______
______
Chris Vedrani has been with Planted Earth since the beginning. His dedication to enhancing customer service, improving plant material quality, fostering strong relationships with landscape industry partners, and, most importantly, nurturing exceptional client and staff relationships, is what sets the tone for the company’s values. Chris has been in the landscape industry since 1986. He is a Certified Professional Horticulturist and a Landscape Industry Certified Technician (formerly CLT). He is a former Treasurer/Secretary for the Landscape Contractors Association of MD/DC/VA. His jobs have been recognized by LCA and NALP with Grand, Gold and Silver Awards.
Bert attended West Virginia University’s School of Landscape Architecture and has been in the landscape installation industry for more than 20 years. He started his career with a large firm installing commercial projects, then moved into the residential design/build group serving the Baltimore Metro area. Bert joined the Planted Earth team in the Spring of 2014 as in Installation Supervisor and accepted the position of Maintenance Manager in Fall 2014. In 2022, Bert accepted the position of the Installation Division Manager.
Dave joined Planted Earth in August of 2023. Dave came to Planted Earth with over 30 years of experience in all aspects of landscaping. He graduated college from the University of Maryland, College Park with a degree in Economics and he maintains industry certificates as a Certified Landscape Professional, a Certified Professional Horticulturist, and a Certified Pesticide Applicator. In spring 2024, Dave was promoted to Landscape Management Division Manager. Dave’s goal is to reconnect people with nature and the outdoors as he strongly believes that Nature’s Beauty enriches our lives.
Mike joined Planted Earth in February of 2021 as a Landscape Management Account Manager. He came to Planted Earth with over 30 years of experience in high-end residential maintenance. He is a Certified Landscape Technician, a Certified Professional Horticulturist and a Maryland Certified Pest Control Applicator. With Mike’s extensive experience in Landscape Management, his organizational skills and his drive to provide clients with the best of service Mike took on the position of Operations Management for the Landscape Management Division.
David joined Planted Earth in February 2025 as Senior Director of Business Development. With over 30 years of experience in the landscaping industry, he brings a wealth of expertise in relationship building, strategic planning, and key account development. Prior to attending George Mason University to earn his bachelor’s degree, David embarked on an unforgettable adventure with two lifelong friends, hopping freight trains across the country to explore the West. This journey sparked his deep connection to the outdoors and the natural world. David is a certified Green Roof Professional (GRP) and is passionate about the intersection of green roofs and stormwater management as a component of landscaping, believing it to be essential in our role as stewards of the land we share.
Ben is a proud graduate of Liberty High School (Class of ’85), where after graduation, he kicked off his career by serving in the U.S. Navy from 1985 to 1989, earning the rank of 3rd Class Petty Officer before his honorable discharge. Ben made his way to South Florida, where he pursued his education at Broward Community College, earning his associate degree. It wasn’t long before he caught the entrepreneurial bug, launching his first interior landscaping company, Tropicare of South Florida, in 1997. After growing and successfully selling that business, he returned to Maryland to further his education at Towson University, earning a degree in Special Education while simultaneously starting another venture—Tropicare Inc.
Tropicare quickly expanded, servicing major clients across the Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia areas. After building a thriving business, he sold Tropicare to Rentokil in 2003 and transitioned into teaching. For over a decade, Ben dedicated himself to education, teaching in Baltimore County schools from 2003 to 2016. During this time, he also earned his Master’s in Education from Johns Hopkins University in 2007. Eventually, his passion for the outdoors led him back to landscaping, and in 2016, he founded Perennial Lawn & Landscape, successfully maintaining over 70 properties in the South Carroll and Howard County areas.
Following the sale of Perennial in 2023, Ben continued working in the landscaping industry before finding his new home at Planted Earth. With years of experience in business ownership, education, and landscaping, Ben brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the team.
Jessica started with Planted Earth in 2023. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin with degrees in Forest Science, Recreation Resource Management and Environmental Studies. She started her career 20 years ago in the field of Environmental Education. When she moved to Maryland 2015, she transitioned to educating customers in the Retail Nursery and Landscape setting. Jessica currently works in the Landscape Management Division in sales and marketing and is excited to continue to work with the clients, helping to keep gardens at their best.
Renee has been employed with Planted Earth since the Spring of 2016. She attended UMBC and graduated with a Biology degree, focusing on Plant Physiology. Renee received her CPH certification in Fall, 2021 and continues her studies in edible landscaping and medicinal herbs. Renee was promoted to Purchasing Manager in Spring of 2020 and continues to strengthen her landscape and native plant knowledge.
Corinne joined the Planted Earth team in the spring of 2024 as the Installation Division Estimator. She holds degrees in Construction Management and Landscape Design. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay with a degree in Communications, Corinne moved to the Netherlands where she gained international working experience in the hospitality industry. When she returned to the states, she discovered a love for plants and creating inviting outdoor spaces. She has years of experience in garden centers, as a landscape production planner, and is excited to be a part of the Planted Earth team.
Ryan is a graduate of SUNY Cobleskill with a BT in Landscape Contracting and an AAS in Ornamental Horticulture from Vermont Technical College. He joined Planted Earth in the Spring of 2012 as an Installation Supervisor. Many of Ryan’s projects received NALP & LCA awards. Ryan was promoted to Senior Project Manager for the Installation Division and in the spring of 2022, Ryan accepted the position of Facilities and Fleet Manager.
Bredy joined Planted Earth in the spring of 2013 as a crew Supervisor. He has been in the landscape industry for nearly 25 years and is a master of the skill. Bredy especially likes working with big trees, both planting and digging. He appreciates the art of a properly laced root ball. Bredy promoted to the Yard Manager in 2020 and has been instrumental in streamlining the operations process at the shop.
Stephanie joined Planted Earth in December 2024 as the Marketing Director, bringing over 20 years of diverse marketing experience across industries in Baltimore, including FM radio, non-profit, and retail. A graduate of Towson University with a degree in Mass Communication, she has a strong background in strategic brand development and audience engagement, playing a key role in shaping Planted Earth’s marketing initiatives.
A resident of Eldersburg, Stephanie enjoys spending her weekends traveling the East Coast to support her young son as he pursues his passion for ice hockey.
Marcie has been with the Planted Earth family since the start in 2010. As a business major, from the University of Baltimore, Marcie used her Accounting and Business passion to develop the Administrative Division. As the Director of Finance & Human Resources, her goal has always been to provide employees, clients and vendors with great experience.
Alicia has been a part of the Planted Earth family since the beginning. She has the amazing ability to manage all of the Operation’s Administrative tasks as well as Human Resources. Her ability to multi-task coupled with her people skills made her the perfect candidate for the Operations and Human Resource Admin. Alicia is fluent in Spanish, enjoys helping others and has a gift for managing the administrative offices as a lead member of the team.
Amy joined the Planted Earth team in February, 2024 to assist with the growing administrative office and provide efficiencies where ever possible. Amy has extensive office management experience from contracting to medical offices and has technical skills that will elevate the administrative management of Planted Earth. Amy’s role as the Accounting and Administrative Assistant is just a steppingstone in her career at Planted Earth.
Vic has been working with Planted Earth since the very first project in 2010 as the Masonry Subcontractor. In 2023, Cangelosi Masonry merged with Planted Earth and Vic’s entire team became employees of Planted Earth. Vic is an artist at his craft and he and his entire team are a welcome addition to the Planted Earth family. Vic will be managing all the Masonry projects at Planted Earth.
With a lifelong passion for nature, Chrissie transitioned into the field of horticulture. She earned an AAS in Sustainable Horticulture with honors from The Community College of Baltimore County in 2019. During her studies, she contributed to various horticultural projects, including managing the campus greenhouse and gardens. Her professional background includes experience in Landscape Installation Project Management, as well as extensive expertise in customer relations. Chrissie is dedicated to creating landscapes that go beyond aesthetic beauty, offering clients interactive, living spaces that invite engagement and connection with nature.
Virgil has 19 years of landscaping experience, and he joined the Planted Earth Team in 2018 as an Installation Supervisor. In January, 2022, Virgil accepted the position of Project Manager for the Landscape Installation Division. His leadership skills, experience and his passion to educate and mentor are among a few reasons Virgil is a rising star at Planted Earth.
Carlos started his career path with Planted Earth in the Spring of 2012 as a laborer in the Installation Division. Because of his motivation and love for the job, he quickly moved up to a Crew Supervisor and in the Spring of 2021, Carlos was promoted to Project Manager. His hard work, dedication and attention to every detail are a few key factors that tie Carlos to the mission of Planted Earth.
Erick joined Planted Earth in March 2025 as a Landscape Management Account Manager. With over a decade of experience in the landscaping industry, Erick previously served as a Project Manager at Creative Landscapes By Gregory Inc. for 10 years. In this role, he managed various day-to-day business operations, ensuring projects ran smoothly and efficiently. Erick also possesses a strong background in customer service, which enables him to listen attentively to client needs and effectively bring their visions to life.
Shannon’s love for gardening, desire to work with her hands, and passion for the outdoors inspired to leave her corporate job and join the Planted Earth family in the summer of 2020. Shannon excelled as a gardening supervisor, and along the way she became a mentor to many of the other gardeners. In spring of 2024, Shannon accepted the position of Gardening Field Manager where she will be able to continue inspire and mentor the ever growing gardening team.
