A Plant
Introduction Program
for the Mid-Atlantic and beyond......
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A Plant
Introduction Program |
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Jeff Miller, Horticulture Management Associates LLC, Secretary/Treasurer
Jeff is supposed to be Beautiful Gardens® Secretary/Treasurer, responsible for payments and reimbursements, the accounting of Tobacco Commission funds and funds of partner institutions directed to the program. He also is responsible for tracking all budgets and expenditures, for making judgments on departures from the original budgets in consultation with the Project Director. He works on creating reports on various accounts and budget on a semi-annual or as required basis. I said “is supposed to” because in the reality he is far beyond than that. He is not much of a talker, but rather a thinker, and a doer, the man who keeps our program in its integrity providing comprehensive support, strategic planning, information and budgeting, sales forecasting, product promotion for management, etc. This modest man with shy personality deserve even more respect and admiration when you realize that managing the financial affairs of Beautiful Gardens is only one (and quite small one) of the many hats he is wearing: His duties as Executive Director of VNLA include editing and publishing the bi-monthly 80 to 96 page VNLA Newsletter, and the 136-page VNLA Guide to Virginia Growers, a reference of plant availability from Virginia Growers. The VNLA Newsletter promotes the industry and provides members with up-to-date information on research, legislation, and education. Jeff also serves as Executive Director of the Virginia Green Industry Council, a position he has held since the inception of the organization in 1989 (formerly the Virginia Horticulture Council). In these leadership roles Jeff has fostered interactions among many important participants including Virginia Tech; the Virginia Agribusiness Council; the Urban Forest Council; Native Plant Society; Virginia Society of Landscape Designers; Virginia Turf and Landscape Association; Department of Forestry; the American Nursery & Landscape Association; and other state, regional, and national associations. Jeff designs, hosts and maintain the websites of the American Boxwood Society, the Virginia Green Industry Council, Virginia Urban Forest Council and several nursery businesses. He also manages the VNA Horticulture Research Foundation investments with assets of over $525,000 … and when he finds a moment for himself he enjoys his many hobbies. He loves working in his extensive garden, plant collecting, sailing, camping, photography, woodworking, hot air balloons, beekeeping, internet, and inline skating. Jeff, many thanks for your loyal service to Beautiful GardensTM Plant Introduction Program and Virginia Green Industry! |
Send mail to info@horticulturemanagement.com with
questions or comments about this web site.
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If
you look at the annual VNLA Board pictures it is not easy to spot Jeff on a
first glance: his place is usually at the very end of the second row. This kind
of symbolizes where he feels most comfortable – behind the scenes, far from the
spotlights, in his remote home-based office in Christiansburg VA. 