John Banask is a Research Specialist at the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services since October 2017, focusing on bio-control methods to combat the noxious weed "Mile-a-Minute" using the Rhinoncominus latipes weevil. Prior experience includes work as a nursery staff worker at Homewood Nursery Inc, where responsibilities encompassed plant identification, disease and pest management, landscape design, and consideration of environmental factors affecting plant growth. John Banask holds a degree in Horticultural Science with a concentration in Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Breeding from North Carolina State University and an Associate of Science degree from Wake Technical Community College.