Staff Portrait
Our highly qualified staff is here to help you!
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Many have been working in the landscaping and horticulture business for years, and can answer just about any question that you may have about plants, designs, patios, pruning, and more.
Owner David Fernandez Among Plants in our Garden Center
Meet the Team
Designer-Estimators:
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David Fernandez: dfernandez@cayugalandscape.com; President and Company Owner, 50+ years experience; Cornell degree in Landscape Architecture
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Chris Gruber: cgruber@cayugalandscape.com; Landscape Designer/Senior Estimator; Cornell University, Masters of Landscape Architecture; CNLP; 16 years experience; handles our most difficult hardscape projects and full landscape planting design
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James Pagano: jpagano@cayugalandscape.com; Landscape Designer/Estimator; SUNY ESF, Bachelor's of Landscape Architecture; CNLP
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Hannah Rasmussen: hrasmussen@cayugalandscape.com; Garden Designer; Cornell University, Masters of Landscape Architecture
Garden Center/Nursery:
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Jim Nevin: jnevin@cayugalandscape.com ; Garden Center Manager; CNLP
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Ben Fehr: bfehr@cayugalandscape.com ; Garden Center Assistant Manager; University of New Hampshire, Bachelor's of Science, Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems; CNLP
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Pat Wilson: pwilson@cayugalandscape.com; Garden Center Assistant Manager; Senior Horticulturist; SUNY Finger Lakes, AAS, Ornamental Horticulture; CNLP
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Heidi Newhart: hnewhart@cayugalandscape.com; Nursery Yard Manager; 5+ years of horticultural knowledge
Landscape:
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Doug Bennett: dbennett@cayugalandscape.com; Assistant General Manager; Senior Project Manager; CNLP; ICPN graduate; 25 years experience
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Jerry Chiszar: 30 years planting and other landscape experience; licensed NYS Pesticide Applicator
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Brett VanDeMark: Nursery Foreman; Equipment Operator
Garage:
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Rod Quarella: rquarella@cayugalandscape.com
Business Office:​
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Pat Cote: pcote@cayugalandscape.com; Office Manager
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Edania Hernandez: ehernandez@cayugalandscape.com; Office Assistant
McKissick Farms​
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Cassandra Knapp: cknapp@cayugalandscape.com; Garden Center Manager
Our work wouldn't be possible without a team of highly dedicated seasonal employees. Interested in joining out team? Click here for employment opportunities.
Our entire staff attends weekly educational sessions conducted by David and staff volunteers that cover safety, horticulture topics, and environmental stewardship. Everyone is able to identify plants, suggest practical ways to minimize deer damage, and alert homeowners if they find diseased plants or invasive plants. Crew members attend training every spring sponsored by the New York State Nursery and Landscape Association and can recognize infestations of the Emerald Ash Borer, the Asian Longhorn Beetle, and Hemlock Wooly Adelgid.