Joel C. Hafner, Sr., CLP, CLT
President
Joel began his career in the industry in 1989 after active-duty military service. He holds a degree in Horticulture and a recently added degree in History. He also holds many landscape industry certifications including: Landscape Industry Certified Manager and Technician, Certified Professional Horticulturist, Certified Pesticide Applicator in MD and DC, and a certification as one of Maryland’s Professional Fertilizer Applicators. Furthermore, Joel is certified by the Interlocking Concrete and Permeable Pavers Institute to include permeable paver installations and holds a certification in Green Roof Installations.
He has served as president of the Landscape Contractors Association of MD/VA/DC, and has chaired the International Certification Council for NALP, a well-known national landscape organization. Joel has written many articles for trade magazines, teaches landscape related courses at local colleges, and has won over 100 landscape awards for projects he designed or installed. Joel’s strengths are customer relationships, communication with clients, follow through and the organization and implementation of large project installations.
Lastly, Joel is the President and Managing Partner of Fine Earth Landscape where he oversees the day-to-day operations of the firm.
Bernie Mihm, Jr.
Founder-Partner, Landscape Architect
A licensed Landscape Architect, ISA-Certified Arborist and a Certified Professional Horticulturist, Bernie has won landscape installation awards in each of the past four decades. His work has been featured in Time Life Books and various magazines, including Regardies, Washingtonian, Bethesda and Home & Design.
Bernie enjoys doing projects for referrals and previous clients, some of whom have been working with him for over 40 years. Throughout his career, he has served several terms as an officer of the Landscape Contractors Association, where he helped develop the current regional landscape specifications. Bernie is especially proud to have been chosen to design and supervise the installation of the Vice Presidents’ Family Heritage Garden at the U.S Naval Observatory in in Washington, D.C. Bernie founded Fine Earth Landscape while attending the University of Maryland in 1977.
Jacob Hafner
Maintenance Manager
Jacob started working with Fine Earth in 2011 as a summer job. Though, he grew up around both the business and the industry his entire life. Joel Hafner (his father) would often bring him to work when he could.
In 2011 he started working in the field. Working long hours, gaining experience in landscape installation. After that summer he pursued further schooling originally in criminal justice before returning to Fine Earth in 2013 full time. In 2014 he became a foreman and ran installation jobs for Joel. Jacob also began studying horticulture at Montgomery College at the same time.
Working and schooling full time opened an opportunity. In February 2015 Fine Earth was looking for a new maintenance manager to train to takeover the division. Fine Earth has always preferred to hire from within, Jacob was interviewed and given the position under the condition that he completed his horticulture degree. After 4 months of training, Jacob was fully given the maintenance division as of June 1, 2015.
Prior to taking over in 2015, the maintenance division was in the best place it had ever been. A credit to the former manager, J.C. Hafner — he made it an easy transition. In 2015 the maintenance division had 2 crews running shy of 100 properties.
Jacob began this journey while also completing his horticulture degree in 2016. Since 2015 the maintenance division has grown more and more each year. The division has more than doubled in size with adding 4 more crews to service over 200 properties. Jacob takes his position personally and prides himself on his communication and attention to detail.
He has learned a lot over the years but also knows there is much more work to do to reach his goals and that the learning never stops. Jacob has aspirations of filling his father’s shoes in the industry and having the same impact or even larger.
The only thing more important to Jacob than work is his family. He has a wife and 3 young kids. Outside of working hours he is with them or on the golf course.
Mark Smith
Assistant Maintenance Manager
Mark comes from a variety of landscaping and construction backgrounds, having experience with both landscape and hardscape projects. Growing up he worked with his grandfather for his landscaping business during the summers and gained a lot of knowledge from the former horticulture teacher. In addition to this he also worked with his father, a mason by trade where he would learn about general construction as well as masonry and hardscape.
Along with his work experience, Mark completed both an A.A. and a B.S. in Business Administration. After trying a few different jobs, Mark decided to get back into the landscaping industry to use his combined experience and education.
Mark will be working alongside Jacob in the Maintenance division. He will also be continuing his education with horticulture classes, completing certifications and gaining more knowledge of the industry along the way.
Lawrence J. Reader
Landscape Designer
Larry is a Landscape Architect with a B.S. from Pennsylvania State University and an M.L.A. from University of Pennsylvania. He had his own design office in land planning and site planning for highrise, multifamily and single family homes for forty eight years. Larry was also an Adjunct Professor teaching one to two nights a week at area colleges for twenty eight years.
At Fine Earth Landscape Inc. Larry specializes in site grading and landscape design for single family homes. On weekends he carves decoys and competes in the annual Ward World Championships Competition, in wildfowl carving.
Ann Canning Schruben
Landscape Designer
Ann designs landscapes that celebrate the architecture and setting of each project. Working with homeowners, architects and builders she approaches each landscape as a unique challenge, detailing the features that provide the bones and structure for the space and then creates true garden retreats that add value and enjoyment. As a residential design specialist, every landscape, whether a small courtyard in Alexandria or an acre plus estate in Chevy Chase features the very best in Contemporary Landscape Design. With an aesthetic that embrace the principles of ‘Green Design’ her landscapes are realized through sustainable materials and thoughtful selections.
Georgette King
Landscape Designer
Georgette King grew up in historic Rockville and currently maintains a landscape design studio in Frederick, Maryland. Her undergraduate studies at the University of Maryland and George Washington University included botany and landscape architecture. Accomplished in residential and commercial landscape design, she has designed for numerous licensed regional landscape architects and established landscape contractors.
Georgette’s passion is to communicate her extensive knowledge of professional landscape design while merging the client’s personal vision into a beautiful reality.
Melinda Boswell
Landscape Designer
Melinda enjoys finding the perfect balance between your outdoor living goals, budget, and style to create an appropriate design to enhance your property. Every client and property is unique; together we will discuss your ideas and plans for the project and then adapt them to the existing site. She understands that attention to detail is vital to making functional and beautiful gardens. As a Landscape Designer, she has been able to blend her education, artistic talent, environmental beliefs, and plant knowledge.
Melinda earned her Bachelor’s from West Virginia University, where she studied Horticulture, Parks Tourism and Recreation, Agriculture and Nature Resource Law, Sustainable Design, and Landscape Architecture.
Melinda is a Montgomery County MD native. She acquired her enthusiasm for botany back in high school working at a local nurseries. Throughout her college career she was a member of Sigma Alpha, and held office as Philanthropy Chair. Melinda continued her passion for volunteering post-grad here back in Maryland at the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center. In her free time she enjoys hiking, volunteering, dog training, kayaking, and crafting.
Heather Armstrong
Landscape Designer
Heather has been a landscape designer with Fine Earth for the past four years; she enjoys the challenge of accepting each new landscape project. She is a Maryland native and after almost a decade in nursery retail, customer service, and horticulture; she graduated with her associates degree in Landscape Design from Anne Arundel Community College. She loves helping clients transform and enjoy their outdoor spaces by combining function with aesthetics. There is great satisfaction in being able to design and oversee project development, from the initial client meeting to the final finished landscape. Heather enjoys getting to know clients and providing innovative ideas. Her warm personality and passion for landscaping gives clients the comfort of knowing she will deliver them fresh, up to date, personalized ideas. In her free time she enjoys traveling, sightseeing, and gardening; with the company of her husband and children.
John McCarthy
Landscape Designer
John McCarthy a licensed landscape architect and certified arborist with over 12 years of experience preparing and managing design projects from concept development through construction. John has a passion for helping his clients realize the potential of their outdoor space through creative planning, custom plant selection and the delivery of a high-quality finished product. From large-scale design projects to the minute design details, John strives to create memorable spaces that can be enjoyed by his clients for generations to come.
In his free time, John can be found running along the many miles of trails in the Washington, DC area as he prepares for his next marathon.
Brooke MacIntosh
Social Media Manager
Morgan R. Hafner
Office Manager / Human Resources
Irene Hafner
Accounts Receivable
Kelly Simons
Office Assistant
Fredy Guzman
Field Supervisor
Nathan Leatherman
Fleet Manager
Tommy Yost
Assistant Fleet Manager
Jonathan Hernandez
Production Manager
Alex Quiroz
Production Manager
Jordan Kochel
Controller
Emily Gilmore
Estimator
Emily joined the Fine Earth team in September 2021 as Joel’s Landscape Estimator. Her B.S. in Environmental Science with a Sustainable Development concentration, 6 years experience installing and maintaining landscapes in the DMV, and her love of math and problem solving made her an excellent fit for the estimator role. While her work keeps her mainly behind the scenes, you may spot her popping by a site to take some photos or measurements.
Emily is a lifelong learner and with Fine Earth’s support is currently taking plant and Spanish classes. She is also working towards earning her Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional Certification. In her spare time, you can find her spectating at or playing in a rugby match, hanging at a Farmer’s Market, or escaping to nature.