May 2020 - 16

Thomas Barlow
Robert Blew
HEAD GROWER
BARLOW FLOWER FARM
SEA GIRT, NEW JERSEY
Accomplishments:
* Helped build, manage and run company's newest
award-winning growing facility.
* Manages all production of 100,000 square feet of
covered and 3 acres of outdoor growing space to
produce high-quality crops for the company's retail
operation.
Hidden Talents:
Thomas is an expert when it comes to the trendy
dance, The Floss (ask your kids). " I crush it! " he says.
He's also a master whistler.
Tasty Side
Business:
Thomas
and his wife
turned their
chocolate
making
hobby into a
side business.
They buy
whole cocoa
beans and
roast, crack,
winnow, grind,
temper and
mold them
into chocolate
bars that they
sell at markets
whenever and
wherever
they can.
Bob Berbee
OWNER
LEO BERBEE BULB CO./DUTCH MILL GREENHOUSE
MARYSVILLE, OHIO
Accomplishments:
* Opened an independent garden center at the age of
21- now going into its 18th season.
* Participates in community events like the Giving
Garden, a community garden that donates thousands
of pounds of food to local pantries and the annual
Care Train toy drive.
It's All About Heart:
Bob is an advocate for heart health. Diagnosed with
coronary heart disease in his mid-30s, he is " thankful
each day for this early detection and that I can live an
active and healthy lifestyle with my family. "
It's in His Blood:
Bob's family moved from the Netherlands to the U.S.
when he was six weeks old, and he has been in the
family business his entire life. " My first job ever was
counting bulbs in my dad's warehouse. "
VICE PRESIDENT
CENTERTON NURSERIES
BRIDGETON, NEW JERSEY
Accomplishments:
* As the third generation in the family business, helped
to double the company's size in 15 years " without
sacrificing plant quality of customer service. "
* Co-owns the company along with his " two amazing
siblings " (a brother and a sister) - the company
produces more than 1,600 varieties for nearly 1,000
customers in 32 states.
Not Only Does He Drum Up New Plants ...
While in college, Bob played in the drumline for the
Penn State Marching Blue Band.
Grandfather's
Friends in High
Places:
His grandfather
(Ray Blew,
company
founder) moved
his family to
Ecuador for
work in the
late 1960s.
During that
time, he was
on a first name
basis with the
president of
Ecuador.
Ashley Brinegar
Courtney Buckley
KEY ACCOUNTS MANAGER
BOTANY LANE GREENHOUSE
DENVER, COLORADO
Accomplishments:
* Helped company grow from five local customers/
divisions to 20 in 11 different states and increase
overall sales by 60%.
* Co-founded a Young Hort Professionals Outreach
Committee called PlanT Ahead, through the Colorado
Nursery Greenhouse Association, to raise awareness
of the horticulture industry at high school level.
Gotta Get Out:
Ashley loves
doing anything
outdoors - she
has kayaked in
Kauai, hiked in
Machu Picchu
and skied in
the Swiss Alps
... and more.
On Her
Bookshelf:
Her favorite
book is " The
Sun and Her
Flowers " by
Rupi Kaur. " It
is a beautiful
reflection of
self-love and
self-growth
throughout life. "
Amanda Bruce
GENERAL MANAGER
CEDAR RIM NURSERY
LANGLEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Accomplishments:
* Along with her siblings, completely transformed
family business over the past eight years from
renovating the store to revamping the way they
grow their products with " overwhelmingly positive "
results.
* Serves on the retail advisory board for the British
Columbia Landscape & Nursery Association and
is a board member of the Garden Centre Group
Cooperative in Canada.
Most Rewarding Experience:
In her spare time, Amanda coaches a floor hockey team
for the Langley Special Olympics.
Pass the Remote:
Her favorite television series is " Friends, " " because
everything in life can relate back to an episode of
'Friends.' "
What's for Dinner?
Amanda's favorite food is anything Mexican.
16 MAY 2020 GPNMAG.COM
HEAD GROWER/TRIAL MANAGER
SAKATA SEED AMERICA
SALINAS, CALIFORNIA
Accomplishments:
* Successfully implemented a biocontrol program for
the company's key vegetable crops grown for seed
production.
* Is an adjunct professor who teaches greenhouse
management. " I was enthralled and pleased to see
my students become engaged and excited about the
floriculture/horticulture industry. "
Taking a Deep Dive:
Courtney is a certified scuba diver and one day hopes
to dive the Great Blue Hole in Belize in Central America.
Favorite
Flick:
" Willow " -
" As a child, I
related with
the main
character,
a Nelwyn,
and that if
you believe
in yourself
anything is
possible. I
know, cheesy,
but true. "
In Her Spare
Time:
Courtney
enjoys traveling,
quilting and
baking.
40 UNDER 40
http://www.GPNMAG.COM
May 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May 2020
