by Connie Oswald Stofko
PLANT WNY, the trade association for the professional landscape and nursery trades in Western New York, has announced two awards, and one goes to Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com!
The awards will be presented Nov. 18 at the group’s Harvest Dinner.
Chris Zeisz: 2016 Person of the Year
First let me tell you about Chris Zeisz, CNLP, who was named the 2016 Person of the Year. This is the second time he has received this award. Only two other people have been honored twice since the inception of this award in 1965.
As one of the founding members of Plantasia, the landscape and garden show for Western New York, Zeisz has continued to oversee this huge event for more than 17 years, working tirelessly to ensure its annual success.
He also co-hosted the “Gardener’s Corner” on WBEN 930-AM radio, a weekly call-in show that was part of the long-running “Home Improvement Hour with Domenic Cortese.”
Formerly the owner of Snyder Ridge Landscaping & Garden Center, Zeisz is now on the management staff of Russell’s Tree and Shrub Farm.
He is a past president of PLANT WNY, past president of PLANT WNY Foundation and a current member of the Audit Committee.
Through his business, professional associations and volunteerism, Zeisz continually promotes the standards of PLANT WNY, CNLPs and the green industry.
Business of the Year: Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com
Here’s what PLANT WNY wrote about this magazine:
“Our Business of the Year award goes to the innovative and up-to-the-minute online gardening magazine for all Western New York, Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com.
“Publisher Connie Oswald Stofko is a professional journalist and winner of state and national awards for her writing and editing work. A self-described gardening hobbyist, Connie provides an invaluable weekly resource full of fun and educational interviews with local gardeners and horticulture experts, including links to related websites and businesses, how-to videos, full-color photos and a comprehensive calendar of garden events, classes, seminars and sales.
“A perennial favorite lecturer at Plantasia and community events, Connie uses Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com as a continual means of promoting the green industry in general and PLANT WNY and CNLPs in particular.”
I am honored that the members of PLANT WNY chose to recognize Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com.
I’m grateful to those who have supported me. My husband Phil does bookkeeping for the business, helps me out at my booth at Plantasia, and talks me down anytime I get nervous. My sister Maxine Osiewicz reads my articles each week before I publish them and helps me at Plantasia, too. My friends Kathleen Weber and Norma Mergenhagen also volunteer their time at Plantasia. Several other people help me as well.
I appreciate my advertisers who allow me to stay in business.
And I want to thank you for being a loyal reader. I couldn’t have done it without you!
Congrats to Connie for keeping the love of gardening alive!
Congratulations Connie on the award of distinction! Your star is shining brightly and continues to rise—Thank you for promoting our Green industry and all of us who share our thoughts and insights with gardeners in western New York.
Regards,
David Clark
Congratulations Connie! We readers know how valuable your magazine is to gardeners and when people meet you they also know what a delightful person you are. Thank you for your service to WNY gardeners.
I thank you all!
Congratulation,Connie.Have enjoyed your articles and learned from them.
Congratulations Connie!! So proud of you…I remember when this was just a dream…you have come so far..I always knew you were the best ,…..the newsletters you did for me were always outstanding!! Keep up the great work!!???
Congratulations Connie! Well deserved.
Congratulations Connie.