Director of Horticulture

• Nov 2019 - Present

My primary responsibilities are to add to the living collection, create the displays of the garden, and lead the horticulture staff in the maintenance of the garden. In addition, I work with many dedicated volunteers, place orders for plant material and supplies, and contribute ideas to the garden on a larger scale, such as the Holiday Light Show, green initiatives, and social media. My primary responsibilities are to add to the living collection, create the displays of the garden, and lead the horticulture staff in the maintenance of the garden. In addition, I work with many dedicated volunteers, place orders for plant material and supplies, and contribute ideas to the garden on a larger scale, such as the Holiday Light Show, green initiatives, and social media.

Horticulture Supervisor

• Jan 2019 - Nov 2019

• Led and motivated a team of 9 full-time employees, ensuring landscapes and plant collections are maintained at the highest levels. • Led the selection of plant material, with a strong tie to wild collected material, for the upcoming Visitor’s Center reconstruction. • Participated in seed collecting trip to the Appalachian Mountains. • Completed purchase orders for supplies and tools to be used by the horticulture division. • Hired new staff and conducted weekly meetings. • Member of the Green Team & committee that selected the annual Plants of Merit awards.

Senior Horticulturist

• Aug 2015 - Feb 2019

Led a team of 3 full-time employees, 7 seasonal employees and 15 volunteers. Maintained the Visitor’s Center, Parking Lots, Butterflies & Blooms exhibit, as well as oversaw the maintenance of areas including the Entrance Gardens, Grunsfeld Growing Garden, and the new Regenstein Learning Campus; my areas of responsibility encompassed 35+ acres and were the first impression for 1 million visitors a year. Collaborated with curatorial and collections staff on plant removals/additions and accessions. Designed high-profile seasonal annual displays. Led garden tours and certificate classes. Spearheaded the creation of 10 gravel gardens in parking lot 1 island beds. Collected germplasm in a Plant Collecting Collaborative funded trip to the Ozarks.

Horticulturist (Team Lead)

• Jun 2013 - Aug 2015

Performed garden maintenance, design, and bed construction on a massive corporate campus. Utilized a wide variety of plant material from woody, perennial, and annuals; to an herb garden, green roofs, and indoor tropical plants. Supervised four seasonal workers during the growing season. Led the redesign of the culinary edible garden and created a relationship with the Culinary team to harvest the garden. Promoted to Team Lead/Supervisor, which increased my duties to managing four separate campuses, indoor plants, and two full-time employees. Conducted interviews and made hiring decisions, as well as gave performance reviews and led meetings with employees.

Gardener

• Jun 2012 - May 2013

Preparation, planting, and care of plants on campus. Supervised the work of an assistant and several student workers. Responsible for maintaining the Salisbury arboretum, admin buildings, University Center, and several halls. Oversaw the planting and construction of a series of pond waterfalls in the heart of campus. Used state funding to order EAB replacement trees. Utilized greenhouse to grow annuals and perennials. Designed and placed $10,000+ order for woody plants. Participated in prescribed burn of the prairie.

Plant Propagator

• Feb 2012 - Jun 2012

Maintained proper cultural conditions for plants in greenhouses, nurseries, and quonsets. Assisted with plant propagation and the collection and distribution of plants. Kept records and labeled plants. Planted and dug nursery stock. Pruned and staked trees. Instructed volunteers three days a week. Salesman during the annual plant sale. Maintained proper cultural conditions for plants in greenhouses, nurseries, and quonsets. Assisted with plant propagation and the collection and distribution of plants. Kept records and labeled plants. Planted and dug nursery stock. Pruned and staked trees. Instructed volunteers three days a week. Salesman during the annual plant sale.

Horticulture Intern

• May 2011 - Aug 2011