COLUMBIA, Md., Jan. 9, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Association of Professional Landscape Designers names Eric Gilbey, PLA Qualified Professional Member of APLD, as its president, succeeding Danilo Maffei, FAPLD, PCH. The association serves to advance the promotion of landscape design and promote its members as qualified and dedicated professionals. Gilbey takes on this role with the primary responsibility of building brand awareness of APLD and its mission, while professionally developing and growing the association's membership.

"I am eager to engage with our APLD members and community, and I look forward to helping advance public awareness of the landscape design practice, including sustainable site design and better landscape performance," said Gilbey. "In the last decade, there has been a shrinkage of professionals in not only landscape design, but also landscape architects and contractors. My hope is to increase outreach to the next generation of designers to encourage them to pursue a landscape career and find ways to improve landscapes through design and performance. This brings us to see APLD as a community of mentorship and outreach."

As the product marketing manager for the landscape industries at Vectorworks, Inc. — a global design and BIM software provider — Gilbey was elected after serving as president-elect for the past two years. He received an associate of applied science degree in landscape contracting and construction and a bachelor's degree in landscape architecture from the Ohio State University. In 1999 and 2013, Gilbey became licensed as a landscape architect in Ohio and Maryland, respectively. After joining APLD in 2008, he served on the DC-MD-VA APLD Chapter board and was later elected to serve on the APLD Board of Directors.

Here are sentiments from past APLD presidents:

"As the Immediate Past President of APLD, I've had the pleasure of serving as president for the past two years with Eric as the president-elect," said Maffei, APLD president from 2018 – 2019 and principal at Maffei Landscape Design. "From the moment I began my leadership journey on APLD's Executive Committee, I knew Eric was the obvious choice to succeed me. He's very genuine in his relationships, generous with his time and steadfast in his commitment to service in the landscape industry. Those are qualities that any organization seeks in a member and leader, and we are fortunate to have him as our next president."

"I have worked with Eric through APLD for almost 10 years now, and close to six years with him on the national APLD board," said Lisa Port FAPLD APLD president from 2016 – 2017. "He has always made it a personal endeavor to connect with different groups, seeking understanding and promoting commonality when it comes to legislative issues, raising the bar within the profession and advocating for higher standards among members. He is an asset to the profession, the Vectorworks community and APLD."

Read Gilbey's message to APLD members in the January issue of Design Online. Press, landscape designers, landscape architects and other design professionals can connect with Gilbey at Email Contact or at events like the Northern Green tradeshow in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the National Collegiate Landscape Competition and the 2020 Vectorworks Design Summit where he will be speaking and conducting workshops.

About APLD
The Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD) is an international organization founded in 1989. Their mission is to advance the profession of landscape design and to promote the recognition of landscape designers as qualified and dedicated professionals.

About Vectorworks, Inc.
Vectorworks, Inc. is an award-winning design and BIM software provider serving the architecture, landscape architecture and entertainment industries in 85 countries. Creating intuitive software since 1985, we've become the preeminent software built to manage the entire design process. Globally more than 685,000 users are creating, connecting and influencing the next generation of design with Vectorworks on Mac and Windows. Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, with offices in Atlanta, Georgia, Newbury and London, England and Vancouver, Canada, Vectorworks is a part of the Nemetschek Group. Learn how we empower designers to create experiences that transform the world at vectorworks.net or follow @Vectorworks.

SOURCE Vectorworks, Inc.