Ep. 9: Break Through the Grass Ceiling

Award winning designer Susan Olinger, President of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD), discusses the importance of being a certified landscape designer and the value of joining an organization like the APLD. From starting as a local member to taking over at the national level, Susan has seen her association, and the industry itself, grow dramatically over the years (although she won't say how many).We will also talk about her passion for landscape design, and how the APLD has helped her throughout her career, as well as the challenges that she has faced.Find out what she sees as the future for landscape design and landscape designers ... and maybe learn a few of her trade secrets.Olinger is the 2012 president of the APLD, founder of the APLD's N.J. chapter and has served on their International Board of Directors since 2008. She is a landscape and garden designer with Sterling Horticultural Services, in Flanders, N.J., where since 1996 she has been creating custom landscape designs, and overseeing the installations for this full-service firm.In addition to attending numerous workshops and conference tours in this country and in Europe, Olinger has completed certificate courses at Rutgers University and Harvard Graduate School of Design. She also holds a degree in Landscape Design from County College of Morris. Olinger began her career in a retail nursery, managed private gardens, and served a two-year horticultural internship at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum, Morristown, N.J. She has lectured to groups and adult schools on garden design and plant maintenance, and is a freelance garden writer, member of the Garden Writers Association.For more information, visit www.sterlinghort.com and www.apld.com or email [email protected].