We have very interesting, informative speakers coming to the the Medley of Roses – 2026 ARS National Convention & Rose Show.
Standby for the speakers’ topics and bios!
Dr. Mark Windham, “Holistic Rose Care”
A rosarian must be a nutritionist, soil scientist, pathologist, entomologist, and expert of many other professions to successfully grow healthy, vibrant roses. Often actions we take to solve one problem leads to other challenges. In this presentation, we will explore a holistic approach to rose care to maximize rose health and vigor without breaking the bank or robbing us of our most valued commodity: time.
Mark Windham was a Distinguished Professor of Ornamental Plant Pathology at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. For the last 14 years of his career, Mark worked toward developing management plans for Rose Rosette Disease (RRD), studying the virus’s mite vector, and searching for disease resistance. He was part of a multistate team that discovered genes for resistance to RRD in roses.
Upon retirement in 2023, Mark was appointed as Professor Emeritus by the UT Institute of Agriculture. He and his brother Alan, wrote an award-winning extension publication titled Rose Diseases and Their Management. Mark is a member of the American Rose Society (ARS) and a recipient of the ARS Klima Award. He is a past-president of the Knoxville Holston Rose Society. Mark has published articles on rose diseases in American Rose magazine and has written publications for the ARS online library. Currently, he writes a monthly column call “Mark’s Mayhems and Maladies” for ARS society newsletters. He also serves as an advisor to American Rose Garden Selections (AGRS).
Thomas Proll, “30 Years of Creating New Roses for KORDES”
Thomas Proll is a rose breeder Kordes Roses. W. Kordes’ Söhne is a German rose breeding company in Klein Offenseth-Sparrieshoop in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The company is one of the world’s leading rose breeders and producers for cut roses and garden roses, annually selling worldwide more than two million rose plants at retail and wholesale.
Thomas will take us down memory lane of his involvment in creating these beautiful roses for 30 years.
Robin Jennings, Senior Brand and Marketing Manager for Heirloom Roses
Pam Powers, “Photo Fun!”
Pam Powers is an accredited American Rose Society Horticulture Judge, active Master Consulting Rosarian, avid exhibitor, District Silver Medal winner and President of the Arlington Rose Foundation. Under her leadership, the membership of the Foundation, serving the Washington, DC metro area has grown from 110 to 270 members. Her focus is community outreach and interactive skills-based training.
She was appointed as ARS National Photography Chair in 2021. Through encouragement and recognition of the talents of exhibitors and judges across the country, participation in the National Digital Photography has doubled.
Pam grows a diversity of over 130 roses at her home in Fairfax, Virginia and serves as curator for unique rose gardens at private estates.
Pam will give us ideas on how to have Photo Fun! in our rose gardens!
Chris VanCleave, “Growing Your Rose Society using Generative AI”
Chris VanCleave has been a devoted member of the American Rose Society (ARS) for many years. He currently serves on the ARS Marketing and Membership Committee and is the editor of The Fragrant Rose, the Society’s popular e-publication that inspires and informs rose enthusiasts nationwide. He previously served on the ARS Educational Endowment Trust Committee, supporting efforts to fund educational programs and initiatives that promote the love of roses.
A nationally recognized Rosarian, TV presenter, and creator of the acclaimed Rose Chat Podcast, Chris is a passionate advocate for the rose. His work blends deep horticultural expertise with the power of storytelling and technology to connect, educate, and energize rose lovers across the country.
Discover how generative AI tools like ChatGPT can help rose societies grow, engage members and streamline administrative tasks. From creating compelling content to planning events and enhancing communication, this hands on session will offer practical strategies to modernize your society and reach new audiences, all while staying true to our mission. Attendees are encouraged to bring laptops/tablets to the session to gain hands on experience.
Brad Jalbert, Canadian rose breeder
Pat Shanley, “Choosing the Right Rose for Your Garden”
Pat is the founding and current Chairman of American Garden Rose Selections™ (AGRS™) – the national testing program for new rose varieties. She is also Past President of the American Rose Society (2015-2018)
She is the founding and Immediate Past President of the Manhattan Rose Society; Founding Chairman of the New York Metropolitan Rose Council (2009-2016); Founding Chairman of the Great Rosarians of the World™ East (GROW™) Award Lectureship (2009-2016).
She is an ARS Horticultural Judge; ARS Arrangement Judge Emeritus; ARS Master Rosarian; Recipient of the ARS New York District Silver Honor Medal, Outstanding Judge and Outstanding Consulting Rosarian Awards.
Pat is Past Vice Chairman of Queens Botanical Garden Board of Trustees and the recipient of their highest award, the 2020 Rose Gala Award.
She is the co-editor and a contributing author of “The Sustainable Rose Garden – A Reader in Rose Culture” 2010, published by Newbury books, (an imprint of Casemate Publishers) which received the World Federation of Rose Societies Literary Award for 2012 and was accepted into the Library of Congress in July, 2017. She was the Guest Editor of the 2012 ARS Annual and Guest Co-editor of the 2018 ARS Annual.
Pat lives Glen Cove, NY, where she grows approximately 250 roses in her no-spray, sustainable garden