Born and raised in Newport, Rhode Island, Ben Bolusky earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science in 1979 from The George Washington University (GWU) in the nation’s capital. He then received a master’s degree in Public Administration from GWU in 1986.

During his undergraduate years, Bolusky worked as an intern and staff assistant to U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell of Rhode Island – the namesake of the Pell Grants which provide financial aid to college students.  

Upon his graduation in 1979, and although not an attorney, Bolusky went to a Washington D.C. law firm and served as the legislative assistant to the senior law partner for six years.

In 1986, Bolusky began a 12-year career with the American Nursery & Landscape Association in D.C. as its director of government affairs. He was responsible for the industry’s national legislative initiatives on Capitol Hill.

In 1998, Bolusky left Washington, D.C. to become the Chief Executive Officer of the Orlando-based Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association. FNGLA is the nation’s largest state nursery/landscape association with 1,500 member businesses. 

Bolusky continues to promote and protect the future of Florida’s $25.4 billion nursery and landscape industry which provides jobs and careers to more than 247,000 individuals in Florida.