Robert Easler- President (2012): Robert is a 1980 graduate of Spartanburg Technical college with an Associate Degree in Agriculture. He has worked in various areas of agriculture for the past 31 years. In addition to landscaping and turf management, he has worked in fertilizer manufacturing and raising peaches, row crops, vegetables and cattle. From 1987-1990, Robert was head of Grounds Maintenance at Zima/Kusters, located in Spartanburg. He was awarded 1st place in the Industrial B Division of the Spartanburg Men’s Garden Club Beautification program in 1987-1989. Since 1990 he has been the Superintendent of Landscape Services at the University of South Carolina Upstate. He and his staff maintain a 325 acre campus, including a 12 acre arboretum, student housing and 9 sports fields. USC Upstate is a Tree Campus USA university and they have won numerous awards for landscape and sports fields. Robert has been a volunteer firefighter for 32 years and is a retired Captain in the Cherokee Springs Fire Department. He is treasurer of the Cherokee Springs Board of Fire Control and a member of the Boiling Springs First Baptist Church. Robert and his wife,Jennifer, have two sons, Richard (18) and Daniel (13).
Liz Gilland- Vice President (2012): Liz is the Urban Forester for the City of Camden. She was employed with the SC Forestry Commission for 18 years prior, most recently serving as the State Community Forestry Program Coordinator. Liz holds a BS in Forestry Resource Management from Virginia Tech. She is a SC Registered Forester and an ISA Certified Arborist and she has a passion for educating people about trees. In addition to being an SCLTA member, she is also member of Trees SC, the International Society of Arboriculture and the Society of Municipal Arborists. She is married and enjoys being outside and kayaking throughout the year.
David Park- Secretary (2012): David is employed with W.P. Law, Inc. in Lexington, SC. W.P. Law is a design/engineering firm that sells irrigation, fountains and pumping systems. He holds an Associate Degree in Agricultural Science/Forestry from Horry- Georgetown Technical College. David is married to Jane and they have two sons.
Hank Kerfoot- Treasurer (2012): Founder and president of Modern Turf, a state of the art turfgrass production facility in Rembert, SC, Hank has been in the turf business for over 30 years. He received his formal training at Lake City Community College in Lake City, Florida. On the way to receiving his degree in Golf Course Operations, he served as the president of the Florida Turfgrass Association, Student Chapter and the president of Student Government at Lake City Community College. His leadership skills are still being put to good use as he has since served as president of the North-South Turfgrass Association in Charlotte, NC and president of the Kershaw County Chamber of Commerce. Hank is currently president of the South Carolina Sod Producers Association. He also serves as a board member of the Rembert Area Community Coalition, the Springdale Hall Club and the South Carolina Landscape and Turfgrass Association.
Dr. James Blake- Educational Advisor: Dr. Blake is Executive Editor for the Home & Garden Information Center (HGIC), Program Coordinator for the Upstate Master Naturalist Program and an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Entomology, Soils & Plant Sciences and the Department of Environmental Horticulture at Clemson University. Dr. Blake earned his B.S. degree in Plant and Soil Science (Horticulture option) from Tennessee Technological University in 1982. He then completed his M.S. degree in Plant Pathology at the University of Arkansas in 1984. He earned his Ed.D. in Career and Technology Education/Plant Pathology from Clemson University in 2004.
David Kizer- Past President (2012): David has been employed at Santee Cooper in Moncks Corner, SC for the past 29 years where he is currently General Supervisor, Landscape and Park Management. He is a 1981 graduate of Clemson University with a B.S. degree in Ornamental Horticulture. David is active in his community where he is serving his third term on the Moncks Corner Town Council and his second term as Mayor Pro Tem. He is also past president of the Moncks Corner Lions Club. He is married to Julie and they have two children. Erin, a graduate of Clemson University, is married and resides in Greenville, SC and Thomas is a rising senior at Clemson University.
Marion Bolick (2012): Marion is the Manager of Grounds at Lexington Medical Center in West Columbia, SC. He holds a B.S. in Horticulture from Morehead State University. Marion is a native of Blair, SC in Fairfield county where he resides. He is married to Denise and they have two daughters, Anna and Heather. They also have two grandchildren, Hunter and Addison.
Damon Dennis (2012): Damon is the owner of Personal Touch Lawn Care, LLC, a grounds maintenance and installation company. Damon has been full time at this profession for the past 20 years. Personal Touch maintains 20 commercial and 60 residential properties year-round. His area of expertise is simply customer satisfaction. What Damon doesn’t presently have in knowledge and experience, he strives to learn to enhance his business. His lovely wife, Princetta, is retired from BellSouth and is now a chaplain with Heartstrings Hospice. They have six children and twelve grandchildren.
Miles Graves (2013): Miles is a Horticulturist and received his B.S. from Clemson University in 2003. He is currently a Senior Account Supervisor for The Greenery Inc. In his current role, Miles’ main responsibilities include managing the maintenance personnel for Palmetto Bluff, Sun City Hilton Head and Hampton Hall, designing landscape improvements and assisting in company operations. These duties use his training as a Certified Landscape Technician (CLT) and a South Carolina Commercial Certified Pesticide Applicator. Miles is very active at his place of worship and believes that honesty, patience and personal responsibility are all critical virtues.
Larry Sprinkle (2014): Larry began his business in 1978, specializing in maintenance. Working seven days a week running a business, he completed an Associate degree in Horticulture at Midlands Technical College in 1980. He branched out into irrigation and design after selling the maintenance division of his business in 1985. Larry has taken short courses at the University of Georgia to further his development as a designer. Today, his company, Evergreen Enterprises Landscaping, is 80% commercial, 20% residential design and installation of irrigation/planting. Larry has served on the Greater Columbia Landscape Association’s board of directors and was president in 2003. Born in North Carolina, he moved with his family to Batesburg, SC where he graduated from Batesburg-Leesville High School. He attended Boy’s State, lettered in basketball and golf and was Ponderosa Golf Course Junior Champion and the Men’s Club Champion in the same year. Drafted into the Army soon after high school, Larry became a Green Beret, was an M.P. in the 82nd Airborne Division and served one tour of duty in Vietnam. Larry lives in Columbia, SC with his wife, Lynn. They have three sons: Jason, a USC graduate; Brantley, a graduate of USC and Johnson and Wales; and Connor who is a freshman at the College of Charleston.
Wanda Lilly (2014): Wanda is employed with the City of Conway as an Arborist/Parks Superintendent. She holds Associate degrees in Agriculture and Horticulture. She is a Certified Nursery Professional through the SC Nursery and Landscape Association and a Certified Arborist. Wanda has two children: son, Chris, is in the military and daughter, Cindy, attends Coastal Carolina University.