Officers
Scott Bills – President
Scott Bills is a nationally recognized Certified Sports Field Manager and president of New Jersey-based Sports Field Solutions, LLC.
With more than 40 years’ experience, Bills has designed, constructed and renovated hundreds of sports fields and athletic complexes in addition to numerous golf courses.
Bills expertly evaluates, consults and manages natural and synthetic athletic field projects across the United States. Bills also provides formal training to school grounds departments, parks maintenance departments and private sports organizations, helping them improvement the safety, playability and appearance of their fields. For more than 10 years, Bills has been teaching courses for the Rutgers University Department of Continuing Education related to sports field construction, maintenance and park liability.
Bills also provides site evaluations, inspections and expert witness services for both plaintiff and defendant cases specifically related to sports field issues and contract disputes.
Bills lives in New Jersey and has two daughters and three grandsons.
Beth Berry – Vice President
Beth Berry, vice president of turf and ornamental at Advanced Turf Solutions, a key employee owned green industry supplier and is a 30 plus year service industry veteran, pioneering the customer experience in the lawn care industry in the 80’s and progressing to the Director of Customer Service at Scotts LawnService, the fastest growing division of the Scotts Miracle-Gro Corporation (SMG). As Vice President of Sales at Real Green software, Beth was a key member directing the technology roadmap and lead the business development and integrated partner programs for the world’s largest chemical turf care vertical software. Beth attended University of Indianapolis and has been certified at a number of prestigious service excellence academies such as Ritz-Carlton Legendary Service, Disney Institute for Service Excellence, and New York University’s Leading for Engagement and is a Master Certified Trainer for DDI Training Programs. Berry is a board member of the National Association of Landscape Professionals, National Speakers Association, and enjoys speaking to service organizations inspiring solutions in a dynamic, evolving consumer environment.
Fred Haskett – Secretary/Treasurer
Fred Haskett, founder of TrueWinds Consulting, is a green industry veteran who has more than 40 years of professional management experience leading and developing regional multi-state and multi-unit companies. Haskett, has had a diverse career spanning both the lawn care and landscape maintenance industry segments. He is an experienced senior leader with significant experience in operations, finances, sales, marketing and franchising.
He has previously served three terms on the Board of Directors of NALP with two terms as Chairman of the Lawn Care Specialty Group, and he was the Professional Lawn Care Association’s representative to the Landscape Maintenance Specialty Group as part of the ALCA / PLCAA Merger in 2005. In 2006 Haskett was honored by his peers by being named a TRAILBLAZER For Lifetime Green Industry Achievement by Professional Land Care Network. Haskett’s certifications include: Landscape Industry Certified Manager through NALP, Certified Turf Grass Professional through PLCAA and is a Certified Arborist through ISA.
Kevin Laycock – Immediate Past President
Kevin Laycock has been in the specialty agriculture industry for over 15 years. In his current role as a Senior Category Manager at SiteOne Landscape Supply, he oversees the day to day operations of the agronomic maintenance category, which includes Turf & Ornamental, Structural Pest control, Sports Fields, Erosion, and Aquatics. He also leads strategic development for the category and manages supplier relations. Prior to SiteOne, Laycock spent five years at FMC Corporation, where he had oversight to all marketing & strategy efforts for the Professional Solutions business in the U.S. & Canada. He also spent 10 years at Bayer Environmental Science in various sales roles in the Turf & Ornamental and Consumer Lawn & Garden businesses, where he gained both B2B and B2C sales and marketing experience.
Laycock has volunteered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and The First Tee of the Triangle. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from East Carolina University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Kenan Flagler Business School – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He resides in Roswell, Georgia with his wife Megan and their three children, Owen, Quinn, and Madeline.
Board of Directors
Andrew Bray
Board Member
Andrew Bray is currently the Vice President of Government Relations at the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP). In his role Bray leads all legislative and regulatory initiatives at the federal and state level. Prior to joining NALP Bray worked in a government relations capacity for the National Pest Management Association, North American Meat Institute and the Grocer Manufacturers Association. Bray earned his law degree in 2013 and maintains an active license to practice law in the state of Virginia.
Tim Demerath is the vice president of sales, pest management business unit for PBI-Gordon in Kansas City, Missouri. PBI-Gordon in Kansas City, Missouri. Prior to joining PBI-Gordon he worked in various roles with Bayer CropScience and the former Beachner Grain. He is a graduate of the University of Nebraska Lincoln from which he holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration and was a member of the Cornhuskers football team.
Blaine Pinkerton
Board Member
Blaine Pinkerton is the Vice President of Sales, Turf and Ornamental for Nufarm Americas and has been with Nufarm for 15 years, previously holding the roles of Director of Sales and Great Lakes region sales manager. A 1994 graduate of The Ohio State University, Pinkerton holds a bachelor of science degree in Agronomy (turfgrass management focus) with a minor in Ag business. Immediately after college, he spent four years as an assistant golf course superintendent followed by 5 years learning sales in the agriculture retail business. He returned to the Turf and Ornamental business in 2001 with Green Velvet Sod Farms in Dayton, Ohio where he spent five years selling to golf and lawn care customers in Southwest Ohio prior to joining Nufarm.
A lifelong Ohio resident, Pinkerton lives in Mt. Orab, Ohio 30 miles east of Cincinnati with his wife, Tonia who is a sales director with Mary Kay and their 3 children, Tessa (22) Kellan (19) and Tucker (11) As a family, they enjoy rooting for the Buckeyes and spending time around water whether that be a pool, a lake or an ocean. The family is involved with Party with a Purpose which raises money for local charities in Brown County, Ohio as well as the Brown County Pork Producers in addition to other church and community activities.
George Furrer
Board Member
Furrer is partner and President of Valley Green Professional Turf Products, a New England-based distributor of turfgrass seed, fertilizers and nutritionals and other products to the green industry. Serving the LCO, golf, sports turf, sod and nursery production, and arboriculture segments, Valley Green is an employee-driven, customer-focused organization. Furrer earned degrees in Turfgrass Management from The Ohio State University and Marketing from Franklin University.
Linda Satter
Board Member
Linda Satter is a 33 plus year veteran of the green industry. She is the Key Account Management, Turf & Landscape Channel for AMGUARD Technologies. Throughout her career in the industry, her focus has been in the turf & ornamental sectors of the market place in rolls ranging from customer service and marketing support to sales and corporate account management where her passion for people and business resides. Originally a native of Indianapolis, IN Satter and her husband live in Newnan, Georgia outside Atlanta. She has served as a project management leader for multiple Habitat for Humanity projects. She enjoys cooking, serving the charitable needs of the church, watching SEC college football, spending time with family and friends and enjoying many outdoor activities including scuba diving and spending time relaxing down on the Alabama Gulf Coast.
Russ Mitchell
Board Member
Russ Mitchell has been in the specialty agriculture industry for over 35 years and his current role is Director of Specialty/Prime Source at Albaugh, LLC. His duties include managing the Prime Source business, a division of Albaugh, which sells to turf and ornamental distribution.
Mitchell has held previous management positions at Quali-Pro, Synatek LP, and United Horticultural Supply. A graduate of the University of Georgia with a bachelor of science degree in Agronomy, Mitchell is originally from Atlanta and currently resides in the Raleigh, N.C. area with his wife, Elizabeth. They have four children and currently three grandchildren.
Cayla Chamberlin
Board Member
Cayla Chamberlin is a Senior Program Manager with the Gilbert Family Foundation in Detroit. A passionate public space professional, she works to create safe, inclusive, and active parks and public spaces in Detroit. Chamberlin is a graduate of Michigan State University (Go Green!) and a proud resident of Detroit. In her spare time, you can find her checking out new coffee shops, watching hockey, and traveling.
Alan White
Board Member
Alan White is currently the Climate Adaptation Chairman for the Canadian Nursery and Landscape Association and owner of Turf Systems Inc. based in Burlington, Ontario. With over 28 years of business experience White truly believes in maintaining and preserving green spaces for all to enjoy. This belief has kept him busy, both in his business operating Turf Systems Inc. and representing the Canadian Landscape Industry.
His efforts have included helping develop the IPM Accreditation Program in Canada as an active member on the IPM Council of Canada’s board of Directors, and In 2004 was elected to the Provincial Board of Landscape Ontario and in 2012 moved to represent Ontario on the Canadian Nursery and Landscape Associations Board of Directors. White embraces many of the challenges facing the green industry today and views them as opportunities for the future. His passion for Project EverGreen has no borders. White feels together we can make a difference globally in ensuring green spaces remain part of our environment, our future and our urban health.
Ashley Williams
Board Member
Ashley Williams is Global Sales Head, Program Execution, Agribusiness, at TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods. TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods is a leading global technology provider delivering data insights and digital solutions to agriculture, turf and ornamental, food and consumer goods customers.
Williams was formerly with TKXS, the first US-based company acquired by TELUS Agriculture. Prior to joining TKXS, she spent 10 years at Syngenta in data management, marketing, and sales roles. Ashley serves as an inaugural board member for the TELUS North Carolina Community Board. Williams, her husband David and daughter Spencer founded the Tyler David Williams Memorial Scholarship and co-own a family landscaping firm in Greensboro, NC.
Paula Sliefert
Board Member
Paula Sliefert is a marketing expert who has held senior marketing management roles. In these positions, she was responsible for supporting key industry relationships and developing and implementing strategies to grow market share across various sectors, including professional and collegiate sports, educational institutions, and government entities at the federal, state, and local levels.
Sliefert is a graduate of Simpson College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in German and International Business. She also holds a master’s degree in German from Bowling Green State University. Sliefert studied and worked abroad in Germany and Austria, completing a work-abroad program with Mercedes-Benz and attending the University of Salzburg in Austria.
Steve Cohen
Board Member
Steven Cohen is the Principal of GreenMark Consulting Group, a business management and operations consulting firm with over 25 years of experience in the landscape and snow industry. Cohen brings a deep understanding of cross-functional business operations, strategic planning, and market growth initiatives. Known for his ability to think both analytically and conceptually, he collaborates closely with business owners to identify opportunities, guide strategic decisions, and implement effective solutions. GreenMark Consulting Group focuses on empowering growth-oriented companies to overcome challenges and develop robust operational and growth strategies. Cohen is also the Principal Owner of BCLS Landscape Services, a commercial landscape firm based in Richmond, VA.
Chris McMurrough
Board Member
Chris McMurrough joined SRS Distribution in 2016, initially focusing on the building products division as Vice President of the Northeast Region. Over four years, he played a pivotal role in integrating key acquisitions, doubling the region’s size, and strategically launching greenfields to expand its footprint.
In March 2020, Chris transitioned to Heritage Landscape Supply as Chief Operating Officer. There, he successfully integrated nearly two dozen acquisitions and spearheaded the launch of over 40 greenfields. Chris is passionate about building high-performing leadership teams driven by relentless growth, with a focus on diversity, empowerment, and execution.
Prior to joining SRS, Chris spent 20 years in the Food Manufacturing industry, advancing from entry-level management to Vice President of Operations for one of the largest business units in the U.S
Sarah Spatola
Board Member
Sarah Spatola is the Director of Product Marketing for Arborjet | Ecologel. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Central Florida, she joined the Ecologel team as territory manager for Florida and the Southeastern United States in 2009. She has also served as Marketing Representative and was promoted to Director of Marketing in 2015. In 2018, Spatola graduated from the UF/IFAS Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources, which develops and refines leadership capabilities of Florida agriculture and natural resource professionals. Ecologel partnered with Arborjet in 2018 and Sarah was promoted to Director of Product Marketing for both companies in 2023. Spatola is a Past President and active member of the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA). She has served on several FNGLA committees, the Board of Directors and Executive Leadership for the state association.
Todd Zimmerman
Board Member
Todd Zimmerman is VP of Product Development at PositecUSA. He is a seasoned leader with extensive global experience in product development, specializing in Lithium-Ion cordless technologies, product sourcing, marketing, and channel management. He has a proven track record in the development and successful launch of innovative, globally positioned products. Zimmerman holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and International Business from the University of Maryland.
Nick Minas
Board Member
Nick Minas joined John Deere in 2001 and currently serves as the B2B Production Systems Manager, where he leads innovation and efficiency initiatives for the golf and professional property care industries. With over 23 years of experience at John Deere, Nick has developed deep expertise in product support, customer service, training, and product management. He earned a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and lives in Cary, NC, with his wife and two children.
Advisory Council
Dan Carrothers – Envu
Joe Shooner – Focal Point Communications
Jason DeSarle – Green Industry Pros magazine
Kristine Esdale – Growmark FS
Paul Fox – Atticus
Phil Fogarty – Weed Man
Den Gardner – Gardner & Gardner
Norman Goldenberg – Namrom Consulting
Warren Gorowitz – Hunter Industries
Darren Gruner – Turf’s Up Radio/TotalScape Design
Elizabeth Housey – Premier Group Associates
Craig MacGregor – NorthCoast Media
Michael Maravich – Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply
Todd Mason – Sipcam Agro
Marnie Wells – The Toro Company
Doug Obermann
Brad Seipel – M/A/R/C Research
Kristen Shumaker – Allied Nutrients
Mike Sisti – Envu
Dave Szy – GIE Media
Steve Trusty – Trusty & Associates
Shayne Wetherall – AMGUARD
John S. Winkleman – Columbia University
Staff
Cindy Code
Executive Director
Cindy Code was named Executive Director in January 2011 after serving on the board of directors since 2003. For nearly 30 years, she has been a proactive communicator and journalist within the green industry community. Code’s reputation was established through her two-decade tenure at Lawn & Landscape magazine. In her roles as editor, account manager, publisher and Internet content manager, she was a respected communicator and active participant within the industry. She is an advocate of communicating the many benefits of yards, parks and green spaces, and has demonstrated this through community revitalization projects across the country.
Code joined GIE Media after graduating from Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism with a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism. She is an award-winning journalist honored by the Turf & Ornamental Communicators Association, the American Society of Business Press Editors and the Cleveland Press Club for her numerous contributions to the field.
Ki Matsko
Program Director, GreenCare and SnowCare for Troops
Ki Matsko, is a graduate of Lake Erie College in Ohio. She has been the program director of GreenCare for Troop and SnowCare for Troops since 2014 and has been a military advocate throughout her life as the daughter of a WW2 veteran. Both her oldest son and daughter in-law are West Point graduates and currently serve as officers in the Army.
In her position, Ki works daily with military families and volunteers throughout the country to answer questions and serve as a liaison between the two. She resides in the Cleveland area with her husband and four dogs and is the proud mother of two sons and a daughter.
Shelley Kane
Program Manager, GreenCare and SnowCare for Troops
As a dedicated Program Manager for GreenCare and SnowCare for Troops (GCFT/SCFT), Kane works to connect military families with compassionate volunteers across the nation. She values building strong relationships with both families and volunteers, ensuring they always have a real person to turn to—whether during the registration process or while setting up services after a match has been made.
Beyond her core responsibilities, Kane enjoys contributing to GreenCare for Community projects and eagerly anticipates new opportunities to make a difference.
A proud graduate of Lakeland Community College, Kane resides in the Cleveland area with her husband and two beloved dogs. She is also a devoted mother to two daughters.
Jeff Fenner
Communications Consultant
Jeff Fenner brings more than 25 years of experience as an award-winning journalist and marketing professional to Project EverGreen. He is responsible for overseeing Project EverGreen’s branding efforts, website content, social media platforms and public relations outreach. Fenner is a partner in B Communications and has previously worked at GIE Media and Meister Media.
