AmericanHort Introduces 2024-2025 Board Members and Executive Officers

Jennifer Zurko

AmericanHort announced the addition of three new industry leaders to its board of directors, along with a new slate of board officers for the coming year.

The new slate of officers for 2024-2025 includes Ed Overdevest of Overdevest Nurseries LP as the incoming board chair and Kent Fullmer of Fullmer’s Landscaping as the incoming board vice chair. Rob Lando of AgriNomix will become the immediate past chair and J. Harvey Cotten will continue to serve as board treasurer in a non-voting position.

“We are honored to welcome these respected industry professionals to the AmericanHort board, where their knowledge and experience will greatly benefit our mission,” said Ken Fisher, President & CEO of AmericanHort. “The board plays a pivotal role in shaping our organization’s direction, and we thank those who commit their time to advancing the field of horticulture.”

The AmericanHort membership also elected the following new board directors:

■ Ken Altman—Co-president of Altman Specialty Plants

■ Tom Fessler—President and Co-owner of Woodburn Nursery & Azaleas, Inc.

■ Christine Fortman—Third-generation owner of Berridge Nurseries, Inc.

These new directors will join current board directors Derek Clark, South Central Growers; Kurt Becker, Dramm Corporation; Matt Edmundson, Arbor Valley Nursery; Brian Lloyd, Olsen’s Greenhouses; Emily Showalter, Willoway Nurseries; and Ann Tosovsky, Home Nursery Inc.

AmericanHort and its members expressed appreciation to outgoing board members Steve Mostardi of Mostardi Nurseries and Lyndsi Oestmann of Loma Vista Nursery, who each served a three-year term from 2021-2024; and Jon Reelhorn of Belmont Nursery, who served on the board from 2018-2024 and was board chairman during his tenure.

The new board will be installed during the annual AmericanHort business meeting held at Cultivate’24 on Sunday, July 14, at 8:00 a.m. in the Short North Ballroom of the Greater Columbus Convention Center. GT