Cordelia Head is an American Orchid Society (AOS) accredited judge, former co-owner of J&L Orchids in Easton, Connecticut, and an international lecturer on miniature orchids.
Cordelia has been growing orchids for over 40 years, developing a world-renowned specialization in house culture, Masdevallia hybridization, and miniature and micro-miniature genera. In 1978, she became a co-owner and operator of J&L Orchids alongside Lucinda Winn and Marguerite Webb, later partnering with the Carreno family following their 2017 acquisition to ensure the nursery’s ongoing dedication to species conservation.
As an accredited American Orchid Society (AOS) judge, she has contributed her expertise to the AOS Awards Committee as well as various international orchid committees. Her passion for the field has taken her on extensive botanical explorations throughout Central and South America to discover rare plants, resulting in three distinct orchid species being named in her honor. A highly sought-after speaker, she frequently lectures both nationally and internationally, including presenting her research at World Orchid Conferences in Miami, France, Malaysia, Vancouver, and Glasgow.
Brian Leib is a prominent horticulturist, greenhouse manager, and orchid expert based in Massachusetts. He is highly recognized for his leadership within local orchid societies and his professional background managing elite institutional greenhouses.
Brian is deeply involved in the New England orchid community, sharing his expertise on orchid care, potting, and pest control. He has served in multiple executive leadership roles for the Massachusetts Orchid Society, including Vice President, and President. He was honored with the prestigious Orchid Digest Diamond Award in 2023. Brian is also an integral member at the Cape and Islands Orchid Society where he served as the Vice President.
Brian travel frequently to give public educational lectures and live demonstrations, such as his popular series on "The Beauty and Care of Orchids". Outside of his hobbyist advocacy, Leib has a long career managing university, research and commercial plant facilities.
Tim Culbertson is a highly respected horticulturist, hybridizer, and American Orchid Society (AOS) judge whose lifelong passion for botany has shaped a prominent career in the orchid community. His journey into cultivation began right after college while working at the historic Longwood Gardens in Philadelphia. He later expanded his institutional expertise by tending to the orchid collections at the Smithsonian Institution and spending several years with the United States National Arboretum, where he collected rare plants and documented cultivated hybrids for their official herbarium.
A graduate summa cum laude from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Tim also holds a Master of Science in marine, estuarine, and environmental science from the University of Maryland. At one point qualifying as the youngest accredited judge in AOS history, he has contributed over two decades of leadership to regional orchid societies on both the East and West Coasts. Today, he manages the renowned Paphiopedilum collection at Sunset Valley Orchids alongside Fred Clarke, oversees his own private collection of nearly 3,000 prized clones, and operates as an independent vendor through Oceanside Orchids. Tim regularly travels internationally to share his specialized breeding insights, culture tips, and standard-setting plant tables with fellow hobbyists.
Brandt Moran is a distinguished horticulturist, award-winning grower, and prominent figure within the regional orchid community. His foray into the world of orchid cultivation famously began on a dare when he successfully accepted a free plant and coaxed it into reblooming. Over the years, that initial challenge blossomed into a life-defining passion,. Brandt is a member of several orchid societies from Massachusetts to Virginia.
More recently he has adapted his expertise to the mid-Atlantic coast, where he frequently welcomes local hobbyist groups to tour his vibrant botanical collection. He has earned widespread recognition for his exceptional ability to cultivate demanding, large-flowered Brazilian orchid species. His mastery of these temperamental plants has garnered numerous accolades. A dedicated educator as well as a master grower, Brandt continues to share his technical expertise, breeding insights, and passion for the hobby through engaging public lectures and community greenhouse gatherings.
Beth Davis is an accomplished horticulturist, American Orchid Society (AOS) judge, and fourth-generation orchid grower who has spent more than 25 years cultivating a profound expertise at Waldor Orchids. Based out of Linwood, New Jersey, where her family has owned and operated their historic wholesale and retail business since 1925, she literally grew up among the greenhouses. Over her multi-decade career, Beth has mastered every tier of the nursery's operation—from meticulous hands-on plant care and complex repotting to driving forward the legacy of their world-class Cattleya species and hybrids.
As a highly requested speaker and educator, Beth is celebrated for breaking down advanced botanical concepts into her signature approach: "Orchids are different, but not difficult." She frequently travels across the country to anchor public workshops and specialized lectures for institutions like the Morris Arboretum & Gardens, as well as regional orchid societies throughout New England and the Mid-Atlantic. Whether demonstrating intricate potting techniques, troubleshooting home environments, or helping guide growers through the nuance of the Cattleya Alliance, Beth leverages her heritage and judicial background to demystify complex horticulture for hobbyists and professionals alike.