Our Team

Jay is the Founder and former President of J. W. Townsend Landscapes and holds a B.S. degree in accounting from Virginia Tech. With over three decades of industry experience, Jay is a Virginia Certified Horticulturist with the Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association. Jay enjoys the outdoors, especially sailing and fishing with his sons and wife.

Favorite plant species?

Acer Palmatum

What makes JW Townsend different from other landscaping companies?

Our people

Leigh joined J. W. Townsend, Inc. in July 2010. He has a B. S. degree from Clemson University in Construction Science and Management. He is also a VNLA Certified Horticulturist, VA Pesticide Technician, and LEED accredited professional. Leigh enjoys spending time with his wife, working in his yard, hunting, fishing, and Clemson football – Go Tigers!

Favorite plant?

Fringe Tree

Favorite tool?

Leaf Blower

Favorite Project

Kinloch

Steve is our Vice President and Garden Maintenance Manager. Steve was raised on his family’s farm in Orange, Virginia and studied horticulture at Piedmont Virginia Community College. He has more than 20 years of experience in the industry and is an Advanced Virginia Certified Horticulturist with the Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association as well as a Certified Arborist through the International Society of Arboriculture. Steve is a true leader; he has an infectious personality, a great attitude and truly enjoys what he does for a living. In 2016 he was awarded Young Professional of the Year by the Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association. He lives in Louisa, Virginia with his wife and three children. They enjoy gardening, hiking and traveling.

Favorite Tree

Nyssa Sylvatica 'Wildfire' / Black Gum

Favorite Tool

The Airspade

Favorite Project

Free Union Perennial Garden (private residence)

Kelley has an accounting degree and an English degree from Virginia Tech. She likes hostas, heuchera, irises, azaleas, periwinkle, and home-grown tomatoes. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, walking and playing with her dogs, reading, hiking, and avoiding housekeeping.

Favorite vine

Morning Glory

Favorite shrub

Forsythia

Allyn is grateful to have this opportunity to share her decades of experience as a human resources strategic partner with J.W. Townsend Landscapes as the company’s Human Resources Manager. She joined the team in February of 2023, bringing a genuine commitment to workforce development and community service.

Allyn’s human resources career began with ARA Services (now ARAMARK Corporation) as a Regional Human Resource Manager. When her family relocated to Charlottesville, Allyn worked for the University of Virginia Department of Human Resources as a Senior Human Resource Consultant before joining the leadership team at Farmington Country Club as Human Resource Manager, a role she cultivated for 23 years. Allyn’s recent community service includes Workforce Development Board Member for Virginia Career Works, Employer Network Partner for Network2Work at PVCC, and Steering and Grant Committees Member of Women United in Philanthropy.

Favorite Activity

Spending the day in the kitchen cooking with my daughter and son-in-law, with their cat nearby, sharing meals with family and friends.

Lynn has been with JWT since 2010.

Geoff hails from Maine and holds a degree in Agribusiness and Resource Management from the University of Maine in Orono. Since moving to Charlottesville in 2004, he has worked on and managed fine properties and estates throughout Albemarle county. Geoff has a class A CDL, is a VNLA certified horticulturist and holds a pesticide applicator certification. When not at J.W. Townsend, Inc., he enjoys anything to do with water and spending time with his family and dogs.

Favorite Plant

Nepeta / Catmint

Favorite Tool

The Chainsaw

Favorite Project

Expertly shearing rows of Boxwoods to perfectly match...

Todd is a Landscape Architect and Sales Associate. He has a B.A. degree from Gettysburg College in Environmental Studies and a Bachelor’s of Landscape Architecture from the University of Maryland College Park. He is also a Pesticide Technician and a registered Landscape Architect in Maryland and Virginia. Before joining J.W. Townsend Landscapes in 2016, Todd worked in the Baltimore area as a registered Landscape Architect and managed the Installation Team at a local landscape nursery. Todd enjoys working outside in his garden and having fun with his wife Kristen and two daughters Kendall and Meghan.

Danielle holds a B. S. in Psychology from JMU and a certificate in Landscape Design from University of Richmond. She is a VNLA Certified Horticulturist as well as a Registered Technician for pesticide application. Danielle joined J. W. Townsend, Inc. in April 2010 after working in sales and landscape design at a local garden center. She enjoys many outdoor activities including gardening and being on the river but she mostly enjoys spending time with her husband and two boys.

Tree

Stewartia

Tool

Felco Hand Pruners

Favorite Project

Garden Week 2010

Ernesto rejoined our group in June 2013 after working for J.W. Townsend 2005-2010 as an installation project manager. He has over 10 years experience in the field, and has been certified by both the VLNA and ISA and holds a Class A CDL. Ernesto loves to spend time with his family and coaches his son's soccer team. His hobbies include permaculture and organic gardening. He spent a few years traveling, surfing, and working at organic farms.

Tree

The Majestic Oak

Tool

The Amazing Soil Knife..with serrated edge

Favorite Project

Mill Mountain Project

Amanda has been a part of the JWT team since March of 2016, and has been a vital part of our accounting team. She loves to craft, travel, and watch her favorite Broadway musicals like RENT, Les Misérables, and Beetlejuice.

Phil is Vice President and Installation Manager. He attended the University of South Carolina and Virginia Tech. Before joining J.W. Townsend in 1991, Phil worked in the nursery industry assisting with the production of field grown shade trees and ornamentals. Phil is a Certified Horticulturist with the Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association, a Licensed Commercial Pesticide Applicator and a Certified Arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture. Phil enjoys hunting, fishing and competitive shooting.

Plant

Yellowwood Tree

Tool

The Harley Rake

Favorite Project

Every single one...

Dakota grew up in the beautiful hills of Earlysville Virginia. A graduate of Albemarle High School, Dakota joined JWT in 2011 as a planting assistant. Since then, Dakota has thrived as a member of the meadow installation team as well as many other garden installation projects and recently became a VNLA certified horticulturist. In his spare time, Dakota enjoys hunting, fishing and spending time with his beautiful wife.

Brian has been bringing expert knowledge to our Meadows department since February of 2020. With a Masters of Natural Resources from Virginia Tech, Permaculture Design Certification, and Commercial Applicator Certification he is an indispensable part of the JWT team! Fun fact: he was also a CH-47 helicopter pilot in the Army.

Favorite Activities

Cooking, gardening, and spending time with his children and pets.

Marcus joined J.W. Townsend in 2006 and has been a Foreman for nearly that long. When he is not installing beautiful landscapes enjoys fishing, hunting, raising hunting dogs, and spending time with his family.

Favorite things to do outside of work

Hunting and Fishing

Favorite Project

Private residence at the Homestead

Brittany joined our Natural Resources team in May of 2023!

Favorite Plant

Zinnias

Favorite Project

Botanical Garden Invasive Removal

Sharon joined our team in the fall of 2022 and has always been fascinated by the world's biology in her work. She maintained a vivarium and its irrigation system in the biology department of UVA and is currently working towards a VNLA certification. In her free time, she enjoys gardening or researching about gardening. Fun fact: while in lab research she successfully performed in vitro on a zebrafish and created a hybrid dish by natural spawn.

Favorite Plant

Peach tree

Favorite Activity

Tending my garden and painting

Mike joined JWT in 2001 after studying horticulture at Piedmont Community College. In addition to his years of experience working at JWT, he is a Virginia Certified Horticulturalist, Certified Pesticide Applicator and holds a Virginia CDL class license. When he's not installing award winning landscapes, Mike enjoys hiking, target shooting and cooking BBQ.

Favorite Tree

Sweetbay Magnolia

Favorite Tool

The Long Handled Spade

Favorite Project

Planting perfect Boxwood hedges...

Luke Puglia manages that landscape maintenance department at JW Townsend Landscapes. He is originally from the Philadelphia area and is a Penn State graduate with a B. S. in Horticulture. He has over 20 years of experience in the green industry working as a garden center assistant, grower, plant buyer, and landscaper. He is a VNLA certified horticulturist, commercial pesticide applicator, and a certified arborist. In his spare time he enjoys traveling, hiking, and cooking with his wife and two children. Luke has been with company since 2014.

Favorite Tree

Monkey Puzzle, found in remote areas of Chile

Sarah joined our team in the summer of 2020 and brought with her an Associates Degree of Science from PVCC. She is a registered pesticides applicator and VNLA Certified Horticulturalist.

Favorite Tree

Acer palmatum

Favorite Activity

Horseback riding, beach kayaking, and reading

Favorite Flower

Anything in the cutting garden

William (Todd) has a B. S. degree in horticulture from Virginia Tech. He is a VNLA Certified Horticulturist and is a pesticide applicator. He joined J. W. Townsend, Inc. in March 2006. Earlier in his career, he owned a nursery as well as a landscape construction company that specialized in patios, walkways, and water features. He is a great cook, and also enjoys spending time with his family, running, hiking, and woodworking.

Color

Red

Tree

Coffee Tree

Favorite Project

My favorite project is the summer garden at Monticello.

Trevor joined our team in March of 2017. He studied at PVCC, is a registered pesticides technician, and a VNLA certified horticulturist. Since joining J.W.T., he's held positions as Head Gardener in our HotPots and Residential divisions.

Favorite Plant

Metasequoia Glyptostroboides / Dawn Redwood

Favorite Activity

Spending quality time with his wife & two dogs

Favorite Project

Tadler Private Residence

Rollin was born and raised in Indiana. He joined J.W. Townsend in 2013 and quickly became a VNLA certified horticulturist. Outside of work, he enjoys watching sports with friends and playing music. He also loves to travel and has a goal of visiting all 50 states!

Favorite Plant

Giant Sequoia

Favorite Tool

Felco #11's

Favorite Project

Farm work at Private Farm in Charlottesville

Thomas joined J.W.T. in the fall of 2016. He studied horticulture and landscape design at PVCC, has 22 years of landscaping experience, and is a VNLA certified horticulturalist and registered pesticide technician.

Favorite Plant

Turf

Favorite Activity

Spending time with his kids

Favorite Project

Moving turf

Caleb joined our team in the spring of 2019 with prior experience as Groundskeeper at Farmington Country Club.

Favorite Activity

Fishing

Todd joined J. W. Townsend Landscapes in November 2018. He has a B. S. degree from Concord University and is a Registered Pesticide Technician. He has been installing landscapes since 2014 and has a background in design and nursery management. Todd enjoys listening to music and going to concerts when he's not creating beautiful landscapes.

Kevin has been working with JWT since 2019, bringing his Associate's Degree in Science from PVCC, VNLA, and registered pesticide technician status to our team!

Favorite Activity

Hiking & biking

Favorite Plant

Symplocarpos Foetidus "Eastern Skunk Cabbage"

Favorite Tree

Platanus Occidentalis "American Sycamore"

A graduate of Charlottesville High School, Donnell has been working with JW Townsend Landscape since May of 2017 with a Certified Petisides license. He also makes the best cheesecake at JWT!

Trevor joined our team in 2022 with a Bachelors of Science in Forest Resources and Conservation from the University of Florida. He is VNLA and American Heart Association First Aid & CPR certified, and pesticide technician.

Favorite Plant

Snowdrop

Favorite Season

Winter

Favorite Activity

Reading

Jen joined our team in the summer of 2021 as a lifetime gardener and nurturer of nature. She holds both a pesticides certification and the VNLA certification, and hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2014!

Favorite JWT Project

Learning more about our landscapes

Favorite Plant

Old white oaks

Favorite Activity

Long distance backpacking

Sierra started on with our Fine Gardening team in June of 2022. She graduated from Randolph-Macon with a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies & Environmental Studies, and spent two summers our west living and working in national parks. She now holds a VNLA and Pesticide Applicator License.

Favorite Plant

Fern, Camelia, Weeping Cherry

Favorite Activity

Going to coffee shops & hiking!

Favorite Project

Pruning at Foxhaven in the early spring with all the hellebore blooms!

Tate started with us in the summer of 2017 and is a VNLA-VCH certified horticulturalist, ISA certified arborist, and licensed pesticide & fertilizer applicator, and passionate home gardener.

Favorite Plant

Heuchera

Favorite Activity

Watching sci-fi shows

Gerard was raised in Poland before moving to the U.S. in the late 80's. Having the privilege to see both sides of the world allowed him much insight into how beautiful it is outdoors. Gerard found his true passion when he joined JWT as a horticulturalist in 2012. He enjoys the seemingly endless task of garden planning and loves inspiring people to get outdoors and enjoy nature!

Favorite Plant

Chinese Wisteria

Favorite Tool

Chain Saw

Favorite Project

Pruning espalier trees...

Kelso joined our team in 2019 with an Associates degree from PVCC and more than 6 years of landscaping work history at the time. He is a registered pesticide technician and applicator and an avid collector of utility knives ranging from custom works to $10 gas station pieces.

Favorite Plant

Osage Orange Tree

Favorite Activity Outside of Work

Whittling, Restoring Old Tools, and Practicing Outdoor Skills

Favorite Project

Tree Maintenance & Arboristry