The PLNA board has seven members elected at large by the membership. Board members may serve up to three (3) three-year terms. There are no geographic, chapter or industry segment representation requirements. Board members are selected primarily on their experience and competence to govern PLNA effectively and bring specific skills that are needed by the Association in its governance.

PLNA Board Roles & Responsibilities

2025 CHAIR

Christopher Uhland, PCH
Three-Year Term Ending December 31, 2025 (2nd Term)

Chris is the owner of Harmony Hill Nursery, LLC (HHN), a production and wholesale distribution nursery located in Downingtown, Chester County, and recently-acquired Tulpehocken Nursery in Reading, Berks County. Chris is no stranger to the green industry. Since 1996, he worked in a range of positions from mowing and maintenance to plant production at Hansen Nurseries to sales at his family’s nursery. He graduated from Delaware Valley College. In 2009, Chris helped found Harmony Hill Nursery, LLC and has since grown it into a healthy and vibrant business, distributing plants to nine states in the Northeastern US and Canada. He is very active in Pennsylvania’s green industry, currently serving as Board Chair of the PA Landscape & Nursery Association (PLNA) and as a member of the Governor’s DEP Ag Advisory Board (since 2014). Chris has served on the National Nursery Management Conference Board. Chris is an avid baseball fan and is a season ticket holder at the Reading Fightin Phils. He enjoys attending baseball games with his wife and two daughters.

2025 VICE CHAIR

Larry Shehan, PCH
Three-Year Term Ending December 31, 2027 (2nd Term)

Larry has been involved in every aspect of the industry from the ground up to management in his career. From his years at one of the elite retailers of its day, Waterloo Gardens Inc., he has learned plants from first hand experiences. He continued his education graduating from Temple University with a degree in Horticulture and also applies his learning of Marketing from West Chester University to aid his salesmanship. Larry has a passion to learn and passion to serve people in his efforts. He is a volunteer with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and serves on the Gold Medal Plant Awards Committee for many years still. In his years being a Sales Representative and Consultant, he has furthered the growth of nurseries he was involved with and handled the needs of many retailers, wholesalers, contractors and architects in his days along the East Coast of US. Larry can be found in a different nursery on Sundays as he serves at his Church in the Nursery Ministry administering to children and parents. Larry can also be found at many sports activities in the area or on the beach on the New Jersey shore in every season.

2025 SECRETARY/TREASURER

Katie Rae Warner, PCH
Three-Year Term Ending December 31, 2026 (2nd Term)

Katie Rae Warner is from Southern York County. She helps to train the next generation of landscape professionals for the Nursery and Landscape industry. She is currently the Landscaping and Agriculture instructor at the York County School of Technology in York, PA. She has taught in the school system for 14 years. She hopes to educate her students about all the opportunities in the green industry. She enjoys seeing the students' skills grow and develop. 

BOARD MEMBERS

Katie Dubow
Three-Year Term Ending December 31, 2026 (3rd Term)

Katie McCoy Dubow is the second president at Garden Media Group, a public relations firm that specializes in the lawn and garden industry. Her goal is to convince people that brown thumbs can, in fact, be turned green. She works to enhance brands’ reputations, build killer campaigns and launch new products at the firm’s world headquarters in Kennett Square, PA. Katie’s interest in serving on the board is primarily to help the organization in the state in which she lives thrive, be relevant to its members and gain recognition for the services it offer. And she is also looking forward to connecting with new people in the industry. Katie’s strengths in creativity, thinking out of the box and brainstorming will bring new ideas for PLNA. “I spend my days coming up with new ways to market plants, garden products and services to all types of people. In addition, I can offer marketing strategies from branding to launching campaigns. I also bring a younger perspective to the table. And as a working millennial mom, I know the struggles of balancing work, life and gardening”, says Katie. Katie received a degree in communications from Northeastern University. In her spare time she practices Bikram yoga and watches the sunset with her husband, daughters, dogs and chickens in their garden.

Patrick Joyce
Three-Year Term Ending December 31, 2027 (2nd Term)

Patrick Joyce is currently the Nursery Manager at Longwood Gardens. He is a horticultural nursery professional with 13 years of experience in propagation, field production, and re-wholesale nurseries. Patrick's expertise combines strong knowledge of the identification, cultural care and sourcing of trees, shrubs, and perennials in the mid-Atlantic region. At Longwood, Patrick oversees the woody plant production and procurement for the Gardens. Patrick earned a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture from West Virginia University. When he isn’t working with plants he enjoys traveling, the outdoors, and being with his family.

Rob McHale
Three-Year Term Ending December 31, 2025 (2nd Term)

Rob is the National Sales manager at the Henry F Michell company, located in King of Prussia PA, established in 1890. The Henry F Michell company is a family owned business that provides greenhouse and nursery products throughout the nation. Rob started his career in nursery business in 1992. He previously served on the PLNA board as an associate member director while he was employed with Hines Nurseries, Irvine, CA. Rob has also spent time with Syngenta as a Sales manager and was the Head of Business Development at a Wells Fargo owned crop insurance company (RCIS). Recently Rob was the Head of Sales for North Creek Nurseries in Landenberg, PA where he helped grow the brand that emphasized native perennials and ecological stewardship. Rob’s core strengths are leadership, meeting facilitation, coaching and strategic planning skills. Rob spends his free time with his wife Jill and their three children in Neshannock, PA just north of Pittsburgh.

Ted Ventre
Three-Year Term Ending December 31, 2025 (3rd Term)

Ted is owner of Cabot Landscaping, LLC dba Hively Landscapes, in York County. Working in the industry since 2000, Ted started Cabot Landscaping, LLC in 2008 and grew the business organically until 2010 when he purchased Hively Landscapes (a PLNA member of over 40 years) from the original owner. He continues to focus on organic growth by applying best practices from across various industries to his business. "The PLNA provides a resource to learn about and share the best ideas for the success of our industry and this motivates my involvement in the PLNA," says Ted. Active in the Rotary Club of York, Ted serves on the Preserve Planet Earth committee which is dedicated to the revitalization of the tree canopy of York City. Ted is a board director for the York County Farm and Natural Lands Trust, a PLNA Foundation Trustee, a member of the Occupational Advisory Committee for Landscaping and Agriculture at York County School of Technology and Past President of the York County Builders Association. An avid mountain biker and skier, Ted enjoys spending time on his 30-acre farm and traveling with his wife and son.