Shaffeek Ali

Shaffeek Ali graduated from the University of Alberta with a B.Sc.in Agriculture in 1975 and a Master’s Degree in 1982. Shaffeek retired from Alberta Agriculture after 30 years of service. During that time, he worked in various areas of pest management, pest and pesticide regulations and program planning. His clients included farmers, turf managers, industrial operators and urban and rural municipalities. He has served on the Boards of several Scientific Societies at the Provincial, National and International levels. Shaffeek is a Certified Pesticide Applicator Trainer and holds a Pesticide Applicator Certificate.

Joe Antonishin Manager, Technical services and training

STIHL Limited

Manager technical services from Sept 2002 Prairie provinces
Manager technical services from June 2021 Western Canada
Manager technical services and SCC June 2023 Western Canada

My career started in 1994 in Northern Ontario as a Full line Stihl dealership. In 1998 became the manager of technical services.

Technical manager part of the job is assisting dealers with complicated repairs. Training: dealer training, commercial training which includes inhouse technical and application training to staff.
CSS Commercial Solutions Specialist

Jason Blasi

Jay Blasi Design

Jay Blasi is an award-winning golf course designer based in Los Gatos, CA. Blasi started his career working for Robert Trent Jones II where he guided the designs at Chambers Bay in WA (Site of the 2015 US Open), The Patriot in OK, Stanford’s Practice Facility in CA and SentryWorld in WI (Site of the 2023 US Sr Open).

Since starting Jay Blasi Design in 2012, he has led major transformations of Santa Ana CC in Orange County, CA, Lakeside CC in Houston, TX, Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, CA and Poppy Ridge in Livermore, CA.

Blasi’s honors and recognition include a Forward Under 40 Award from the University of Wisconsin Alumni Association (2015), being named as a ‘Top Five architect under 40’ by Golf Channel in 2017 and being listed among The Next Superstar Architects by Today’s Golfer in 2025.

He is currently working with clients in CA, MN, TX, WA, WI, and also serves as a contributing writer for Golfweek Magazine.

Patty Bretin

Bretin’s Flowers Farm

Patty Bretin is a Journeyman Landscape Gardener with a BSc majoring in horticulture. Her experiences include field production of cut flowers and market gardening. She enjoys riding her sport horses in Alberta’s wilderness.

Derek Deprey

Derek’s passion in life is to help you become the leader you’d want to follow.
After seven years in basketball operations at the NCAA Division 1 & NBA levels,
thirteen years in the fitness industry, and three years in the automotive industry,
he turns managers into leaders at Fit to Lead as an author, keynote speaker, and
leadership coach. Derek is the author of 2 books, SHIFT: Move from Frustrated
to Fulfilled & Everyday Leaders: Small Actions, Big Results. When Derek isn’t
geeking out on leadership, he’s working out, coaching youth basketball, or carting
his daughters all over like an Uber driver.

Dr. Ken Fry

Olds College

Dr. Ken Fry, Entomology Instructor in the School of Life Sciences & Business at Olds College, has been involved in insect pest management research, teaching, and extension for over 30 years. His research is focused on biological control of insect pests and integrated pest management. Current research projects include the introduction of a parasitic wasp to manage the lily beetle, surveillance of invasive species affecting the urban forest, and evaluating the effects of Aphodiine beetles on turfgrass. Ken’s “happy place” is in the Olds College Insect Collection where he serves as curator for 100,000 specimens. Ken is co-author, with Doug Macaulay and Don Williamson of “Garden Bugs of Alberta” and a contributing author to “Organic Farming on the Prairies”.

Wendall Hutchens Ph.D

University of Arkansas

Wendell Hutchens, PhD, is an assistant professor of turfgrass science and pathology in the Horticulture Department at the University of Arkansas. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in turfgrass science and pathology from North Carolina State University. He received his doctoral degree in turfgrass pathology from Virginia Tech. His main areas of expertise are turfgrass pathology, precision management of turfgrass pests using emerging technologies, and winterkill mitigation strategies in warm-season turfgrasses. His research program is centered around maintaining healthy turfgrass and combating turfgrass stressors with traditional cultural and chemical practices, as well as with cutting-edge technology. Dr. Hutchens has published many research papers and given well over 100 presentations on these topics around the United States and world.

Sara Jordan-McLachlan

Grow Wild YYC

Sara Jordan-McLachlan is the owner and operator of Grow Wild YYC, a small business supporting homeowners and businesses to make their spaces more biodivers. Sara has a BSc in Zoology and MSc in Environmental Practice (which she completed studying urban bobcats). She works and volunteers with a variety of biodiversity related projects in the city of Calgary including; Conservation Researcher with the Miistakis Institute for the Rockies, a Naturalist and the Education Coordinator with the Weaselhead/Glenmore Park Preservation Society, founding member of Bird Friendly Calgary, Program Manager for the Calgary Urban Species Response Team, Butterfly Ranger for the David Suzuki Foundation and public member and Vice Chair of the BiodiverCity Advisory Committee for the City of Calgary from 2021 until it was disbanded in 2025

Kristopher Marks

VĪV Mental Health CEO and founder

VĪV Mental Health CEO and founder Kristopher Marks is a globally-recognized speaker,
entrepreneur, and a passionate voice in mental health, workplaces, leadership,
psychological safety, culture & connection, suicide awareness, youth empowerment,
and men’s mental health.
Drawing from both his lived experience and professional expertise, Kristopher’s
captivating blend of authenticity, humour, and humanity continues to inspire and
empower audiences around the world.
Kristopher is a Certified Psychological Health & Safety Advisor (Canadian Mental Health
Association), a Red Seal journeyman machinist, professional musician, stand-up comedian,
podcast host, community advocate, and founder of the InstruMental Health Therapeutic
Music Program. He is also the proud human to a rescue dog named Carson.

Casandra Merson

Bretin’s Flowers Farm

Casandra Merson began working in greenhouses at an early age and continued working horticulture while obtaining a degree in fine art. In addition to her passion for growing and designing with flowers she is a tattoo artist.

Patricia Anne Miller BSc.hon., Ph.Dc

Plant Microbiologist. Green Solutions Specialist at Envu Canada

Patricia Anne Miller is the Greens Solutions Technical Specialist for the golf segment with Envu Canada. She is a PhD candidate from the University of Toronto in Environmental Sciences, specializing in plant microbiology. She also has a degree in biology and a minor in chemistry including organic and cell biochemistry. Patricia has worked in the environmental microbiology field for 20 years and has experience in microbial soil biodegradation, antibiotic resistance in the environment, and plant and soil microbial interactions. Her latest research focused on plant microbiome diversity throughout the stages of plant growth. This included the contribution of soil microbes and Bacillus species to the plant life cycle in a variety of plants including the Poaceae family. She has previous experience working in the golf sector with biorationals and turf microbiome dynamics, along with plant pathology to diagnose turf diseases using her trusted microscope. She has taught first year chemistry, and 3rd year intro to microbiology and environmental microbiology laboratory courses at both York University and the University of Toronto.

Ross Niewola

USGA

Ross brings a wealth of experience to his role after more than 15 years of working in golf course agronomy. A Penn State graduate with a degree in turfgrass management, he has built his resume working with a variety of golf courses, climates, and turf types. Ross has worked on golf courses in Virginia, Colorado, Arizona, New Jersey, Washington, as well as Northern and Southern California. Throughout his career he has been involved with the PGA Tour, the LPGA Tour and the USGA, hosting and working on more than 15 championships. As a Consulting Agronomist for the USGA, he currently lives in Oregon and covers the Northwest.

Shawn O’Grady MSW RSW C&YC Cert

I Got Mind Mental Health Clinician & Facilitator

Shawn O’Grady
Shawn brings a great deal of expertise in designing and overseeing treatment programs for children and families, as he draws from his experience in child and family treatment programs within the mental health field over the past 27 years. Shawn has been an instructor with Cornell University since 2001.
Shawn owns and operates a mental health practice in Calgary since 2011 and is currently working as an individual and family therapist, consultant, trainer and instructor in Calgary, Alberta and surrounding area. He works with the team at I GOT MIND, and provides clinical services for athletes, teams, and organizations. He has trained extensively with Dr. Bruce Perry and the Child Trauma Academy in the Neurosequential Model (NM) in the area of early childhood trauma and the ways that can impact children and even adults later in life.

Matteo Serena Ph.D

USGA

Matteo Serena, Ph.D., joined the USGA in 2022 as Senior Manager of Irrigation Research and Services, and he’s part of the Green Section research team. Dr. Serena is currently collaborating with superintendents, researchers, allied golf associations, and other stakeholders to promote water conservation on golf courses nationwide. Matteo has over two decades of experience researching turfgrass irrigation and reducing water use. He received his Bachelor’s and Master of Science degrees from the University of Padua in Italy, and earned his doctorate in Plant and Environmental Sciences from New Mexico State University, where he continued as a research assistant professor. Before joining the USGA, Matteo was at the University of California Riverside. He currently lives near Los Angeles

Katharine Varzé

Calgary Zoo

Started in horticulture at Airdrie City Parks, where I discovered a passion for the horticulture aspect of park maintenance. I earned my Red Seal in horticulture and became certified as an Arboriculture Technician. Later, I achieved certification from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).
For the past eight years, I’ve been part of the zoo family, starting with a contracted organization and now proudly serving as the Manager – Horticulture, Botanical. Every day, I am inspired by my colleagues and guests, constantly learning and growing. I am incredibly proud and amazed at WICZ conservation efforts and the spirit of collaboration which drives us forward. I am grateful for the incredible community I get to be a part of.

Michiel Verheul

High Q Greenhouses

Michiel Verheul was born into family run Vegetable and Market Garden in the Netherlands. He came to Canada in 1983 and worked for the family that sponsored him at a greenhouse business in Saskatchewan. After a year he had to move to Alberta and worked for a greenhouse North of Edmonton for 5 years. He and his family chose to get into the Young Plant business. They settled outside of Morinville (Sturgeon County), AB. Fast forward 34 years. Michiel and his family operated a 60,000 sq. ft. facility of modern greenhouse space, continuing to grow young plants and finished plant material to cities towns and golf courses. In 2021 they sold the business, with the understanding that Michiel could continue to work there, as he was not ready to retire. Michiel been the AGGA President 3 times, he and High Q Greenhouses have received the “Integrity Award” from the Morinville Chamber of Commerce, as well as “Grower of the year” and the “Herb knodel” award from the AGGA. Michiel loves this industry and is very proud to be a part of it.

JoEllen Wickerson

Nutrien Solutions – Evergro Division

JoEllen works as an inside sales representative for Nutrien Solutions – Evergro Division. She received a diploma in Ornamental Horticulture with a major in landscape management from Olds College in 2007. Her passion for horticulture began as a child growing up on a farm in southern Manitoba. JoEllen has over 25 years of experience in the horticulture industry with a desire to keep learning and growing in her career. She has worked as a horticulturist at a 36-hole golf club, a foreman on a landscaping and tree planting crew and co-owned and operated a successful landscaping company. She has also worked as a groundskeeper at a large property with a year-round greenhouse. The property was strictly organic, which created new challenges that provided an opportunity for expanding her knowledge base.
In her spare time, she is involved with an organic garden that her and a team of volunteer’s created last summer in her local Calgary community. She also enjoys taking online courses to continue to learn and stay current in the horticulture industry.