2021 PLANT WNY Board of Directors |
2021 Executive Board
President - Jeanetta Hanlon, CNLP
Jeanetta graduated from Harper College with degrees in Horticulture and Parks & Grounds Management in 1987. Locally she owned her own landscaping company from 1989-1997. Jeanetta then moved into estate management gaining further experience in greenhouse growing, tropical plants, and interior plantscaping. During that time, she became a CNLP and 3A Certified Pesticide Technician.
Vice President - Kristy Schmitt, CNLP
Kristy has been the director of education at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens since 2013. Her background is in science education and environmental biology. Kristy was employed at the Pioneer School district and Buffalo Audubon Society before working at the Botanical Gardens. Kristy became a CNLP in 2017. She loves plants, particularly trees and mosses and enjoys sharing the botanical world with people of all ages!
Treasurer - Steven Sypniewski, Lifetime CNLP
Steve is a lifelong resident of WNY and has over 30 years in the green industry. After receiving a degree from SUNY Alfred State in Landscape Development, Steve worked for several Buffalo area landscape firms, Valley View Nursery, Alden Evergreen Nursery, Adam’s Nursery, Woodside Landscape Care, and his own firm, Hilltop Landscape & Design. Throughout his career, Steve has a wide range of landscape contracting experience, including design/build, maintenance, and tree service. In addition to his lifetime CNLP, he is an ISA Certified Arborist, and a NYS certified pesticide applicator in category 3a. Employed at SUNY Buffalo State since 2011, he is currently the Assistant Campus Planner & Arboretum Manager.
Secretary - Lou Sardo
Lou is a Financial Professional with Equitable Advisors. When it comes to financial and retirement planning, he specializes in working with small businesses. Lou is licensed to help with financial and retirement planning, employee group benefits, disability and life insurance solutions, buy/sell agreements and business continuation planning just to name a few.
Lou understands the green industry firsthand as he joined PLANT WNY in 2016 as a landscape business owner. He was proud to showcase his garden scape at Plantasia and has continued to participate and be a resource for his former colleagues. Lou said his key to success has been to smile, and to treat everyone with respect and dignity.
Director – Phil Tripi
As the founder of Tripi’s Landscaping Phil’s success story begins over twelve years ago with a truck and an idea. From that moment Tripi’s Landscaping has grown into a full-service landscaping outdoor living and maintenance company. Phil continues to focus on both his positions as a businessman, landscape designer, entrepreneur, and father. A continuous drive to educate himself on the latest and greatest landscaping techniques has kept him on the forefront of the Industry. His accomplishments can be attributed to his ability to adapt and reinvent old ideas.
