Experience

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  Future Agricultural Resources for Montana 'FARM'

  • Missoula, Montana

  • Executive Director and President

    • Nov 2008 - Present
    • Missoula, Montana

    Co-founder of FARM, a 501(c)3 non profit orgainization with a volunteer board of directors with the mission of educating our youth and community members, the importance of local agriculture; to our health, local economy and sense of community. FARM developed an educational coloring book free to the kids, depicting local agriculture. The coloring books are distributed in schools, stores and at local events.FARM is leasing three farmable acres (Tower Gardens) to use as a 'hands in the soil' classroom for the community. Tower Gardens offers many opportunities; Community gardens, CSAs, FARM stand, land for new farmers, and free seminars on a variety of agricultural topics will be offered throughout the season.Eat Well. Eat Local.

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  Your Garden Coach

  • Missoula, Montana Area

  • Garden Coach, Landscape Designer

    • Mar 2010 - Present
    • Missoula, Montana Area

    Assist clients with their landscape needs by consulting and designing residential and commercial landscape projects, garden/greenhouse design, orchard design, irrigation design, and pest identification and control measures utilizing Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Gardening/farming for food production is another aspect of Your Garden Coach. I provide vegetables and fruits from my garden for other families in my community with CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture) on an annual basis. I also participate in a local Farmers Market in my neighborhood.Master GardenerIntegrated Pest Management SpecialistCertified Plant Professional (MNLA)

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  Tia's Big Sky

  • 1016 West Broadway Missoula, MT

  • President/Co-Owner/Operator

    • Sep 2016 - Sep 2021
    • 1016 West Broadway Missoula, MT

    Co-owned and operated Tia's Big Sky in Missoula, a fresh Mexican cuisine for eating in or carry out specializing in Tamales, Pozole, Mexican Street Chicken....cooked from scratch using locally/regionally sourced produce and meats. Kim is the chef, I do the business end of things. We are excited with our business concepts, community opportunities and with our location in the heart of Missoula.Tower Gardens produced a large portion of the vegetables used at the restaurant, as well as produce from other local farmers. Even in the winter, we used pumpkin, garlic, cabbage..... grown in the neighborhood! Farm to table!

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  Association of Montana Turf, Ornamental & Pest Professionals 'AMTOPP'

  • Missoula, Montana

  • Executive Director and Past President

    • Jul 2008 - Feb 2015
    • Missoula, Montana

    Executive Director of a Greens Industry group representing a diverse representation of companies who perform lawn care, tree care, pesticide application, sprinkler installation, landscape contractors, landscape nurseries, snow plow, Christmas lighting, landscape designers in the state of Montana! As Executive Director, assist the board of directors in developing many programs. Annually created an educational conference and trade show for the membership to earn credits towards professional licenses, learn the new and up coming products of the season, new infestations and new legislation that may influence their business, and includes fundraising activities for a variety of organizations, ie. 4-H & FFA scholarships and food drive for local food bank.Another program, Summer Field Day, is an opportunity for AMTOPP members to give back to their community by volunteering their talents and equipment to improve two State Veterans Cemeteries (alternating year to year) by spreading fertilizer, pruning trees, deep root feed trees, apply herbicide when needed and plant a tree in honor of our veterans. AMTOPP received the 2015 National Stewardship Award for an association from the National Landscape Professional Association.

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  Caras Nursery & Landscape

  • Missoula, Montana

  • Landscape Designer, General Manager Contracting Division, Executive Manager

    • Apr 1990 - Jan 2008
    • Missoula, Montana

    Lead Landscape Designer working with clients and their design needs. Small residential to large residential projects using indigenous materials, recycled materials, as well as new innovative materials. Ordered product, plant material....anything needed to install a fabulous project. Directed crew on the installation and made it as fun as I could, even though it is very hard work. Invoicing at the end of project.Managed 5 landscape crew bosses, 1 irrigation crew boss and 1 landscape maintenance crew boss as well as a 2 - 3 landscape designers and office personnel. Made financial and personnel decisions on a daily basis.Assisted with the development of health insurance and 401k for the employees of the company as an Executive Manager. Worked with other divisional managers in the company to keep the company working harmoniously where there was overlap.

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  U.S. Forest Service

  • Helena National Forest, Lolo National Forest, Beaverhead National Forest, Ochoco

  • Landscape Designer, Visuals Specialist, Eco-Data

    • Jun 1988 - Oct 1989
    • Helena National Forest, Lolo National Forest, Beaverhead National Forest, Ochoco

    Special details: Wrote portions of EIS and EAs for timber harvests evaluating sensitive viewpoints/visuals following Forest Plan guidelines. Landscape designs for RV campgrounds on a Scenic By-way on the Beaverhead National Forest, Campgound design for the Lincoln Ranger District. Eco-Data - field verify habitat types derived from satellite imagery.