New Chair and Awards Presented At 181st Annual Meeting

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The 2008 PHS awards were presented and the new chair and members of Council were welcomed at the 181st Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Council on Nov. 11.

The Distinguished Achievement Medal was bestowed on Robert A. Bartlett, Jr., chairman and CEO of Bartlett Tree Experts. The award is presented each year to an individual from the Greater Philadelphia area who has made outstanding contributions to the field of horticulture and has had a positive impact on PHS programs and activities.

Bartlett has devoted his professional career to arboriculture. Bartlett Tree Experts, which was founded in 1907, is the world’s leading scientific tree- and shrub-care company. Under Bartlett’s leadership, the company has expanded operations in the U.S., as well as to Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland. He is committed to educating students, professionals and the public about proper tree and shrub care, and has encouraged his staff to speak to community groups and garden clubs, conduct seminars for professionals, and consult with municipalities and educational institutions.

“Robert has developed a company that provides the highest quality tree maintenance practices, backed up by excellent research,” said PHS President Jane Pepper. “We are most fortunate to have had Bartlett Tree Experts as one of PHS’ important partners over a long period of time.”

Bartlett and his wife, Kate, are avid gardeners who have shown an extraordinary commitment to the Philadelphia Flower Show and PHS. Bartlett Tree Experts has provided information for millions of Show visitors and sponsors a day for professionals at the Show each year. Bartlett’s support for Philadelphia Green has provided assistance for tree plantings throughout the city

PHS Certificates of Merit were presented to Kathryn Andersen, Gregorio P. Cojulun, Jr., and Ann and Frank Reed. The certificates are awarded to an individual, organization or business for outstanding contributions to or achievements in horticulture or related activities, including the Flower Show, Philadelphia Green, and PHS volunteers.

Kathryn Andersen is past president of the American Daffodil Society, National Chrysanthemum Society, North American Lily Society, and the Delaware Center for Horticulture. She serves as secretary of the International Bulb Society and director and secretary of the North American Clivia Society. She has traveled the world on plant expeditions and has earned judging credentials from several national plant societies and the National Garden Clubs, Inc. She and her family operate Charlestown Farm, a 40-acre, organic, community-supported agriculture farm in Chester County. At PHS, Andersen has served on Council and judged at the Flower Show, and she volunteers on the Ask-a-Gardener Committee.

Gregorio P. Cojulun, Jr., is a champion of Philadelphia parks. As president of the Friends of Malcolm X Park in West Philadelphia for the past decade, he has motivated his neighbors to transform it into one of the city’s most attractive green spaces. At PHS, Cojulun serves on the Parks Revitalization Project Steering Committee and the Philadelphia Green Advisory Board.

Ann and Frank Reed have been tireless supporters of PHS, giving their time, talents and resources to the organization. They have one of the most beautiful gardens in Philadelphia, and they share it with PHS members for PHS Garden Tours and upper-level celebrations. Ann chaired Council from 1996 to 2000 and has served on almost every committee. She continues to serve on several PHS committees and is ever-present at the Flower Show, chairing the Concierge Committee, leading early morning tours, and photographing winning entries and exhibitors. For many years, Frank was the leader of the Grumpy Old Men, the group of retirees who greet Show visitors who arrive on charter buses. Frank retired in 1995 as president and CEO of CoreStates Philadelphia National Bank.

At the meeting, Council also welcomed its new chair, John K. Ball.

Ball is president of Shoemaker Construction Co., which constructs a wide variety of building types throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. He is involved in several professional associations, including the General Contractors Association of Pennsylvania, the General Building Contractors Association, the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, The Reinvestment Fund, and the Young Presidents' Organization, Philadelphia Chapter.

“John has been involved with PHS for more than a decade, most recently as a member of our Executive Committee and as chair of the Green City Strategy Committee,” Pepper noted. “The staff of PHS and I greatly look forward to working with him in his new role as chair of Council.”

The other members of Council, who are elected for three-year terms, are the following:    

Outgoing Council chair is Harry E. Hill, who is president and CEO of Empire Abrasive Equipment Co., a manufacturer focusing on producing surface preparation equipment for OEM applications; Delaware Car Co., a passenger railcar rebuilder and equipment manufacturer; and managing partner of H.E. Hill & Co., a management consulting business. He is past president of Churchill Insurance Company, Ltd. Hill has chaired Council and the Executive Committee for the past four years, and continues to be head cheerleader for PHS – as well as the Men’s Garden Club of Philadelphia.
“Harry has been an outstanding PHS chair for the past four years. He has provided excellent counsel and is a wonderful cheerleader for the Society’s programs,” Pepper said.
           
Steven D. Bessellieu is chief executive officer of BeCrypt, Inc. the U.S. subsidiary of a global data security software company. He has served on the board of directors of the Philadelphia Chapter of Junior Achievement; as treasurer of the Bachelor Barge Foundation, and as founding president of the Philadelphia Chapter of the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business Alumni Club.  He vice-chairs PHS’ Flower Show Executive Committee and is a member and secretary of the Men’s Garden Club of Philadelphia.

Julia B. Fisher is managing director, wealth advisor, at JPMorgan Private Bank in Philadelphia. She is a member of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, a past chair of the Fiduciary Income Tax Committee of the American Bar Association Tax Section and a former member of its Executive Council. She is the immediate past chair of the Probate Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association and is a member of the Philadelphia Estate Planning Council, Pennsylvania Joint State Government Commission’s Advisory Committee on Decedents’ Estates Laws and a member of the Planned Giving Advisory Committee of the Philadelphia Orchestra. At PHS, Fisher is vice-chair of the Finance Committee.

Penny Hansen is a member of the Mill Creek Valley Garden Club. Her growing passion is travel photography; she traveled to India twice last year with a photographer for National Geographic magazine, and plans to travel to Myanmar in the fall. Hansen has chaired both the Flower Show Preview Reception and Dinner and Azalea Garden Party, and continues to serve on those committees.

David P. Hollander recently retired as the managing director for Accenture in Philadelphia. He is on the board of directors of the Ohio Farmers Insurance Company and the Merion Golf Club. He is vice-chair of Council, and serves on the Preview Reception and Dinner and Green City Strategy committees.

Gerry Lopez is vice president of Agronomic Crops, AgroFresh Inc., where he heads a new business venture at Rohm and Haas Company that will help prevent drought and heat damage to crops around the world.  He has headed the company’s marketing activities and held positions in sales, supply chain and research and development in Latin America, North America and globally. He serves on the Flower Show Executive Committee and is involved with PHS’ branding initiative.                                                        

Margaret Sadler retired as director of global human resources at FMC Corporation. She serves on the board of the Forum of Executive Women, and is a member of the International Personnel Association. She is vice-president of PHS Council and serves on the Human ResourcesCommittee and chairs the Search committee.

Jason E. Vermillion is the market development director for Accenture, and is responsible for identifying and leading new business opportunities as well as building Accenture’s image and brand in the region.  He also serves as chief of staff for the Philadelphia office, leading internal programs and events.  Vermillion serves on PHS Green City Strategy and Preview Reception and Dinner committees.

FOR PRESS INFORMATION, CONTACT:

ALAN JAFFE, email or call 215-988-8833
LAURA BEITMAN, email or call 215-988-8836