The 2014 Horitculture Conference speakers are listed in the order that they are presenting.

Dr. Chip Taylor

Professional Title:

Founder and Director of Monarch Watch

Biographical Sketch:

Ecologist Chip Taylor founded Monarch Watch in 1992. Monarch Watch enlists the help of volunteers to tag Monarch butterflies during their fall migration. With the decline in monarch habitats at a rate of 6000 acres per day in the U.S. Monarch Watch established the Monarch Waystation program to inspire school children and others to create habitats for monarch butterflies and to educate the public about the decline in natural habitats or the insects and wildlife that share the same habitat.

Todd Rounsaville

Professional Title:

Curator of Native Plants at the Arboretum

Biographical Sketch:

Todd Rounsaville has been Curator at the State Botanical Garden of Kentucky since 2011, where he is responsible for the development preservation of native collections and specialty ecosystems. In addition to co-aurhoring several papers published in HortScience, Mr. Rounsaville spent two years as a Botanic Garden Plant Records Supervisor, and previously interned at the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College, United States National Arboretum, and The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University. Mr. Rounsaville received a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Horticulture from the University of Rhode Island, a Master of Arts degree in Horticulture Science from North Carolina State University, and is a PhD Candidate in Biology at the University of Kentucky.

Dr. Gregg Munshaw

Professional Title:

UK Turf Extension Specialist

Biographical Sketch:

Gregg Munshaw is a native of western Canada. He has been involved in the turf industry for nearly 20 years and holds a PhD in turfgrass science from Virginia Tech. His research focuses on reduced input/sustainability.

Julie Beale

Professional Title:

Diagnostician in the University of Kentucky’s Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory

Biographical Sketch:

Julie Beale has been the Diagnostician in the University of Kentucky’s Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (Lexington) since 1996. She is a native of North Carolina and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1989 and then completed a Master of Sciences in Plant Pathology from the University of Minnesota in 1995. In addition to her diagnostic responsibilities, Julie assists in teaching general plant pathology and plant diagnostics at UK, as well as providing Master Gardener and other training on plant disease diagnosis and management at the county level. She recently conducted research comparing various detection methods for Phytophthora root and crown rot in woody ornamentals, which was presented at the 16th Annual Ornamental Workshop of Diseases and Pests in 2008.

Dr. Nicole Ward Gauthier

Professional Title:

Extension Specialist for Fruit Crops, Ornamentals and Forestry

Biographical Sketch:

Dr. Nicole Ward joined the Department of Plant Pathology at UK this August as an Extension Specialist for fruit crops, ornamentals, and forestry. In addition to earning a B.S. in Horticulture Science and a PhD in Plant Pathology at Louisiana State University, Nicole owned and operated a landscape contracting business for 12 years. Nicole looks forward to working with county Extension agents, growers, and other stakeholders around the state.

Jennifer Gulick, M.A.

Professional Title:

 Senior Consulting Urban Forester, Davey Resources Group

Biographical Sketch:

Responsible for assisting governments, businesses, utilities, and non-profit organizations with various urban forestry, park management, and land development programs, Ms. Gulick has over 30 years of experience and joined Davey Resource Group in 1999 after a successful career in municipal government. She is an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist and Municipal Specialist (OH-0069), is an ISA Certified Tree Risk Assessor (#1726), and is a Certified Forester (#920) as recognized by the Society of American Foresters. Ms. Gulick is also a Past-President of the Ohio Chapter of the ISA, President of the Greater Cincinnati Branch of the Professional Grounds Management Society, and is a board member of the American Public Works Association’s Facilities and Grounds Committee, Kentucky Division of Forestry’s Urban Forestry Advisory Council, the Northern Kentucky Urban and Community Forestry Council, and the Boone County Urban Forestry Commission.

Dr. Daniel Potter

Professional Title:

Professor of Entomology at the University of Kentucky

Biographical Sketch:

Dr. Potter is an international authority on insect pests of turf and landscapes. He has been an invited keynote speaker at many international conferences and has taught educational programs for Green Industry practitioners all over the world. His national awards for teaching, research, and service include the 2010 U.S. Golf Association Green Section Award, the Professional Land Care Network’s Leadership Award, and the American Nursery and Landscape Association’s Distinguished Career Achievement Award. His hobbies include fishing, fly tying, and travel.