Western New York Nursery & Landscape Association

2010 WNYSNLA Board of Directors

President - Neil Stern
Neil Stern is a Sales Representative for the Gernatt Family of Companies, which include Dan Gernatt Gravel, Gernatt Asphalt Products, and Country Side Sand and Gravel.  Neil joined the Gernatt team in 1999 and has been in the aggregates and asphalt business for 18 years, previously with Vulcan Materials in California.  Neil is a U.B. alumnus and holds a B.A. in English Literature and Film History.  He is married to Crystal (Climenhaga) Stern, who grew up in Pendleton, NY, and together they have two sons.  The Sterns live in Cattaraugus, NY, where they are active members of Roberts Memorial Free Methodist Church.  Neil enjoys family, music, sports, travel, fishing, and is an accomplished cook.

 
Vice President - Phil Colarusso
“The Lighting Guru” - Having graduated as an architect, Phil entered the landscape industry as a draftsman, and as plant knowledge grew -- quickly became a designer.  After a few years he started his own landscape company "Poplar Hill Landscape" which included grass cutting, design, installation and maintenance.  It was only a few years later that Phil attended a seminar on lighting. A passion was sparked and his career headed in a new direction focused on illumination. Lighting is a difficult media to control, but his strong design back ground enable him to excel, and quickly became known as “The guy who paints with light.”

Landscaping was discontinued, a name change was in order, and Phil founded Luminated Landscapes, Inc., which specialized in exterior residential lighting. The scope of projects expanded into interior lighting make overs, small commercial projects, custom design and manufacturing of one-of-a-kind light fixtures and animated Christmas displays. Simply put Phil says he turns his client’s feelings into light. He holds two design patents as well. His hands-on/nothing-is-impossible approach comes from having worked in all phases of construction, in landscaping, as a contractor, salesman, and even flipped a house.

Phil and his family reside on their farm in East Aurora. Aurora by definition means a lighting phenomenon.

 
Treasurer - Roger Restorff, CNLP
Graduated from SUNY @ Alfred with an AAS in Ornamental Horticulture Landscape Development in 1984.  He returned to Alfred in 1985 to complete the Nursery Management option and several business classes.  Roger worked for several companies after graduation, learning the practical side of landscape construction.  In August of 1986, he started Restorff’s Landscape Service part time.  The business quickly grew and Roger went full time in 1987.  Roger is a certified nursery and landscape professional (CNLP) and an authorized Unilock contractor. Roger resides in Orchard Park with his wife and four children.  Roger has served over 21 years as a volunteer firefighter and currently active member of the Ellwood Fire Company in the Town of Tonawanda. He enjoys the Sabres, Bills and camping.

Secretary – Mike Frank
Mike Frank, owner of Chevalier Outdoor Living, is a Western New York native born in Buffalo, who developed a passion for designing outdoor living spaces at an early age. After attending Alfred State College, Mike started Chevalier Lawn & Landscaping in 1992. He is also a graduate of the CEL Program at the University of New York at Buffalo. In 2005 he obtained his masters certificate for designing with synthetic rock from JPJ’s School of Synthetic Rock. Mike has also attended and holds certificates to build and install outdoor landscape products from Belgard Hardscapes, Unilock, Oaks Concrete Products and TimberTech. Mike has also obtained a certificate from the National Concrete Masonry Association to build and install retaining walls. He is also a fully licensed and certified pesticide applicator.

Mike’s professional designs, using Dynascape software, and his forward thinking vision, is propelling Chevalier Outdoor Living into being the guru of outdoor living spaces in Western New York.

His passion and inspiration comes from his desire to “WOW” himself and others by “turning ordinary materials into extraordinary results”.

Director – Kim Schichtel, CNLP
Kim started her career in the industry 20 years ago working at Schichtels Garden Center. Since then Kim has gone on to work at Murray Brothers Nurseries where she is currently employed as the Garden Center Manager.  Kim graduated from Alfred State College with a degree in Nursery Management in 1991.  She is a Certified Nursery and Landscape Professional.

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