MMGA SPEAKER’S BUREAU
Welcome to the Speaker’s Bureau page where individuals and organizations can find subject matter experts to speak on a variety of topics that are relevant to gardening in Michigan. Presentation topics have been vetted and approved by the MSU Extension Master Gardener Program to qualify for education hours.
sPEAKER LIST (ALPHABETICAL ORder)
Susan Betz
Susan is an author, photographer, speaker, writer, and garden presenter. Her primary focus is gardening with herbs and native plants from an herbal perspective. She is an Honorary Master Gardener and a member of the International Herb Association, Garden Communicators, the Ecological Landscape Alliance, and the National Garden Bureau. Susan is a life member of the Herb Society of America and received The Society’s Helen D. Conway Little Medal of Honor in 2018.
Contact Information
Phone: 517-212-6032
Email: michiganherbs007@me.com
Social Media
Website: freshstartherbs.org
Instagram: @susanbetzherbs
Speaking Engagement Details
Topics: water quality, vegetable gardening and community gardening
Cost: Please contact for pricing
Travel: Willing to travel, please contact for additional details
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Jan Bills
Jan Bills is the author of Late Bloomer, a certified landscape designer, national speaker, advanced master gardener and entrepreneur. After a successful career in the corporate world, she made a major life reassessment in 2008 and followed her heart: She traded in her heels for Wellies and started the Detroit-area landscape design company Two Women and a Hoe® (twowomenandahoe.com). “I am blessed for the opportunity to toil in thousands of different gardens for many years; I know what works and what doesn't”
Contact Information
Phone: 248-891-0548
Email: jan@twowomenandahoe.com
Social Media
Speaking Engagement Details
Topics: garden with comfort, ease and simplicity; preparing your garden beds; ornamental plants; garden design for the home gardener; create winter interest in your gardens; create beauty and harmony; relaxation and letting go; wildlife in the garden; planting in hellstrips; celebrate life with food from the soil; the undesirables around town
Cost: Please contact for pricing
Travel: Willing to travel, please contact for additional details
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Carol Brodbeck
Carol has been presenting gardening and nature-related topics presented on a variety of topics to a wide variety of audiences of all ages (4-95) in a five-county area over the past 20 years. Some of these audiences were Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Saline, Chelsea, and Livonia libraries; garden clubs in Washtenaw, Hillsdale, Ingham, Livingston, Monroe, Jackson, and Wayne counties; Michigan Garden Club District Meetings; National Garden Club Central Region and National conventions; Colonial Dames of America; DAR; Questers, U-M, Washtenaw Community College Life-Long Learning, and most recently taught March 2021 Outdoor Flower course for 59 students at the National Garden Clubs, Inc. Gardening School. Served as State President of Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc. 2017-2019.
In her presentations, Carol tries try to answer the question “Why and Why Not” so audiences know why plants or practices are recommended--and can make choices on their own without needing their lists of recommendations. Carol loves to include biological tidbits to awe the audience of the awesomeness of nature and when appropriate, includes some history about the topic. Each presentation is updated with current information obtained from science-based periodicals or from lectures, webinars or classes. Carol will tailor presentations for a given audience.
Contact Information
Email: brodbeck@aol.com
Phone: 734-434-3795 (home)
Social Media
Not Available
Speaking Engagement Details
Topics: Hummingbird Gardening (Hummer Haven); Butterfly Gardening (Butterfly Bliss); Attracting Birds, Butterflies, and Pollinators to the Landscape and Gardens; Container Gardens to Attract Hummers and Butterflies; Spring-flowering Geophytes(bulbs); Tender Geophytes (Bulbs) --Requirements, Planting, Care, Digging, and Storing; Origins of Fruits and Vegetables (History on Our Holiday Tables); Moon Garden (Sensuous Garden of the Night); Pollinators (What’s the Buzzzzz About?); Common Houseplant TCL and Common Problems; African Violets; Some Like it Dry (Drought-Tolerant); Good Bug/Bad Bug; Simply Tomatoes; Maintenance of Perennials; Creating Planters, Dish Gardens, and Terrariums; Propagating Plants Vegetatively; Seeds Up Close; The Exotic Air Plants; Grow Carnivorous Plants and Not Kill Them; Showing Horticulture at a Flower Show
Cost: via zoom $50.00. In-person $100 + mileage
Travel: Within 150 miles of home
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Allen Chartier
Contact Information
Phone: (313) 433-5002 (mobile)
Email: amazilia3@gmail.com (preferred)
Social Media
http://mihummingbirdguy.blogspot.com/p/great-lakes-hummernet.htm
Speaking Engagement Details
Topics: Hummingbirds
Cost: $150
Travel: prefer to present in person, but charge a travel fee beyond 50 miles from my home
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Cathy Coulson
Cathy has been gardening in Michigan for 20 years, becoming an EMG in 2018. She manages a garden center in Pinckney that has four Learning Gardens onsite, all of which are Master Gardener certified for Volunteer Hours. Cathy is a former LCMGA president and secretary and former MMGA board member. She gives presentations at work from November through March every year and has plenty of experience speaking with groups of all sizes.
Contact Information
Email: doodads_mum@yahoo.com
Phone: 770-856-5355 (cell) (preferred)
Social Media
Not Available
Speaking Engagement Details
Topics: Pollinators & Habitat Creation, Learning Gardens, Fruit Trees for Novices, Invasive Plants, Butterflies &Moths, Early Blooming Perennials, Critter Resistant Plantings, Hydrangeas Made Easy, Fall Clean-up, Winter Gardens around the World, Perennial Victory Gardens, Lawn Care & Turf Alternatives, Backyard Birds for Beginners, Poisonous Plants
Cost: $150 in-person, $75 virtual
Travel: up to 100 miles away or Zoom, no preference
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Stacey Hirvela
Stacey graduated from the New York Botanical Garden School of Professional Horticulture in 2002. In addition to 20+ years as a home gardener, Stacy has accomplished: Rooftop gardener, New York, NY; Horticulturist, Tavern of the Green Restaurant, New York, NY; Garden Editor, Martha Stewart Living Magazine, New York, NY; Horticulturist & marketing specialist, Spring Meadow Nursery, Grand Haven, MI. Her first book, Edible Spots & Pots, was published by Rodale in March 2014.
Contact Information
Email: shirvela@gmail.com (preferred)
Phone: 616-498-3763
Social Media
Speaking Engagement Details
Topics: Shrubs, Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs, perennial gardening, deer resistant gardening.
Cost: varies
Travel: In-person preferred, Zoom available
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Rufus Isaacs
Rufus is the Director of the Berry Crops and Pollination lab at MSU, co-designer of the Vegetables and Insect Pollinators Garden at MSU, co-developer of the www.nativeplants.msu.edu website and materials therein, keen home gardener with wildflowers, vegetable, and fruit. In addition to his professional work, Rufus has over 40 years of home gardening experience.
Contact Information
Email: isaacsr@msu.edu (preferred)
Phone: 517-355-6619
Phone: 517-242-2532 [cell]
Social Media
Speaking Engagement Details
Topics: Pollinator conservation in gardens, fruit insect pest management
Cost: $100
Travel: In-Person or Zoom
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Kerry Ann Mendez
Kerry is an award-winning garden educator, author, design consultant, and proprietor of Perennially Yours, based in southern Maine. As an exceptionally popular educator and communicator, She has presented to thousands of gardeners in 23 states. In 2014 she received the Gold Medal award from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society for “exceptional teaching and writing that increases public enjoyment and appreciation of horticulture.” Kerry has also written four gardening books, the most recent being The Budget Wise Gardener and The Right-Size Flower Garden. In 2016 Kerry started producing international gardening webinars that have been enjoyed by thousands. She has been a presenter and keynote speaker at Master Gardener conferences in 18 states. Kerry has spoken at many Master Gardeners events in Michigan - including three times for Gardening and All That Jazz in Oakland County.
Contact Information
Email: pyours1@gmail.com
Home: 207-502-7228
Cell: 207-205-3359
Social Media
Speaking Engagement Details
Topics: Beautiful high-impact, low-maintenance gardens and landscapes that are planet and pollinator friendly; Clever and money-saving tips for everblooming gardens; Design tips for reducing time and maintenance for busy and maturing gardeners
Cost: In Person Zoom $450. In Person varies based on program
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Glen Pace
Mr. Pace is a retired Registered Nurse and a botany enthusiast as a means of relaxation. Glen is still an instructor for the Emergency Nurses Association, teaching the Trauma Nurse Core Course. His gardening enthusiasm started more than 50 years ago, when a neighbor gave 5-year-old Glen a bouquet of Salix discolor (Pussy willow) while he was enjoying their catkins. Since that first tree took root, Glen has been propagating multiple plants by rooting, layering, and grafting. He has written many PowerPoint presentations on gardening subjects, including “Side-Veneer Grafting,” “Cypripediums,” “Color and Texture in the Spring Garden,” “Fostering the Unconventional,” and other subjects related to a Woodland Garden. He enjoys teaching others about his style of gardening and about the plants for which he holds great passion. Glen is known for pushing the hardiness envelope with his unique collections of plants and enjoys the pastime of working in his private woodland garden, Pace Gardens, in Clio, MI.
“I break so many of the traditional gardening rules, you wouldn’t think I would be teaching gardening.”
Contact Information
Phone: 8102474582 (cell)
Email: PaceGardens@charter.net
Social Media
Not Available
Speaking Engagement Details
Topics: Color and Texture in the Spring Garden; Cypripedium Orchids; Fostering the Unconventional; Grafting the Japanese Maple; Hellebores: The Species, Some Hybrids, and Which Ones Grow Best in USDA zones 5b-6a; Maples for the Small Garden; Trillium: More Than Just the White One; What is Hosta College?; Wonderful Woodlanders
Cost: $200 plus mileage
Travel: Can present in person or via Zoom. Please give 4 week notice when scheduling a presentation.
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Jean Persely
Jean is a lifelong gardener who has created gardens in several states around the country; where ever she was living, she left a piece of beauty behind. She enjoys assisting others in finding and honing their passion for gardening. Jean took the Master Gardener course (Macomb County) in 2004, earning her MSUE MG and Advanced MG certificate soon afterwards. Jean is also an MSUE Master Composter. She was Macomb County Master Gardener Volunteer of the Year in 2006. Jean earned her Landscape Design Certificate from Macomb Community College in 2006. She became a Master Rain Gardener in 2018; an MSUE Conservation Steward in 2021; and MSUE Master Naturalist in 2023.
Contact Information
Email: jean.persely@bmologistics.com (preferred)
Phone: cell 586-764-5956
Social Media
Facebook: BMO Logistics- Garden
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jean-persely-6a2160105/
Speaking Engagement Details
Topics: Native plants, wildlife (birds, butterflies, and pollinators), and design; The Best Garden is Next Years Garden; Magical Monarchs; Beckoning Butterflies; Defining Your Canvas: Landscape Design; Naturally Natives; Pick a Pollinator!; Practical Pruning
Cost: varies, includes mileage and time; email for quote and current presentation list
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Vincent A. Simeone
Vincent has worked in the horticultural field for over 37 years. He received an AAS degree in ornamental horticulture from SUNY Farmingdale, Farmingdale, New York and a BS in ornamental horticulture from the University of Georgia, Athens, GA. While at Georgia, Vincent studied under well-known professors Dr. Michael Dirr and Dr. Allan Armitage. Vincent also obtained a master’s degree in public administration from C.W. Post- Long Island University in 2003. Vincent has specialized expertise in woody plant id, culture, use and selection of superior varieties. Vincent is an experienced lecturer, instructor and horticultural consultant. He has spoken to many groups nation wide and has appeared on several garden shows including Martha Stewart Living and HGTV.
Annually Vincent presents an average of 50 horticultural lectures, workshops and tours to garden clubs, plant societies, professional landscape, nursery and arboricultural trade associations and academic institutions. Topics range from plant, identification, woody plant selection and use, historic landscape preservation and general plant maintenance and care. Vincent teaches horticulture classes at New York Botanical Garden. Over the last fifteen years, Vincent has assisted Allan Armitage with garden tours through Southern England, Northern France, Southern Germany, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Vincent is very active in local and national organizations including The American Public Garden Association, New York Hortus Club, New York State Arborist, ISA Chapter, Long Island Arboricultural Assoc., Long Island Holly Society, American Rhododendron Society-New York Chapter, Nassau Suffolk Landscape Gardeners Assoc., and the Long Island Nursery and Landscape Assoc. Vincent serves on several committees including the Gold Medal Plant Award Committee and the LINLA Landscape Awards Committee and is the former chairman of the APGA Plant Collections Committee.
For the past 30 years Vincent has worked in public horticulture at Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park in New York where he is the Director. At Planting Fields Vincent has helped to coordinate several large horticultural and educational symposia and special events including several national flowers shows and conventions, landscape preservation conferences, tree conferences and conferences to promote new garden trends in the field of horticulture. He has written and contributed to various gardening articles for magazines and newspapers including the Long Island based newspaper, Newsday. Since 2005 he has published six books: Grow More With Less: Sustainable Garden Methods, Great Flowering Landscape Shrubs, Great Flowering Landscape Trees, Great Landscape Evergreens and The Wonders of the Winter Landscape and Gardeners Guide to New York and New Jersey.
In 2010 Vincent contributed to a first ever textbook on public garden management. Also in 2010, Vincent was named Man of the Year by the Long Island Nursery and Landscape Association. In 2014 Vincent was awarded the centurion award by Farmingdale State College as the top 100 alumni over the past century. In 2015, was awarded the distinguished arborists award from the NYS Arborists-ISA chapter. Since 2017, Vincent has contributed to Armitage’s Great Garden Plants app. In 2021, Vincent was awarded the George L. Good Gold Medal of Horticulture by the New York State Nursery and Landscape Association. Also in 2021, Vincent’s book on garden sustainability was revised and has been in bookstores since March. It is entitled Sustainable Gardening: Grow a “Greener” Low-Maintenance Landscape with Fewer Resources.
Topics: Plant Selection; Tree & Shrub Identification; General Woody Plant Maintenance and Pruning; Four Season Gardening; Integrated Pest Management; Historic Landscape Preservation; Garden Travel; Public Garden Management; Low Maintenance Gardening
Contact Information
Phone: 516-419-0238
Email: vasimeone@aol.com
Social Media
www.vincentsimeone.com
Speaking Engagement Details
Contact for more information
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Joseph Tychonievich
Joseph is a life-long gardener with a degree in horticulture from Ohio State. He is the author of multiple gardening books.
Contact Information
Email: gsparrowgardens@gmail.com (preferred)
Phone: 5173030865
Social Media
josephgardens.com
Speaking Engagement Details
Topics: Gardening for pollinators, Plant propagation, science-based gardening information.
Cost: $500 for Zoom, $750 is close to home (eg, SW michigan), $1000 for trips that require an overnight stay.
Travel: In person or zoom, happy to travel as long as travel costs are covered.
