Dwayne Moon is a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and a man of deep Christian faith whose life has been shaped by family, hard work, and a lifelong love for the land.

From an early age, Dwayne demonstrated a deep interest in plants and trees. Over the years, that interest grew into a passion for discovering and developing improved tree varieties for landscapes and urban environments. At Moon’s Tree Farm, he became known not only as a grower, but also as a plant innovator—someone who carefully studies trees for unique characteristics such as improved form, vigor, beauty, and adaptability.

Through decades of observation and experimentation, Dwayne has identified and developed numerous new tree cultivars. Many of these selections undergo years of evaluation before being introduced to the nursery industry, ensuring that they perform well in real-world conditions. Many of his discoveries have received plant patents, recognizing his role in developing new cultivars that are now grown and used by nurseries and landscapers across the region.

Despite these accomplishments, Dwayne remains deeply grounded in the values that shaped him from the beginning. His Christian faith has always been central to his life, guiding his decisions and the way he treats others. Those who know him recognize his steady character, humility, and commitment to doing things the right way.

Above all else, Dwayne treasures his family. As a husband, he has built a life centered on love and commitment. As a father and grandfather, he takes great pride in the generations that follow him, passing down lessons of faith, perseverance, and respect for the land.

Dwayne Moon’s story is one of faith, family, and stewardship. Through his work at Moon’s Tree Farm, he has not only helped cultivate beautiful landscapes but has also carried forward a tradition of farming and innovation that will continue to grow for generations to come.

Melissa Riley serves as the Central Region Area Horticulture Teacher for Georgia Agricultural Education, where she supports teachers and students across the state through horticulture curriculum development, professional development, and leadership training. With more than 20 years of experience in agricultural education, she is passionate about helping educators create engaging, hands-on learning opportunities for students. She also serves as the National FFA Floriculture Career Development Event Superintendent and is actively involved with the Georgia Green Industry Association.

In 1964, Davis Floral Company was born when Robert Davis built 6 wood-framed greenhouses in his backyard with the intention of producing greenhouse tomatoes. Through the years the company transitioned from tomato production to cut flowers and finally to vegetative propagation and finished production in the early 1980’s.

Since the early eighties Davis Floral has remained focused on propagation and finished flowering annuals and perennial production. In business for over 60 years now, we are proud to be operating under our second generation.

Michael Davis officially took the reins in July of 2010. Michael and his wife Lisa continue the Davis tradition of growing the family business through exceptional quality and customer service. We market our finished product to independent garden centers of all sizes throughout Georgia, and in parts of South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee. We work with major brokers to distribute our rooted cuttings nationwide. We are proud to supply annuals and perennials from the smallest mom and pop operations to the largest greenhouses in the country.

Davis Floral Company strives to balance the old and the new; cherishing 60 plus years of company history and tradition while simultaneously looking to innovate and modernize. Through it all, we remain a family business, where occasionally three generations of Davises might be found pitching in -whether they want to or not!

Dr. Campbell is a Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at the University of Georgia. He has been at the University of Georgia since 2016. Dr. Campbell has an extension and teaching appointment where his extension appointment focuses on the economics of nursery, greenhouse, and turfgrass within Georgia and the U.S. He has published over 80 academic articles, over 100 extension publications, and given over 100 presentations to industry stakeholders and policymakers. His work has been cited on TIME.com, the Huffington Post, the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Good Housekeeping, and Greenhouse Grower, while appearing on the Georgia Farm Monitor, Atlanta News One, among other media outlets.

Rachel’s passion for horticulture began in her father’s expansive rose garden, inspiring her to pursue a degree in horticulture at Auburn University, where she graduated in 2021. During college, she gained hands-on experience at the Donald E. Davis Arboretum and managed a local landscaping company. She also served as President of Auburn’s Landscape and Nursery Association from 2020–2021, demonstrating early leadership and a commitment to the green industry.

Following graduation, Rachel joined Buck Jones Nursery, where she works in sales, marketing, and special projects. In the plant department, she combines horticultural expertise with a passion for helping customers bring their landscapes to life. She also leads the company’s social media, marketing initiatives, and website management, connecting with a broader audience and strengthening customer engagement.

Rachel is deeply involved in both the industry and her community. She was a featured speaker at the Southeast Green Conference in 2021, has assisted in judging Georgia’s State FFA Horticulture Proficiency Interviews, and regularly attends local college career fairs to share opportunities in the green industry. She participates annually in GGIA’s Capitol Day and has served as President of the Wholesale Division of the Georgia Green Industry Association (GGIA) for the past two years. Additionally, she contributes to her local public schools' STEM/STEAM Advisory Council, helping inspire the next generation’s interest in science and horticulture.

Rachel’s dedication to environmental horticulture, combined with her leadership and commitment to supporting emerging professionals, exemplifies the spirit of the Jake Tinga Distinguished Young Professional of the Year Award, recognizing both her accomplishments and her role as an inspiration to others starting out in the industry.

Dr. Ping Yu is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist focuses on ornamental crop production at the University of Georgia in the Department of Horticulture. After getting her PhD from Texas A&M University working on using biochar to partially relace peat moss as container substrate for greenhouse plant production and disease suppression, she then be further trained as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Florida Mid-Florida Research and Education Center before joining the University of Georgia, where she evaluated sustainable ways for weed control for container ornamental crops.

Here at the University of Georgia, her work focuses on all aspects of input management (substrate, nutrient, irrigation, etc.) in greenhouses and nurseries, aiming to improve ornamental crop production efficiency. Moreover, she is also involved with investigating horticultural practices (subtract, irrigation, fertilizer, pruning, mulch etc.) to be integrated for IPM, adding more tools for growers to increase efficiency and sustainability for pest management. Dr. Yu is the faculty liaison to the Georgia Green Industry Association (GGIA), serving as the education chair, coordinating the education program for the Southeast Green conference and co-organize the Wintergreen on the Web series. She works closely with the green industry and delivers science-based information generated from her projects to the industry in a timely manner. She launched a horticulture podcast “Blooms and Beyond” to provide production and management resources for growers from researchers nationally and internationally.

Leah and Ken James are graduates of the University of Georgia Horticulture program and co-founders of James Greenhouses and Horizon Roofscapes. Horticulturists by training and entrepreneurs at heart, they founded James Greenhouses in 1998 with a simple goal: to provide high-quality perennial plugs and liners to growers across the Southeast. What began as a two-person operation has grown into a leading propagation facility employing more than 50 team members and producing over 10 million liners annually for customers across North America and beyond.

Under Ken and Leah’s leadership, James Greenhouses has built a reputation for quality, innovation, and customer service. Located just outside Athens, Georgia, the company specializes in perennial, rose, hosta, helleborus, tropical, and specialty annual liners, utilizing advanced greenhouse technologies and sustainable growing practices to deliver year-round production. Their long-standing relationship with the University of Georgia and industry leaders such as Dr. Allan Armitage and Dr. Michael Dirr has helped foster new plant introductions, research collaboration, and workforce development within the horticulture industry.

In 2012, Ken and Leah expanded their vision by founding James Greenroofs to meet the growing demand for sustainable building solutions in the Southeast. In 2022, James Greenroofs rebranded as Horizon Roofscapes in a partnership with long-time employee and UGA graduate Robert Jourdan. Together they created a turnkey resource for the LiveRoof® Hybrid Modular green roof system throughout Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Florida. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience as perennial growers, they continue to advance innovative, climate-appropriate green roof systems for the Southeast.

Today, while much of their attention is focused on business leadership and strategic growth with new ownership Riverbend Holdings, Leah can still often be found evaluating plant performance in the growing areas, while Ken remains deeply involved in planning and expanding greenhouse operations.