Bob Hartnett recently concluded his volunteer service on the Missouri State Board of Board For Architects, Professional Engineers, Professional Land Surveyors and Professional Landscape Architects, known as the APEPLSPLA Board, ending a tenure that spanned more than two decades and shaped the landscape architecture profession in Missouri and beyond.
Hartnett was first appointed to the board in 2002 by Gov. Bob Holden, becoming one of the first three members of the newly created Landscape Architectural Division. Just weeks after his appointment, he was elected division chair, a role he would hold for nearly 13 years. He was reappointed in 2008 by Gov. Matt Blunt, and in 2015, Gov. Jay Nixon appointed him board chair of the full APEPLSPLA Board, a position later confirmed by the state legislature.
"Bob has always been a steadfast fixture for advancement of his profession and protection of the public,” said Professional Land Surveying Division Chair Shane Terhune. “Many good changes have come about under Bob's leadership in the way that we do our daily business today, and adapting technology to expedite processes."
In addition to his state board service, Hartnett volunteered for CLARB as regional director for Region 2 from 2012 to 2014, contributing to our national work in landscape architecture licensing and regulation. He was named an ASLA Fellow in 2020.
Colleagues at both the state and national level credited Hartnett with bringing stability, strategic vision and a collaborative spirit to his work.
"He was a steady hand and a great brainstorm partner to strategically move the Missouri board as well as CLARB initiatives forward," said CLARB Past President, CLARB volunteer and former APEPLSPLA Board Member Jerany Jackson. "The years we spent on licensing board endeavors created a friendship bond that will last a lifetime."
His departure leaves a significant gap, according to those who worked closely with him.
"Bob will be very hard to replace, and we will truly miss him," said APEPLSPLA Executive Director Rhonda Bullock. "He has done so much for the board and the professions it regulates."
From all of us at CLARB, thank you, Bob, for your dedication to public protection and the advancement of landscape architecture licensing across Missouri, as well as your positive impact on the CLARB community.
