Matt Lobdell, Head of Collections, Curator, The Morton Arboretum

Matt Lobdell has served as Head of Collections and Curator of The Morton Arboretum since 2014. There, he is responsible for overseeing the maintenance and development of the Arboretum’s plant collections and in support of such, has participated on seed collecting expeditions covering the Southeastern United States, Pacific Northwest, and South Caucasus regions. Matt holds a B.A. from Kenyon College, a M.S. in Plant and Soil Science from the University of Delaware, and serves on the Board of Directors of Magnolia Society International.

Kim Shearer, Tree and Shrub Breeder, The Morton Arboretum

Kim Shearer is the Tree and Shrub Breeder at The Morton Arboretum where she develops breeding strategies for improved trees and shrubs, conducts breeding research, focuses on native plant collecting, and manages the Haerther Charitable Trust New Plant Development Program. Kim works with regional and national nursery industry leaders in bringing Chicagoland Grows® plant selections to market. Kim holds an M.S. in Horticulture with a concentration in Plant Breeding and Genetics from Oregon State University, and a B.S. in Horticulture and Plant Biology at North Carolina State University, where she was mentored by renown plant breeder Dr. Tom Ranney and international dogwood expert Dr. Jenny Xiang.

Heidi Hesselein, Vice President, Pleasant Run Nursery

Heidi Hesselein is Vice President of Pleasant Run Nursery, which she cofounded with her husband, Richard Hesselein, in 1998 with the goal of growing rare, new, and unusual woodies, perennials, grasses, ferns and groundcovers. Production of landscape-worthy native plants is a particularly important part of their production goal. Heidi and Richard’s years of nursery experience in California and at Princeton Nurseries have enabled them to expand the production to 1000 species to date. Heidi, a 4th generation nurserywoman, lectures at trade shows, garden clubs and botanical gardens.

Gary Johnson, Professor, Urban and Community Forestry, University of Minnesota

Gary Johnson has directed the urban forestry curriculum, research, and outreach program at the University of Minnesota since 1992. He has also been a faculty member in landscape management and urban forest management at the Universities of New Hampshire, Maryland, and Minnesota. He currently teaches Urban and Community Forestry for the Department of Forest Resources and Extention at the University of Minnesota.

Ernest C. Wong, Founder and Principal, site design group, ltd. (site)  

Founder and Principal of site design group, ltd. (site), Ernest C. Wong has been instrumental in the development of both the firm and the landscape architecture profession in the City of Chicago. Through his leadership, site has established a reputation for providing creative design solutions and thoughtful, community-oriented urban spaces. Mr. Wong sits on the board of numerous service organizations and professional juries including the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Award for Architectural Excellence in Community Design, the Near South Planning Board, and the Chicago Landmarks Commission.

Ed Lyon, Director, Reiman Gardens, Iowa State University  

Ed Lyon is the Director of Reiman Gardens, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. He was formerly Director, Allen Centennial Gardens, Madison, Wisconsin and his public garden career includes Chicago Botanic Garden, Olbrich Botanical Gardens and Rotary Botanical Gardens. Through Spellbound Garden Writing & Consultation, he writes and speaks for public and professional audiences across the Midwest. He has written a book called "Growing the Midwest Garden for Timber Press, released May, 2015. He helped manage a specialty conifer nursery for 10 years. He teaches, lectures and has served as featured/keynote speaker for many conferences.