|
AWARDS
Distinguished Professional of the Year
(formerly Virginia Nurseryman of the Year)
Click HERE to submit you nomination form on-line. Contact the VNLA Office with any questions via phone, 804 256 2700, or email.
You are invited to submit a nomination for the Distinguished Professional of the Year. This award is given by the Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association to honor a member of our green industry.*
The selection criteria is based equally on a candidate who has spent their career promoting and advancing the green industry. This individual is selected on the basis of long term contributions to the local and/or state organizations of Nursery and Landscape Associations.
A committee of previous recipients of this award, along with approval of the VNLA Executive Committee, make the final selection. The winner will be introduced at our Annual Membership meeting.
The person you nominate must be a VNLA member or work for a VNLA member company. A previous recipient of the prestigious award is eligible again after five years.
| 2025 - Mary Peters | |
| 2024 - **change in award structure. Prior to 2024, awards were provided for the last calendar year. For example, at the 2024 MANTS, if there was a recipient for the Young Professional of the Year, the award would have been for 2023. Beginning in 2025, awards were provided for the current calendar year** | |
 |
2023 - Mike Hilderbrand (L) |
 |
2022 - Greg Miller (R)
|
|
2021 - No Recipient |
|
|
2020 - No Recipient |
|
 |
2019 - Wes Bray (L) |
|
2018 - No Recipient |
|
|
2017 - No Recipient |
|
|
2016 - Howard Saunders |
|
|
2015 - No Recipient |
|
|
2014 - Paul Saunders |
|
|
2013 - Robert Warhurst |
|
|
2012 - Dr. Holly Scoggins |
|
|
2011 - Dr. Roger Harris |
|
|
2010 - Duane Shumaker |
|
|
2009 - Robert Wright |
|
|
2008 - Joel Koci |
|
| 2007 - Fred Duis | |
| 2006 - No Recipient | |
| 2005 - Doug Hensel | |
| 2004 - Mary Williams | |
| 2003 - Tscharner Watkins III | |
| 2002 - John Tankard | |
| 2001 - Carville Akehurst | |
| 2000 - Bob Papetti | |
| 1999 - Jim Snyder | |
| 1998 - Elizabeth Gardner | |
| 1997 - No Recipient | |
| 1996 - Tom Saunders | |
| 1995 - Butch Gaddy | |
| 1994 - Eddie Anderson | |
| 1993 - Wayne Sawyer | |
| 1992 - No Recipient | |
| 1991 - Danny Shreckhise | |
| 1990 - Jeff B. Miller | |
| 1989 - C. Fletcher Flemer, III | |
| 1988 - Karen Shipp Kelly | |
| 1987 - John Watkins | |
| 1986 - John Machen, Sr. | |
| 1985 - No Recipient | |
| 1984 - No Recipient | |
| 1983 - Charles Parkerson | |
| 1982 - Ennion S. Williams, Jr. | |
| 1981 - No Recipient | |
| 1980 - No Recipient | |
| 1979 - No Recipient | |
| 1978 - Mrs. Thelma Yeatts | |
| 1977 - No Recipient | |
| 1976 - James S. Campbell | |
| 1975 - Art Lancaster | |
| 1974 - Samuel D. Tankard, Jr. | |
| 1973 - A.J. Shoosmith | |
| 1972 -David E. Laird, Jr. | |
| 1971 - Daniel Capper | |
| 1970 - David E. Liard, Sr. |