STONY CREEK - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Supervisor
- Supervisor / Ornamental & Turf
Byron is a graduate of the University of Georgia, Class of '88, with a degree in Horticulture. He worked at Wight Nurseries from 1988-1994 as a supervisor in container production. His responsibilities included supervision of 10 - 20 employees, growing ornamental shrubs and trees from 1 to 15 gallons in size, performing pruning, shift ups, spacing, quality control, spraying and fertilization.
From 1994-2005, Byron worked with the University of Georgia as a county extension agent in Thomas County. He provided horticultural information to homeowners, made homeowner and farm visits, wrote a weekly horticulture column in Thomasville Times Enterprise, coordinated the first Master Gardener program taught in Southwest Georgia, worked with 4-H, coordinated Master Wildlifer and Master Tree Farmer programs, and assisted farmers with fish ponds, pecan production, small fruit, sod production, and commercial nurseries . Byron was instrumental in starting a shotgun shooting sports program in Thomas county in 1995 and developed a strong support group of parent volunteers and talented coaches. Over the years the program won numerous individual and team awards on the state level and in 2002 a 4-man team won the National Skeet Shooting Competition held in Raton, New Mexico. While working with the extension office, Byron was awarded the young professional award for the southwest district and 1st place Communication Award for his weekly newspaper column by Georgia Association County Agricultural Agents.
In October 2005, Byron finally gave in to Ed Millere's relentless pressuring and joined Stony Creek Landscaping and Irrigation as a partner and currently holds the position of Supervisor for the Ornamental & Turf Division. In his role, he performs monthly property inspections, coordinates the spraying of lawns and shrubs for insects, diseases, weeds and fertilization, and oversees some of the maintenance accounts. Byron is certified in Commercial Pesticide Application for ornamental and turf.
Byron currently resides outside of Boston, GA with his wife Heidi and their two children. His main interest is spending time with his family, camping, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, and on occasion dresses up as a Civil War cavalry soldier reenacter.
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Partner
Ed is a graduate of Macon State College ‘89 where he earned an Associate of Science degree in Business Administration; he continued his education with an Associate of Science degree in Computer Networking at Thomas Technical College ‘98. He later returned to school a third time to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Education at Valdosta State University ‘06. Ed held a variety of jobs while living in New Jersey; Sexton at his local church, Delivered Newspapers on two routes, Deli Clerk at a 7-11 store, Aquatics Director at Lenape Scout reservation. After graduating from Macon State College, Ed returned to New Jersey and worked in three diverse jobs; Floor Covering Inspector with Evaluations, Laborer (3 months), Forman (14 months), and Supervisor (8 months) with Lipinski Landscape Contractors, a full service design/build firm and the 17th largest in the country, before becoming a Division Manager with Lerro Products in Center City Philadelphia.
In 1995 Ed and his wife Marcia moved to Thomasville to be closer to Marcia's family and to start one of their own. In March of 1996, Ed started Stony Creek Landscaping. In 2003, Larry Plank joined Stony Creek Landscaping as General Manager, and only two years later, became a partner. In 2006, Ed was finishing up his teaching degree, and began sharing his passion for business and computers at Thomasville High School. In 2012, Ed reluctantly resigned his position at Thomasville High School to increase his participation in and concentrate on his and his partners growing business.
Ed is a lifetime member in the National Eagle Scout Association, having earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 1983. He serves as a Past-President of the Georgia Master Gardener Association and currently is the South West District Director for the GMGA. He is also a Past-President of the Phi Beta Lambda Chapter, a Business-Student organization at Southwest Georgia Technical College and was the Thomasville High School FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) Advisor from 2008 to 2012.
Ed currently resides in Thomasville with his wife Marcia and their 2 beautiful daughters.
Larry is a graduate of Cairo High School, Class of '92. After graduation, Larry worked 5 years at Curtis Mathis Television as a Repo Man where he was promoted to Assistant Manager in 1997. Following his management position, Larry started working with Professional & Temporary Services, working his way up from a front desk receptionist and leaving ten years later as a General Manager.
While at Stony Creek Landscaping, Larry worked as a Landscape & Irrigation Technician and put together a business plan to start New Hire Solutions with Ed Millere. New Hire Solutions opened its doors in April of 2005 and later bought out Professional & Temporary Services in June 2007.
Larry serves as the Past President of Thomasville Area Society of Human Resource Management, Chairman of the Thomasville Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Thomas County Employer Committee, PTO President at Shiver Elementary School, sits on the Payroll Development Authority Board, Keep Thomas County Beautiful Board,City of Thomasville Tourism Board, Facilities Manager and board member for the Thomasville Antique Show, and a Plantation Wildlife Arts Festival volunteer coordinator.
Larry currently resides in North Grady County with his wife Marianne and their 4 beautiful daughters.
Job Titles:
- Senior Foreman
- Senior Foreman / Landsape & Irrigation
Manuel came to Stony Creek Landscaping over 10 years ago and serves as the Lead Installer for the Landscape & Hardscape Division. He is certified in Night Lighting and Irrigation Installation. He has his certification from the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute. Not only does Manuel touch base on every division with Stony Creek Landscaping, he is also bilingual in English and Spanish.
Manuel currently resides in Pelham, GA with his wife and two sons.
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations
- DIrector of Operations / Landscape & Irrigation
Matt is a graduate of Thomas County Central High School, Class of 2000. After graduation, Matt attended Wiregrass Georgia Technical College under the Environmental Horticulture program. For three years, he owned and operated Paradise Landscaping until he merged with Stony Creek Landscaping as a partner and Director of Operations for the Landscape & Irrigation Divisions.
Matt has served as the Director of Operations under the Landscape & Irrigation Divisions for almost five years. He is certified in Night Lighting and Irrigation Installation, as well as having his certification from the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute. Matt is on the development board for the City of Thomasville's Tree & Landscape Ordinance.
Matt currently resides in Thomasville with his wife, Kristen and their son, Beau.