Meet Our Designers
Jerry Somalski
Landscape Designer, Project Manager and President
Creating landscapes of the highest quality and providing client satisfaction are the guiding principles Jerry has carried on from his parents, and founders of the company, Dick and Marilyn Somalski. Since 1948, Bay Landscaping has strived to make its name synonymous with beauty, dependability, quality and service throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region.
Jerry’s education on plants and landscape design began early. As a young boy, he was hoeing in the nursery and tagging along with the landscape crews who taught him the tools and methods of the trade. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at Central Michigan University, he returned to the family business.
Jerry has an enthusiastic yet practical approach to meeting the client’s landscape design objectives. He has a thorough understanding of plants and how they thrive in the mid-Michigan climate. With this, he focuses on the importance of choosing the right plants for the client and their unique space. The goal is a sustainable and spectacular landscape. For that reason, he believes the process is as important as the final result – a space that is a true reflection of the client’s style and taste.
Like his father before him, Jerry is a committed and active leader in the community. It is only natural for him to build a better community literally from the ground up. Through his leadership and contributions of time, resources and expertise, numerous community beautification projects have been realized. Jerry both leads and designs with a commitment to life-long learning, a philosophy that is shared company-wide.
Jack Gustafson
Landscape Designer and Project Manager
A passion for design and a love of nature since childhood has shaped Jack’s philosophy for landscape design and project management. After gaining a thorough understanding of the client’s needs, Jack strives to create a unique landscape, incorporating fresh ideas into every design project. This, combined with over 46 years of experience at Bay Landscaping, beginning with landscape installation crew, has resulted in hundreds of phenomenal projects and happy clients. Jack’s landscape designs have won awards on both the state and national levels.
Shawn Barbeau
Licensed Landscape Architect and Project Manager
Shawn began his career in landscape design on the technical side as a high school co-op student doing drafting at Bay Landscaping. He continued both his horticultural career here as well as his education and earned a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from Michigan State University. Shawn works with clients from conception and listens closely to their goals and specific needs. He then combines his innate creative talents with his extensive technical knowledge to deliver a landscape the client will enjoy for years to come. Through beautiful design and outstanding project management, Shawn has earned rave reviews. An avid outdoorsman, Shawn understands the importance of responsible, sustainable landscapes and our responsibility for stewardship of the land.
Adam Wernecke
Landscape Designer and Project Manager
From a young age, Adam has been fascinated with the wild woods and would spend any chance he could get wandering the forests. With a heart for art and a mind for creativity, Adam has a passion for organizing ideas and creating beauty from chaos. His many years of experience as a designer and landscaper will help you to creatively and effectively solve your landscaping conundrums with style! A believer in using the natural look of textures and colors to enhance your outdoor spaces, he looks forward to helping you build your outdoor happy place.