HBS Board of Directors
John Reamer - President
As a Creative Director, John’s journey into the world of bonsai began with his deep appreciation for both design and nature. He purchased his first bonsai in high school, but it wasn’t until college, while studying Graphic Design, that his passion truly took root. Influenced by Japanese aesthetics, particularly the principles of simplicity, wabi-sabi (beauty in imperfection), and the melding of nature with design (seen in many Japanese gardens), John found a deep connection between his design sensibilities and the art of bonsai. After graduating, he began seriously collecting bonsai, with a special interest in yamadori and cultivating raw material—especially Texas natives. He then joined the Houston Bonsai society and was appointed to the Board in 2020 and president in 2025.
Nandita Das D'Souza - 1st Vice President
My inspiration for bonsai was a book by Peter Chan that I came across in a Calcutta Book Fair, in India, some 35 years ago. It was amazing how he transformed common nursery plants into bonsai. I promised that I would take up this hobby soon. That took three decades as I moved around the world.
I began my bonsai journey in 2011 when I found Houston Bonsai Society and Timeless Trees Bonsai & Nursery. Since then, I have worked with senior members of Houston Bonsai Society, and several bonsai masters like Colin Lewsis, Yvonne Padilla, Pedro Morales, Rodney Clemens, Boon, Sergio Cuan, Todd Schafer and Mauro Stemberger.
Professionally, I have been a cancer scientist turned teacher. I have always been interested in most forms of art, and have done batik as well as silk painting earlier. This journey has been and still is a delight. It’s educative, and stimulating especially after I lost the use of both my hands after a bad accident. Trying to mobilize my hands and thinking of how to keep my bonsai alive kept me sane throughout my several surgeries and recovery.
The living art of bonsai truly fascinates me. I have earned a few awards at the club level as well as at the LSBF conventions. Serving in the board of the Houston Bonsai Society as second, and first Vice President for several years now, has been rewarding and now I look forward to passing on the reins to the next generation of young Bonsai Leaders.
Jonathan McGuinn - 2nd Vice President
Jonathan McGuinn works in the technology field but found himself looking for a hands-on hobby away from the screen. What began as casual plant growing and propagation hobby soon became a meaningful part of his daily life.
In 2022, Jonathan began creating bonsai, combining his interest in plants with the patience and care the art form requires. What started as a way to relax has grown into a steady passion that continues to shape his free time and personal pursuits.
Gale Childers - Treasurer
Pending bio
Rusty McMains - Public Relations Director
My fascination with bonsai started during the Covid era when I was watching martial arts videos on YouTube. A video by Peter Chan popped up in the lineup so I decided to check it out. I kept watching more bonsai content, which only further fueled my interest. As the world began to reopen after Covid, I discovered Hurley Johnson from Timeless Trees Bonsai and Nursey and purchased my first four trees. Three months later, I began an apprenticeship under Hurley, which is still ongoing. With over 50 years of experience in practicing and teaching martial arts, I know that excelling in any field requires genuine dedication and effort. I approached my newfound passion for bonsai with the same level of commitment and jumped right into the deep end of the bonsai world. This dedication has enabled me to cultivate skill levels typically seen in more seasoned bonsai practitioners. Aside from my formal duties with Houston Bonsai Society, I assist in teaching classes at Timeless Trees Bonsai & Nursery as well as offering whatever advise and support to other members.
Paul Cesak - Secretary
Pending bioGetting started in Bonsai was completely by accident. I had just finished a not so happy sales meeting in Plano and was headed back to my hotel. One the way, I stopped at a Calloways nursery for mental rest and saw a beautiful tiger bark ficus bonsai. I bought it and took it back to my hotel room and just admired it for an hour or so. That started my journey into bonsai. I now have about 20 trees and love the camaraderie that our group brings. Although my first hobby is model railroading, being retired gives me time for both.
Members at Large
Kaitlyn Carpenter
Kaitlyn Carpenter grew up surrounded by bonsai, thanks to her grandparents—active members of the Louisiana Bonsai Society and Greater New Orleans Bonsai Society since the 1970s. As a child, she believed the trees in their backyard were part of a fairy garden and spent hours admiring them. In 2017, she and her husband, Daniel, received their first bonsai as a wedding gift, sparking their shared passion for the art. After her grandfather’s passing in 2021, they inherited much of his collection and joined the Houston Bonsai Society, where they’ve been active members ever since. Kaitlyn is a librarian by profession, which fuels her interest in bonsai research and education. She has built a comprehensive bonsai LibGuide and is currently digitizing her grandfather’s handwritten journals, which detail decades of tree history, cultivation practices, and society activities. She is especially passionate about preserving family legacy through bonsai and curating knowledge for the next generation of enthusiasts
Ken Cousino
Ken's agricultural roots run deep. He was an avid gardener and landscaper as a child, and even had a greenhouse where he’d propagate flowering plants for his family’s landscape. Today, he is the Owner of Quality Feed & Garden, where he imparts his agricultural knowledge to inquiring customers. Quality Feed also serves as one of the HBS monthly study group locations.
Ken has always been fascinated with trees, and at a very young age saw a photo of a bonsai tree in a book, which sparked his interest in bonsai. In his 20s, Ken purchased a small juniper in a plastic pot, and with the help of two bonsai books he studied, attempted to style the juniper as a cascade. Sadly, it died from lack of water as Ken traveled a lot for work back then. When his children grew up and moved away, he revisited the bonsai hobby, and discovered the Houston Bonsai Society in 2014. Ken served as public relations director of the society from 2016-2025, and helped grow the membership from less than 60 to more than 130 members. He managed public relations for the HBS/American Bonsai Society joint national bonsai convention in 2019, and was cochair for the HBS/Bonsai Clubs International jointly sponsored 2024 international convention. His training includes apprenticeship at Timeless Trees Bonsai Nursery, and working closely with his mentor Scott Barboza. Ken has studied with Bjorn Bjorholm, Marc Noelanders, Boon Manakitivipart, Todd Schlafer, Pedro Morales, Danny Coffey, Mauro Stemberger, Rodney Clemons, Jonas Dupuich, and others. He’s eager to teach new HBS members as they grow in their understanding of the art and skill of bonsai.
Hurley Johnson
Pending bio
Pete Parker
Pending bio
Anthony Cutola
Pending bio
Daniel Carpenter
Daniel's start into the art of bonsai began in 2017, sparked by a thoughtful wedding gift. What started as a single tree quickly expanded into a profound passion, deeply connecting with his appreciation for nature. His study and involvement in the bonsai community took a significant step in 2021 when he joined the Houston Bonsai Society.
Daniel has a particular affinity for juniper species, admiring their resilience and the unique character they develop over time. His collection naturally led him to photography, a skill he's developing to better capture the transformations of his trees over time. More recently, his interests have expanded to include carving daiza for suiseki stones.