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You are here: Home / Archives for Meet the leader

Meet the Leader: Mark Bigej

By Bill Goloski — Posted October 26, 2021

Co-owner, chief operating officerAl’s Garden & HomeOAN member since 2009 OAN roles/positions:• Government Relations Committee Chair (2021, 2022)• Political Awareness Award (2019)• Past President (2017)• OAN Executive Committee (2011–2017)• Young Nursery Person of the Year (2002)• Yard, Garden & Patio Show Chair, Committee (2000) Tell us about yourself. I am part of the third generation […]

Filed Under: OAN Members Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, mark bigej, Meet the leader, OAN, OAN Members

Meet the Leader: Tyler Meskers

By Bill Goloski — Posted August 27, 2021

Vice PresidentOregon Flowers, Inc.OAN member since 2009 OAN roles/positions:• Board of Directors Greenhouse Grower Representative Tell us about yourself I am a first-generation American. My parents, Martin and Helene, immigrated from the bulb fields of Northern Holland to the Pacific Northwest in 1979 in pursuit of the American Dream. They started the family cut flower […]

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Meet the leader: Jesse Nelson

By Bill Goloski — Posted October 21, 2020

General ManagerHans Nelson & Sons Nursery Inc. OAN member since: 2002 OAN roles/positions: Board of Directors – Field and Bare Root Tell us about yourself: I grew up doing different little jobs around our family farm in Boring, Oregon, for as long as I can remember. My grandfather started Hans Nelson & Sons Nursery in […]

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Meet the Leader: Chris Robinson

By Bill Goloski — Posted May 26, 2020

Nursery ManagerRobinson Nursery Inc. OAN member since 1987 Field/Bare Root representative, OAN Board of Directors Sunset Chapter President Research Committee member New Nursery Professional of the Year (2017) Tell us about yourself My dream ever since I was little was to manage the nursery. When I was 8, I started pruning trees to earn a […]

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February 2020

By Bill Goloski — Posted January 29, 2020

Growers are finding new markets with medical facilities as they invest in garden spaces to assist with patient care. Producers are also keeping a tight grip on offering credit to their customers in partners to manage finances. Also in this issue, Todd Nelson shares his background and thoughts on the industry, Mike Darcy predicts a […]

Filed Under: Issues Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, Health, Meet the leader, OAN, OAN Members, Pests and Diseases, Trees

Meet the Leader: Todd Nelson

By Bill Goloski — Posted January 23, 2020

Co-owner of Bountiful Farms Nursery Inc. OAN member since 1999 • OAN Board of Directors Treasurer; previously Member at Large • Finance committee chair • Executive committee liaison for Membership Committee, and Retail and Greenhouse Chapter Tell us about yourself I grew up on a hazelnut farm, and I was part of an extremely hard-working […]

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Meet the Leader: Scott Ekstrom

By Bill Goloski — Posted November 22, 2019

Tell us about yourself. I graduated from Clackamas Community College and Mount Hood Community College with degrees in horticulture and Spanish, which I used to develop my nursery skills. I was able to prove to myself that I could see and accomplish a goal, regardless how small or large. Today, I work to move Ekstrom […]

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Meet the Leader: Amanda Staehely

By Bill Goloski — Posted June 24, 2019

Tell us about yourself. I grew up in a family fully immersed in the nursery industry. My parents own Simnitt Nursery, a wholesale plant nursery in Canby, Oregon that specializes in rhododendrons and Pieris. As a kid I saw my dad go to Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN) meetings, get involved with the different boards […]

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Meet the leader: Janet Poot

By Bill Goloski — Posted February 25, 2019

Tell us about yourself. I grew up on a farm in the San Joaquin Valley of California where my parents had a greenhouse operation that grew hothouse tomatoes and European cucumbers for grocery stores. In 1985, we moved up to Hubbard, Oregon. In high school, I worked for Case Nursery (Aurora, Oregon) doing cuttings on […]

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Meet the leader: Ron Kinney

By Bill Goloski — Posted September 25, 2018

Tell us about yourself. I was born and raised in Southern California, and my entire 33-year career in the horticulture industry has been in large-scale nursery production management. After attending Fullerton Community College I graduated with an A.S. degree in ornamental horticulture, and completed my education at Cal Poly Pomona with a B.S. degree in […]

Filed Under: OAN Members Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, Meet the leader, OAN, OAN Members

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NURSERY NEWS

Terra Gardens owner’s gesture for his mother opens the door to other wheelchair-bound gardeners

OAN announces 2025 Friends of Nurseries award winners

OAN leads grower-driven Japanese beetle solution

AmericanHort president and CEO to step down

In memoriam: Bill Van Belle

Longtime employee buys Heritage Seedlings and Liners

In Memoriam: Melvin John Steffenson

New USDA Census of Hort arriving in mailboxes this month

More Nursery News

From the pages of Digger

March: The Perennials Issue

February: The Greenhouse Issue

January 2026: The Retail Issue

November 2025: The Transportation Issue

October 2025

More issues of Digger

Pests and Diseases

OAN leads grower-driven Japanese beetle solution

Prioritizing nursery pest challenges

New tools in the battle against thrips

Aiming for precision in pest control

Oregon’s nursery licensing program aims to keep the entire industry healthy

More articles

FARWEST SHOW UPDATES

2026 Farwest Show issues calls for speakers

Excitement, optimism prevail at 2025 Farwest Show

Dazzling plants, products garner Retailer’s Choice Awards

Youngblood Nursery wins Best in Show booth honors at the 2025 Farwest Show

Glow Sticks Fescue wins top honors from judges at Farwest Show’s New Varieties Showcase 

More Updates from Farwest

The Value of Membership

AmericanHort president and CEO to step down

OAN honors industry leaders at 2025 Convention

Meet the Leader: Patrick Peterson

More member stories

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