Meet the Associates | Dear Garden Associates, Inc.

Bill Dear

Principal

Bill is the founder of Dear Garden Associates, Inc. and is involved in all facets of the business. He brings the value of over 20 years of experience as a professional in the fields of Horticulture and Landscape Design and Construction. Bill holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the Delaware Valley College of Science and Agriculture with a minor in Biology specializing in Ecology. He has previously held certifications as an Arborist from the International Society of Arborculture and as a Horticulturist with the Pennsylvania Nurseryman's Association. Bill has guest lectured at the Henry Foundation for Botanical Research, Temple University and various local gardening organizations on the topics of Landscape Design, Plant Care and Landscape Project Management.

Micah Mutschler

Registered Landscape Architect

Micah is a Pennsylvania Registered Landscape Architect and a Penn State Alumni with a Bachelor of Science degree in Landscape Architecture. Having 14 years of professional experience working with clients on a diverse range of projects in PA, NJ, NY, and DE, Micah brings a wealth of experience to every project.

Micah was born into the gardening profession as his father was a teacher of Horticulture in Montgomery County, PA. During high school, he assisted his parents in starting their family owned business, a nursery specializing in the sale of rare plants. Some of Micah’s interests and hobbies include fishing and biking along the Perkiomen Creek, and searching the woods for perfect boulders to add to his Japanese Garden.

Debbie Dawicki

Office Manager

Tim Zepp

Lighting and Irrigation Manager

Tim Zepp is responsible for managing the installation and maintenance needs of our lighting and irrigation division. Dear Garden Associates places a tremendous amount of energy and care into our garden installations. Tim’s interaction during the garden design and installation process ensures optimal performance of these essential garden functions, providing better long term results for the overall garden. With Tim’s vast experience, we can fine tune systems to accommodate for unseasonal weather changes and make prompt repairs as needed.

Debbie Guarino

Manager - Garden Maintenance Division

Debbie is a graduate of The New York Botanical Garden School of Horticulture with a background in Fine Arts. Her formal education coupled with experience in various fields of Horticulture gives Debbie a well-rounded knowledge of what it takes to create and maintain a successful garden. "Horticulture offers infinite possibilities as an artistic medium so even now after many years in the field I find it challenging and fun," she says.

Debbie and her husband, Mike, have three children: Kathleen, Michael and Neil, who are very active in sports and clubs. They also have three cats, a dog, and two horses so life is never dull in this home.

Devin Kozicki

Landscape Installation Foreman

Eric LaCroix

Landscape Installation Foreman

Eric's passion for plant materials and critical eye for detail ensure that his work is of the highest quality from stonework to plantings. New employees are often put on Eric's team to go through our form of Horticultural boot camp to be sure they understand our level of quality and efficiency.

Steve McLelland,

Landscape Installation Foreman

Steve has been a valued member of the team at DGA since the fall of 2005. He brings a thoroughness and keen eye to the projects he installs, which guarantees the highest level of quality and detail.

"I began gardening at age twelve for my grandmother," says Steve. "I spent many hours maintaining her hedgerow of Hydrangeas, pruning the Privet along the side of her house and weeding her garden."

Steve's favorite shrubs include Lilacs, Hydrangeas and Witchhazel. He's also particularly fond of perennials such as Phlox 'David', Irises, Tierella, Lobelia, Anemone, Autumn Ferns and Lucifer Crocosmia.

When Steve isn't gardening, he enjoys working around his house, snowboarding, hiking, fishing and spending time with his wife and children.