It is truly the case at Summerhill that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. We are fortunate to have a deep, experienced, and dedicated team without whom it would not be possible to work at the level we expect of ourselves. In that same spirit, over the history of the company we have been afforded the opportunity to work with many talented collaborators: architects, designers, builders, and craftsman that have all played a role in our story. It is with the utmost humility and gratitude that we approach the creation and maintenance of their vision.
A graduate of Long Island University Southampton, Ann Blackmore holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing/Management and has been employed by Summerhill since 2003. Formerly Vice President at the Bridgehampton National Bank, Ann’s deft management and long experience renders Summerhill’s reputation not only as an accomplished landscape company, but also as an organization with business integrity and careful strategic growth.
A native of Ireland, Declan Blackmore founded Summerhill Landscapes on the East End of Long Island in 1993. Passionate about plants and working in nature, he established his boutique company to create beautiful and enduring gardens. His reputation and collaborative spirit attracts top landscape architects, architects, designers, and engineers.
Declan is a graduate of Kildalton College of Horticulture, which is located in the striking Suir Valley. In addition to his vibrant, innovative practice, he has a unique mentoring and internship program for horticulture students from around the world.
Declan lives with his wife and three children in Southampton.
Brendan O’Dwyer brings a deep experience in the landscaping industry to Summerhill, where he has been employed since 1997. Among other responsibilities, Brendan helped develop and manages Summerhill’s coveted internship program. Prior to relocating to the United States to join the Summerhill team, Brendan graduated from Kildalton College of Horticulture, Ireland and worked extensively in the British Isles.
Brendan lives in Hampton Bays with his wife and family.
An integral member of the Summerhill team since 2005, Eddie oversees all aspects of the landscape construction operation at Summerhill. He graduated from University College, Dublin, Ireland and holds a Bachelors degree in Landscape Horticulture. He previously worked in Ireland before bringing his expertise and oversight to Summerhill. Eddie resides in Sag Harbor with his wife and daughter.
Dawn Schlegel, joined Summerhill Landscapes in January of 2023 as the Chief Financial Officer. She has over thirty years of accounting experience in both the public and private sectors. Prior to joining Summerhill Landscapes, she worked for 16 years at Emil Norsic & Son, Inc. She became a CPA in 1993 after graduating from Hofstra University in 1991.
Tom spent over a decade as a practicing ISA Certified Arborist on the east end of Long Island prior to moving over to the landscape construction team for Summerhill. He oversees Summerhill Associates landscape construction and maintenance operations in New York City, the Hudson Valley, and Connecticut. A graduate of St. Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont, he earned a Bachelors Degree in Political Science in 2002. He joined Summerhill in 2013.
Tom serves on the Cultural Landscape Foundation Stewardship Council, LongHouse Reserve Garden Committee, and the Cornell Cooperative Extension Nursery/Landscape Advisory Committee.
Peter relocated to the east end of Long Island in 2009 to begin his career with Summerhill after being accepted into our unique internship program. A native of Cork, Ireland, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in land management from Waterford Institute of Technology. He is also Captain of the Southampton Fire Department.
Michael Donnellan is the senior landscape designer at Summerhill Landscapes. A creative and keen plantsman, he directs the in-house design team. A graduate of Kildalton College, he joined the company in 2000. Michael spent time working in the industry in The Netherlands and England before settling in The United States. Michael and his team are passionate about building relationships with their clients, collaboration with them in building their unique landscape oasis.
Enrico joined Summerhill in 2017 after studying and working in Venice, Paris and Florence. He holds a bachelors degree in Architecture from IUAV University of Venice and a Master degree in Landscape Architecture from University of Florence.
Joining Summerhill in May, 2024, Jeff is one of our newest team members, coming to us with an impressive background in purchasing and logistics for the aerospace and pharmaceuticals industries. Jeff brings a nuanced understanding of shipping, purchasing, and equipment management to the greener world of landscape construction.
Tatiana is an all-around asset to the Summerhill team. Before joining in 2022, Tatiana worked as an office assistant at a Hamptons pool company where she coordinated scheduling and issued contracts for a fast-moving seasonal business. A former camp counselor, after-school program coordinator, and assistant teacher, her strong people skills and sunny disposition help keep the office humming. Tatiana holds an associate’s degree in Applied Science – Interior Design from Suffolk County Community College and a bachelor’s degree in Youth Ministry from Moody Bible Institute.
Autumn is a graduate of Farmingdale State College with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management. She came to Summerhill in 2019 after many years of local administrative experience. Autumn is originally from Brewster, NY and currently resides in Sag Harbor with her husband and daughter.
Jhon joined Summerhill in 2014 as a landscaper and soon transitioned into irrigation. He currently leads our irrigation unit. Originally from Colombia, Jhon has been living and working on the East End for over a decade and worked with luxury hospitality and golf courses before joining the Summerhill team.
Lauren joined our team in 2019 as part of our unique internship program. She then completed a BS in Landscape Architecture from University College Dublin and spent three years at a Dublin-based landscape architecture firm while also completing a post-grad diploma in Project Management from UCD. Drawn to the full life cycle of project management, she relocated from her native Ireland to Summerhill in May 2023.
Christian joined Summerhill in 2019. He has a certificate in arboriculture from Green School at UMass and a certificate in Living Landscapes from Cornell Cooperative. He is also a certified applicator and PHC coordinator. Before joining Summerhill, Christian spent ten years as a foreman for a local property management group. He is a native of San Jose, Costa Rica.
Michelle has a solid background in resource management, having served as Senior Account Clerk for the Islip Resource Recovery Agency for eight years before joining our team in 2022. Michelle handles several administrative duties at Summerhill, recently taking on all administrative responsibilities for our plant health care division. Michelle is also a notary. She attended Norwich University and is pursuing a degree in History from Penn State University’s World Campus.
Suzanne began her career at Summerhill as an intern in 2013. A standout intern, she was brought on as a full-time crew member and promoted to a crew leader in 2016, Maintenance Supervisor in 2017, and Maintenance Account Manager in 2019. In 2020 she returned to her native Ireland working as a maintenance manager for a high-profile nursery while also training as a florist. She received her florist certification in 2021 and returned to Summerhill in 2023 as our Flower and Garden Enhancement Manager. Suzanne holds a BA in Agricultural Science from University College Dublin and an MA in Business from Technological University Dublin.
Nina is a Long Island native and UMass Amherst graduate with a BS in Sustainable Community Development and Fine Arts. As a practicing artist, she combines creative expression with technical skills, drawing upon color theory and hand sketching to create concept plans that bring a client’s vision to life. Since joining Summerhill in August 2023, she has brought a fresh perspective to the team by staying on top of emerging art and design trends and incorporating these into landscape design.
Paddy holds a bachelor’s degree in horticulture from ITB Blanchardstown College Dublin in Ireland. Prior to coming to the United States, he worked in Europe for over 20 years as a landscape project manager and irrigation manager. He also holds a certification from Ohio State University in turf grass management.
A project manager for the landscape construction team, Julian has worked in the landscape industry since 2007, and joined Summerhill in 2017. A native of Mexico, he has been in the US since 2000. Julian has a natural ability to transform the landscape via operating machinery and executing complex construction plans.
Mario joined Summerhill in 2022 with over two decades of experience in accounting systems. He is well-versed in best practices in business and accounting systems and ensures our processes are expedient and compliant. He is a native of El Salvador where he studied computer systems.
Fred is a native of Guatemala and has worked for Summerhill for eight years, starting out as a crew member before graduating to foreman and then account manager.
Conor is from Carlow Ireland and received a BS degree in Horticulture from Waterford Institute of Technology. He joined Summerhill Landscapes in 2013, starting as an intern with our landscape construction team before bringing his talents to the maintenance department as an account manager.
Christina joined Summerhill in March 2023. Christina has a strong background in the administrative side of landscape construction. Before joining Summerhill, she was Office Manager at Paul LI Landscaping and a bookkeeper for Bill Fox Grounds Maintenance. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from DeVry University.
James holds a Bachelors of Science degree from Waterford Institute of Technology in Ireland, where he graduated with honors in 2018. Originally an intern, James started working full time for Summerhill Landscapes in December 2019.
An East End local, Val joined Summerhill in January 2024. She attended Baruch College and is a graduate of East Hampton High School. Her background in high-end retail, a warm demeanor, and eye for detail make her a welcome addition to the front office.
