florida
• Robert Boyd, Veransa Group, Fort Myers, Florida
• Dasan Boyle, Morning Dew Tropical Plants, Delray Beach, Florida
• Reilly Brooks, BioSafe Systems, Tampa, Florida
• Kevin Dewansingh, ForemostCo, Miami, Florida
• Ebonie Gorniak, EarthBalance Corp., North Port, Florida
• Wesley Hall, Marshall Tree Farm, Morriston, Florida
• Quincy Kolp, LiveTrends Design Group, Apopka, Florida
• Kendall Lewin, Cherrylake, Groveland, Florida
• Jessica Lummus, Sebastian River Farms, Vero Beach, Florida
• Buddy McKendree, Ph.D., Florida Green Keepers, Gainesville, Florida
• Joseph Meeks, All Pro Landscaping of Tallahassee, Tallahassee, Florida
• Chris Moberly, McKeithen Growers, Myakka City, Florida
• Michelle Stafford, Juniper Landscaping of Florida, Fort Myers, Florida

Throughout the program, participants will explore core leadership concepts, strengthen communication and advocacy skills, and develop tools to serve as future leaders in the industry. As part of their experience, participants will also travel to Tallahassee to engage in advocacy efforts at the state level, learning how to effectively represent and support the interests of Florida’s nursery and landscape industry.

Participants must successfully complete the online leadership certificate program and attend all in-person sessions to graduate from the program.

Photo courtesy of FNGLA.