George R. Kish
George R Kish has been a member since 1999 and active in the Society from the very beginning. He was the newsletter editor from 2000 to 2002, and still provides plant profiles for the newsletter today. He joined the chapter board in 2000 as Secretary, and was president of the Suncoast Chapter from 2002 to 2005. George is currently a member of Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Green Industry Advisory Committee, representing the Florida Native Plant Society since 2000.
George Kish earned his M.S. degree in Environmental Science from Rutgers University, and a B.S degree in Biological Sciences from Drexel University. He is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of South Florida and his doctoral dissertation will emphasize the relation between plant phenology and climate. George also taught an introductory coarse in environmental science at the University of South Florida, and is often a guest lecturer for courses in the department of geology.
George Kish regularly gives talks to FNPS chapters, non-profit groups, and community development organizations about native landscaping, native grasses, butterfly gardening, and Florida’s ecosystems. He was instrumental in “Life in our Landscapes”, a grant from FNPS. This grant was an outreach program to big box stores on using natives in landscaping. Lastly, he is listed as one of the authors in The Right Plants for Dry Places, second edition, and is one of the authors of The Right Plants for Dry Coastal Places (in preparation).
George Kish has inspired others to become active in native plant issues, and is one of the reasons our chapter has become so successful. We are proud of the leadership that George has bestowed on the Suncoast Chapter, and very proud of the work he has done in furthering the cause of the Florida Native Plant Society.
