gdelany@sealabor.com

631.408.5683

Facebook Twitter Youtube

Advisory Board

Jon Calle
VP Construction, Pickering Valley Landscape, Elverson, PA

Jon Calle has 30 years in the structural retaining wall and landscape industry having worked on both supply and installation sides of business. Jon has a combination of field and office experience allowing for a unique insight into the daily challenges faced throughout the project management process. In more recent years focus has been on administrative responsibilities including human resource management, purchasing and cost accounting, customer and vendor relations, safety and injury prevention, and maintaining overall company strategy for smart growth and financial health. Jon holds several US patents on systems and devices used in his industry. Jon has worked alongside a Latino workforce for most of his career first in the Denver and Rocky Mountain region and then in the Philadelphia and MidAtlantic region. He has focused heavily on the H2B seasonal visa program since 2014 as major program changes and visa cap restrictions presented new challenges for his and other user companies. By 2017 his approach changed that whatever knowledge he gained through involvement and political advocacy should be shared across the H2B community to support the common cause. He has organized meetings and other events from fund raisers to mock lotteries with the assistance of SEA Labor to educate legislators, suppliers, customers, user companies, and the media on the need for program stability by making the returning worker exemption (RWE) PERMANENT. He is a firm believer in immigration based on merit and the use of the non immigrant H2B seasonal work program is a huge first in that process.

Erika Christie
HR Director, Anchorage Motor Inn, York Beach, ME

Coming soon…

Dennis Dautel
CEO, Landscapes USA, Austin, TX

Dennis is a recognized leader in the landscaping industry, with an outstanding track record of success spanning almost a quarter of a century. He was the founder and CEO of Clean Cut, Inc., which became part of LandCare. After growing Clean Cut to one of the largest companies of its type, with success based in large part on its unique style of management and client satisfaction programs, Clean Cut became the largest landscape maintenance subsidiary of LandCare after it went public on the NYSE.

Dennis holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Kansas State University, as well as completing the “Birthing of Giants” graduate program at MIT. He is a private pilot, and is married with four children.

Scott Muehlhauser
President, Scott's Power Equipment, St. Louis, MO

Scott Muehlhauser is the President of Scott’s Power Equipment, Inc. He leads the commercial outdoor power equipment dealer with locations in Wentzville, Bridgeton and Arnold, and they serve landscape contractors throughout the greater St. Louis area. Scott’s is the largest dealer of Ferris walk-behind mowers in the world and they also offer other types of outdoor power equipment including aerators, chippers, loaders, trenchers and a wide variety of walk-behind, stand-on and zero-turn-radius mowers. Scott’s Power Equipment has been called one of the most innovative power equipment dealers in the nation.

Nick Nunley
Project Coordinator, Forrester & Associates, LLC, Ackerman, MS

Coming soon…

Sonja Skerbeck
Owner, Skerbeck Entertainment Group, Holland, MI

Sonja Skerbeck, Owner of Skerbeck Entertainment Group. Skerbeck Entertainment Group is a sixth-generation family owned and operated carnival company based in Michigan. Recognized for exceptional performance, Skerbeck Entertainment Group was awarded the prestigious Circle of Excellence by the Outdoor Amusement Business Association. Sonja oversees strategic company development, event bookings, marketing, and regulatory requirements for the company. Management of human resources and the introduction of H2B Visa workers into the company’s staffing portfolio was initiated by Sonja in 2018. After several successful years utilizing the H2B program, Skerbeck Entertainment Group “lost” the H2B visa lottery in 2021. At that time, Sonja prioritized her efforts toward understanding the political changes necessary to secure the crucial labor force. Working with other carnival show owners and business partners from county fairs and festivals, Sonja coordinated efforts to lead a grassroots campaign to engage with members of Congress and the Senate in Michigan on the H2B program needs. Sonja is highly motivated to participate in the political processes surrounding H2B and is committed to working with others to achieve tangible goals for all of the program’s users. A native of Fennville, Michigan, Sonja graduated from Western Michigan University in 1997 with a degree in Paper Engineering and minor in Environmental Engineering. Prior to marrying her wonderful husband and becoming a showman, Sonja had a successful career in the Pulp and Paper Industry performing Air Quality engineering work for some of the largest manufacturing facilities in North America. Sonja’s other interests when not “on the road” with the carnival include gardening, sailing, and politics. She has served on various boards and committees in her community. She drives a tractor-trailer in the summer months and charters catamarans as time allows in the winter months in the Caribbean. Sonja and her husband are proud to be raising three exceptional children and have their permanent residence in Holland, Michigan.