Our Speakers

Katie Dubow is president of Garden Media Group, a second-generation women-owned and run public relations firm specializing in the green industry. Author of the annual Garden Trends Report, Dubow presents the report world-wide – from Italy to Chicago.

Dubow is also a guest host on QVC for Cottage Farms, judge at the Philadelphia Flower Show, the inaugural recipient of the Emergent Communicator Award from GardenComm, president of the Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association, and a member of the Forty Under 40 from Greenhouse Product News.

Follow along @KatieGMG and on Facebook at KatieGardenGirl

Jacki is a sought-after landscape business coach, teacher and speaker. She brings a career full of landscape business and team management experience – both as a landscape contractor and as a business coach.

Just like many of you, her passion for landscapes and plants far outweighed her business management talent for many years. Fast forward 30 years, and she leverages both her hard-learned business acumen plus her passion for helping entrepreneurs and managers, in everything she does for the landscape profession.

As a professional speaker, workshop facilitator, consultant and business coach, Jacki focuses on helping others grow their businesses, their managers, and their success. Jacki has over 200 published magazine articles to her credit and is a skilled entrepreneurial educator.

In her spare time whenever that is… Jacki enjoys being in her kayak, on her bike or  snowshoes exploring the rivers and forests near her Muskoka, Ontario home.

Grant has spent 30 years in the landscape industry. He loves to share his experience and provide tools for landscape business owners to build and grow their business. He specializes in team building, operations analysis, accountability, and financial administration.  He started in the landscape industry when he was 15 years old. Through training and work experience, he learned the technical side of the industry. As he gained experience, he was moved into management roles where he learned the operational and financial side of landscaping.

Fulfilling a lifelong dream, he then opened his own design/build business, where he learned the ups and downs of being a business owner. Mostly the downs. After closing his business, he worked for a couple of different companies providing structure, support, accountability and standardization to help these businesses grow leaner, stronger and more profitable. Grant is convinced that knowing your numbers, creating a strong team and establishing a network of support is foundational to business growth. He is a believer in constantly learning, evaluating and adapting to ensure longevity and sustainability. He has a passion to help business owners and their staff experience success and satisfaction in the industry that he knows and loves.

Bob has come to believe that the secret to plant success (and our professional success) is hiding in the soil beneath our feet. He began the Soil Health/Root Rescue project in 2005 with a discovery made at his family’s nursery / garden centre, Reeves Florist & Nursery, in Woodbridge, Ontario. He has worn many hats over the years: grower, nursery buyer, sales manager, staff trainer, IT manager, and landscape designer & estimator for his own design-build company: Reevisions Designs. Bob was also the original developer of the widely used landscape design and quotation software suite DynaScape.

At the core of Bob’s career has been the pursuit of his twin loves: plants, and industry innovation. He advocates strongly for a regenerative approach to growing and sustaining the plants, and ecosystems we all depend on. 

Bob is the Founder and CEO of Root Rescue Environmental Products: www.rootrescue.com and also serves as a the Soil Microbiome Advisor to Flash Forest – leading innovators in drone-powered reforestation: https://flashforest.ca/who-we-are.

Rose Séguin is an agronomist specializing in controlled environment agriculture, with previous experience in indoor agriculture, agricultural innovation systems, and agricultural development in remote areas of Canada. She holds a bachelor’s degree in agro-environmental sciences and a master’s degree in bioresource engineering from McGill University. In her role as an agronomist at Sollum Technologies, Rose works with growers to implement dynamic lighting strategies over various greenhouse crops, analyze production data and track progress towards the production targets

Brad has been part of the Green Industry for over 30 years. He graduated from Olds College in 1997 with a horticulture diploma; majoring in landscaping. In 1999, Brad was one of the first in the trade to become a Certified Horticultural Technician in Alberta. Growing up in a construction family outside of Halifax, Nova Scotia, he learned the value of professionalism and setting yourself apart from the competition at an early age. After graduating from college, he spent time working in both the Green Industry and the commercial construction industry in Nova Scotia, Alberta, North & South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Eventually, Brad settled back in Calgary where he started Fiddler’s Green Landscaping in the spring of 2001. Brad is married to Crystal, and has 2 sons, Gavin and Thane.

Dr. Ken Fry, Coordinator for the Horticulture Program and Entomology Instructor in the School of Life Science and Business at Olds College, has been involved in insect pest management research, teaching and extension for 25 years, including 9 years as a research scientist at the Alberta Research Council.  His research is focused on biological control of insect pests and integrated pest management.

Egan Davis has a lifelong passion for horticulture.  Egan has taught Horticulture UBC Botanical Gardens, and VanDusen Botanical Garden’s. As a horticulture practitioner, he has had leadership roles both the private and public landscape horticulture sectors. He is very active in industry and is on various committees, boards and has participated in both local and international projects. His current role is at the City of Richmond where he is the Parks Operation Manager.

Travis Banks joined Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in 2009 as Research Scientist, Bioinformatics and has experience in plant genetics and genomics. He was appointed leader of the greenhouse tomato program in 2018 where he, in conjunction with Vineland’s business development group, led the team through the commercialization of Vineland’s first hybrid tomatoes.

In 2019 Travis was named Director, Plant Variety Development where he works with Vineland researchers and business development staff to release new varieties in crops such as tomatoes, apples, roses and sweet potatoes.

Travis holds a MSc in Biochemistry from the University of Saskatchewan and prior to joining Vineland worked as a biologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Don Montgomery is the founder and president of True North M&A, and has built the company over the last decade on a foundation of connecting, listening, gaining insight, and most importantly, delivering results for business owners across Canada. Prior to True North, Don spent over 20 years in the medical field, including running a Canadian medical company, which prepared him for his paramount role today of leading, negotiating and closing successful transactions at the highest value for his clients. Don is an active member with: IBBA, IBBA Canada, M&A Business Source and is also a certified Business Intermediary, and Certified Value Builder.

Christyn Palazzo is a Saskatchewan-based landscape designer known for her innovative designs and personalized approach to landscaping. With over a decade of experience, she has a passion for creating functional and visually stunning outdoor living spaces, particularly in the challenging prairie climate.

Her journey into landscape design began with a love for transforming uninspired yards into cherished outdoor sanctuaries. She gained practical knowledge by working in a greenhouse for five seasons and further honed her skills through formal education in landscape design at the University of Guelph and completing the Master Gardener courses from the University of Saskatchewan.

In 2013, Christyn founded Palazzo Landscape Design, focusing on creating outdoor spaces that resonate with busy individuals seeking to balance family, careers, and lifestyle. Drawing upon her MBA and fifteen years of corporate experience, she combines business acumen with landscaping expertise to craft outdoor sanctuaries that maximize clients’ valuable time and financial investment.

Her diverse portfolio includes projects like the Humboldt Urban Garden Sanctuary (HUGS), commercial ventures with Nutrien and Earls, and multi-family housing developments for Avana. With an innate ability to tackle challenging yards, Christyn transforms disparate ideas into cohesive reality; creating outdoor spaces that reflect her clients’ style and visions for creating cherished memories in their outdoor spaces.

Brandy has worked in business development helping companies reach their goals since 2001.  With a varied background in sales, acquisitions and distribution, she helps business owners review and improve their internal workflows from several perspectives.  With the last two years focused specifically in the landscape industry, she is passionate about her role as a trusted advisor teaching companies how to create efficiencies, enhance profit and train employees.

Erin Balva

Erin Belva (P.Ag., ISA Certified) is the City of Edmonton Planting Leader with Forestry Operations and oversees boulevard and open space tree planting.

Kortney Tompkins

Kortney Tompkins is the City of Edmonton Naturalization leader and oversees the naturalization planting along roadways, conversion of sites and the Root for Trees Program.

As part owner of Intrigue, Vanessa has had the opportunity over the last 10 years of helping businesses get noticed and found by their A-Clients. Intrigue has been on Canada’s Growth 500 list for four years, is a Google Premier Partner and Meta Certified.

She and the team at Intrigue specialize in providing support to businesses that focus on home renovation, home construction and landscaping. With extensive expertise in marketing and strategy, Vanessa is able to offer valuable insights and guidance to help these companies achieve their goals. By focusing on this specific niche, she has developed a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities that businesses in these industries face. Vanessa’s experience and skills make her a well-suited speaker to help these great companies attract the right clients.

Rob Murray

Rob Murray is the Co-founder and CEO of Intrigue Media, a digital marketing company that has been empowering and growing businesses in the home improvement space for the last 14 years. Intrigue has been on Canada’s Growth 500 list for four years, is a Google Premier Partner and is Meta Certified. Rob directs the organizational vision, works with clients to grow their businesses, and ensures that Intrigue has the right people and the right tools to get results. He is the past President of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization in Southwest Ontario and sits on the board of his local hospital as the digital marketing chair.

Toso Bozic is a founder of ATTS Group Inc. and Yard Whispers consultancy business with 27 years’ experience in every aspect of trees and forestry.  Toso graduated from the University of Belgrade in Yugoslavia and holds a degree in Forest Engineering, he is member of Professional Agrologist and obtained an ISA Certified Arborist and ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ ).  Toso has extensive communication experience through 3000 public speaking events, multiple TV and radio interviews. He is an author of over 350 articles, guides, fact sheets, and technical materials.

Toso has many personal interests including refereeing soccer (over 7000 games), astronomy, geology and photography.

Jordan T. Crone is a partner in the Calgary office of Gowling WLG, practising in the areas of commercial litigation, construction and engineering, and projects and infrastructure. He is also a member of the firm’s national: Construction, Expropriation, Municipal, and Food & Beverage Law Groups. Jordan’s clients include developers, general contractors, material suppliers, landlords, and management companies, as well as corporations and partnerships operating in the oil & gas sector.

Over the course of his career, Jordan has represented clients successfully before the Alberta Court of Justice and the Alberta Court of King’s Bench at trials and in contested applications. He also has experience in all aspects of alternative dispute resolution, including judicial dispute resolution, mediation, and arbitration. Prior to joining Gowling WLG, Jordan acted as in-house legal counsel for a large-scale international construction developer and operator. Jordan is actively engaged in the legal community as a volunteer and mentor.

Tom Brookes

Tom Brookes is an associate in the Calgary office of Gowling WLG, practising in construction law.

Tom advises clients at all levels of the construction chain, including subcontractors and suppliers, general contractors, owners, municipalities, and ministers. He has represented clients through both litigation and alternate dispute resolution procedures, including mediation and arbitration.

Prior to joining Gowling WLG, Tom practised at a litigation boutique specializing in construction law. Tom has appeared at all levels of court in Alberta.

Jason is faculty at Olds College, specializing in Turfgrass Science, Golf Course and Resort Management. He holds diplomas in Agriculture, Business, a Bachelor of Applied Science and Masters in Turf Science from Penn State. He is the Executive Director of the Alberta Turfgrass Research Foundation, and advisor to the Prairie Turfgrass Research Center. He is a past president of the Western Canada Turf association and former golf course superintendent. With post graduate training among 8 different golf clubs across Canada and the Caribbean, he’s been a certified pesticide applicator for 30yrs, a trainer since 2009.

Owen is a part owner of Vanstone Nurseries, a greenhouse and nursery operation focused on supplying independent garden centres. The second-generation company produces a broad range of hardy perennials, shrubs and roses as well as herbs, vegetables, and annual colour items. Owen is hands on with daily operations and enjoys spending time in the greenhouse and watching the plants grow.

From early days growing up on the nursery, Owen has enjoyed noting the unique traits of plants and how one is distinct from the next. He now oversees the plant trials at the nursery where new and existing items are evaluated for hardiness and performance. The data gathered in these trials is used to ensure that the best plants are produced for gardeners across the Prairie region.

Owen is married to Gina and has three young children. They all love living in the country and keeping busy with the exciting things that can be found in the gardens and woods nearby. They have a dog, a cat, and 25 chickens.