Leigh Geschwill, co-owner of F & B Farms and Nursery, began her term as president of the Horticulture Research Institute at the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show in Baltimore, Maryland, recently.

The mission of HRI is to direct, fund, promote and communicate horticultural research, which increases the quality and value of plants, improves the productivity and profitability of the horticulture industry, and protects and enhances the environment.

As president of HRI, Geschwill wants to improve internal processes; improve grant and scholarship review; improve connections between board members and researchers receiving grant funds and connect the industry with our federal agencies that direct funding into research; grow awareness of grants and scholarships available; and improve the visibility of the industry to those not yet connected with it.

Geshwill will serve as HRI president until MANTS next year, and then will remain a year as past president on the Executive Committee. Geshwill also serves on the OAN Research Committee. She served as OAN president in 2014–15.