OUR TEAM

Jeffrey Rossen, Founder & Head Honcho

It all started with Koi...

When Jeff was 12 years old, he raised Koi from eggs in an aquarium. Once the eggs hatched, his parents allowed him to build his first pond. Jeff spent five years rebuilding and perfecting the pond before launching his first business, Atlantic Landworks. A few years – and several ponds and gardens – later, Jeff graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Landscape Technology. Upon graduation, Jeff worked for the DC area’s two largest landscape companies, absorbing as much information about landscaping and customer service as he could. This knowledge formed the strong foundation on which he built Rossen Landscape. Jeff currently sits on the board of directors of the MD-DC-VA Landscape Contractors Association. In his free time Jeff enjoys spending time with his wife, 3 boys, and menagerie of plants and animals. Piddling around in his pond with a beer remains one of his favorite things to do in addition to fishing, snowboarding, and playing basketball.

Favorite Plant: Tiger Eyes Sumac

To read more about Jeff's story visit this link:

https://profilesinsuccessbook.com/profile-success/jeffrey-rossen/

Jason Navon, Integrator

Given his pollen allergies, Jason never expected to find himself working in the landscape industry. However, in 2010 his high school buddy, Jeff Rossen, called and asked for help. After nearly a decade at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Jason hung up his tie and rolled up his sleeves to get dirty at Rossen Landscape. Jason’s knack for numbers, propensity for problem-solving, and enthusiasm for efficiency immediately added value at Rossen Landscape, which earned Jason a number of “hats.” He joined to lead the financial function, but quickly played an integral role in the operations of the business ensuring seamless integration among (and within) each major function of the business (i.e., sales, operations, finance). Jason has built out the business processes at Rossen Landscape to create a system that allows Jeff’s vision to flourish.

Jason currently serves on the board of the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (VSCPA). He lives with his wife in Arlington, Virginia. They enjoy traveling, being active (e.g., soccer, pilates, snowboarding, rollerblading, pickleball, etc.), and decompressing on the couch with bad reality tv.

Favorite Plant: Succulents (They are low maintenance and don’t trigger his allergies.)

Francine Rossen, Sales Manager

Originally from South Africa, Francine’s family moved to Virginia Beach when she was a child. At the age of nine she met Jeff Rossen, and the two have been together ever since. Francine left a successful sales career to raise their children but now that the youngest is in school, Francine is thrilled to return to the workforce and help Rossen Landscape grow. Francine is available to help resolve any sales-related questions.

Favorite Plant: Gerber Daisy

April Sullivan, Senior Design & Sales Consultant

April first met Jeff in college where she was working on a degree in horticulture with an emphasis on small business management. It made perfect sense then for her to join Rossen in 2012 as the enhancement manager. Today, as the lead designer and sales lead, April may be one of the first people you meet at Rossen. It’s her job to make sure you have an innovative and unique design that meets your needs as well as the needs of your landscape and budget. Existing clients are always welcome to contact April to discuss new needs.

Favorite Plant: Annuals & Tropicals

Sam Eashum, Design & Sales Consultant

Sam joins the team with over a decade of experience in the Green Industry. His love of nature led him to seek a fulfilling career outdoors in landscaping. While studying Landscape Design and Horticulture at The University of Delaware, he began his professional career working for one of the nation’s largest landscape companies. After several years gaining experience and insight on the installation and maintenance side, he began a career in design in Delaware and Pennsylvania before moving to Virginia in 2016. His favorite part of designing is helping clients transform their property to an inviting and relaxing space. When Sam isn’t helping to beautify yards, he enjoys spending time with his wife (A fellow Delaware Blue Hen), and their pets, traveling, and rooting for the Miami Dolphins. He’s looking forward to helping you in any way that he can!

Greg Parrish, Director of Landscaping Maintenance

Greg’s interest in the outdoors began at a young age as he would spend weekends at his family’s farm in the Culpeper area. Like a lot of landscape professionals, Greg began as a kid contractor mowing his neighbor’s lawns in Alexandria and eventually started working with a local company during weekends and summers between school. Over the past 5 years Greg has had various roles in the maintenance department at Rossen Landscape as he made his way to operations manager of the division.

Favorite Plant: Virginia Bluebells

Paul Lukert, Director of Design-Build

Paul began his love affair with the outdoors when he started and operated a lawn care business in New Jersey throughout high school. He put this passion on pause to attend college and participate for a brief stint in the financial services world. Paul returned to the landscape industry over three decades ago and has since participated in all segments of the green industry. He found that his true passion lies in the residential design/build arena. Paul is a certified hardscape installer/instructor and enjoys sharing his experience for the benefit of both his team and clients.

Paul has two adult sons and enjoys spending time with them on the golf course or chatting about their favorite sports teams.

Favorite Plant: Yellow Tulip

Brandon Hennessy, Project Manager

Brandon is a true New Englander who majored in Economics at the University of Utah. Ultimately, the great outdoors called to him, which is how he found landscaping at the turn of the century. In 2008, Brandon joined our team and has been building beautiful landscapes for our clients ever since. Brandon sees the splendor of his craft as taking a blank canvas and turning it into something stunning. Brandon’s hobbies involve any activity outdoors, from mountain biking to camping or skiing in the winter.

Favorite Plant: Southern Live Oak

John Wood, Project Manager

John is a native Virginian and 30-year veteran in the industry. After pursuing his degree in Engineering at West Virginia Tech, he discovered his passion for landscaping and has honed his craft, specifically, as a Project Manager for the past decade. John especially cherishes connecting with his clients to bring their landscape wishes to life. When John is not building functional landscape elements, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends.

Favorite Plant: Southern Magnolia

Victor Pastor, Maintenance Production Manager

Victor started working in landscaping while he was attending college (earning a degree in cybersecurity), and his career path continues in the green industry. Victor contributes a robust skill set and wealth of knowledge managing the Rossen Landscape maintenance field team to deliver high-quality results for our clients and their properties. Although his hobby is electronics (including fixing computers), Victor’s true passion is the outdoors, where he enjoys spending time with his family and his Border Collie-Australian Shepherd named Spot. Victor was born in Peru and came to the Northern Virginia area when he was five years old. Victor likes the Northern Virginia area and all the “organized chaos” that comes along with living in this sprawling metropolis.

Favorite Plant: Burning Bush

Lauren Webster, Client Relationship Manager (CRM)

Lauren is excited to join Rossen Landscape and share her passion for beautiful landscapes with our clients. As a child she didn’t expect to end up in the green industry, but her mom always described Lauren as her “horse and flower girl” because she loved horses and was always making flower bouquets to give to everyone. Lauren attended Sandhills Community College for their renowned hands-on Landscape Gardening Program and enjoyed every second of it. While competing at the National Collegiate Landscape Competition, she met Rossen Landscape and decided to come intern with us, the rest is history in the making.

Favorite Plant: While Lauren has many favorite plants, her all time favorite are peonies because of her love for cut flowers.

Andrew Schwartz, Client Relationship Manager (CRM)

Andrew grew up in a landscaping family. His interest in Horticulture started when he was five years old. Andrew remembers growing his vegetable garden at home, where he learned to care for and harvest his produce. His passion for plants drove him to get his education at Northern Virginia Community College, where he was the President of the Horticulture Club. With Andrew’s solid horticultural background, he is looking forward to creating great relationships with our clients and their properties and continuing to grow his professional career at Rossen Landscape.

Favorite Plant: Hydrangea

Jesus Castillo, Plant and Turf Technician

Jesus is originally from Fairfax, Virginia. The organic feel of the outdoors and his love for nature drove him to join the landscape industry. Jesus’s favorite part of his position at Rossen Landscape is remedy and maintain turf for our clients. He loves turning dull-colored turf into a luscious, emerald green. The satisfaction of our clients is his biggest reward. When Jesus is not working his magic at our clients’ properties, Jesus likes to play soccer/basketball or go for a brisk hike with his family; outdoor sports are one of his favorite hobbies. Jesus loves to get to know people and travel internationally, especially to Guatemala and El Salvador, where he has some family members, which gives him an opportunity to hone his Spanish.

Favorite Plant: Japanese Dwarf Maple & Wisteria

Jill Diamond Mirkovich, Purchaser & Fleet Manager

Jill Mirkovich, a Lafayette, Louisiana native, recalls a childhood climbing trees, picking blackberries, and exploring the swampy woods and coastal meadows of south Louisiana. Her enthusiasm for the outdoors remains steadfast as she loves to hike in wooded areas with her family in observation of new plant communities and native plant identification. Jill holds a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architectural Studies from the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, University of Arkansas. Her focus of study included landscape design, horticulture, and environmental restoration. Previously working for Mississippi State University Extension’s Crosby Arboretum and Banting’s Nursery of New Orleans, her career focused on land conservation, environmental educational outreach, nursery stock propagation, and sales. Jill is grateful to now be a part of the fast-paced Rossen Landscape team.

Favorite Plant: Favorite plant genus is Quercus (Oaks), and favorite planting combination includes David Austin Roses, Liatris spicata, Peonies, Amsonia hubrichtii, Baptisia australis, and Echinacea ‘Magnus.’

Nick Greaver, Irrigation Technician

Born and raised in northern Virginia, Nick developed his passion for the outdoors at a young age as a Boy Scout. He knew early on that he wanted to have a career that would keep him around nature every day. After spending years bouncing from job to job he finally found his calling in irrigation while working for a large irrigation company installing and maintaining several thousand irrigation and lighting systems for about 7 years. During that time he achieved a stack of certifications, including his VA DPOR Backflow tester license. Nick is excited to have joined the Rossen team and is looking forward to highlighting the rest of the teams hard work with adequate lighting/irrigation to bring your yard to life.

Favorite Plant: twisted aspen

Natali Mercado, Production Coordinator

Natali is an Army Veteran. (Thank you for your service to our country!) Natali stumbled into her passion for the landscape industry after taking a chance on a job with another company. We’re grateful she landed with us! Connecting with our crews and the clients to coordinate the delivery of our services is her favorite part of her day. Natali plays an integral role in ensuring an excellent experience for our clients. Outside of the office, Natali likes to spend time teaching her kids how to care for plants and grow their own vegetables.

Favorite Plant: White Hydrangeas

Robin Flanigan, Accounting

Robin brought with her over 25 years of accounting experience when she joined Rossen Landscape in 2015. Robin believes her love of puzzles and putting all the pieces in place makes her the perfect fit to bring all the pieces together in the accounting department at Rossen Landscape. When not counting beans, she is spending time with family and friends. Robin is happy to assist you with any billing questions.

Favorite Plant: Shasta Daisies and Yellow Roses.

Kai Djordjevic, Director of Talent & Culture

Kai is originally from San Antonio, TX. Although she did spend half of her childhood in Mexico City, which gives her a unique and rich perspective when connecting with our team. After earning her Bachelor’s degree from The Culinary Institute of America, Kai found an appetite for management, training, and recruiting staff. This passion drove her to pursue her MBA in Human Resources at Liberty University. Kai leverages her 17+ years of management experience to support and foster Rossen Landscape’s incredible culture, including the recruitment of high-quality landscape professionals.

Favorite Plant: Moulin Rouge Sunflower and Weeping Willow Tree