Connect with Indoor Farming, Vertical & Aquaculture Candidates

Passionate Horticulturist with certifiable knowledge and “hands-on” experience in the areas of plant science, horticultural technology, food safety procedures and guidelines, project management, team leadership, quality control, and workplace safety. Dedicated to providing my local community with delicious, nutrient-dense produce.

Head Grower/Acting Farm Manger

Indoor Vertical Farm
3 Years – Current Employer

• Responsible for all growing operations in one of the world’s largest, indoor vertical farms. Including fertigation management, nutritional analysis, environmental monitoring, production planning, sop development.
• Played critical role in developing and implementing food safety program for SQF certification.
• Managed a crew of 50-100 full time staff.

Grower

Vertical Farm
1 Year

• Involved in the design, construction, and maintenance of commercial greenhouses and grow systems for a start-up aeroponics company.
• Assisted in cultivar trials, “best practice” implementation, production planning, nutrient management, IPM, sanitation, harvesting, transplant, and seeding.

Grower

Small Family Farm
1 Year(Seasonal)

• Apprentice to Farm Owner.
• Continued experience gained in all areas of small farm production.
• From seed to sale, I was involved in understanding the value stream, maximizing efficiencies, and reducing variance.

Market Manager

Agricultural Cooperative
1 Year(Seasonal)

• Successfully managed a crew of 3-5 people on the harvest, packaging, and sales of product from an eight-acre, diversified vegetable farm.
• Responsible for maintaining quality in all areas of production. Ensured product was delivered on-time and in full to all commercial/retail accounts.

Intern

Organic Farm, Nursery and Permaculture Homestead
1 Year(Seasonal)

• Introduced to fundamentals of Permaculture Design and homesteading.
• Acquired skills in the area of plant propagation (grafting, layering, cuttings), successfully propagated over 700 individual varieties of fruit, nuts, succulents, berries, and vegetables.
• Hands-on experience in carpentry, animal husbandry, orchard management, IPM, and USDA Certified Organic Growing.

Education

Advanced Certificate in Applied Management (Horticultural Technology)
NEHA HAACP Manager Certification
OSHA 30 Certification
Intensive Hydroponic Lettuce Workshop Certificate

I am a grower with over 7 years of experience and have received a bachelors degree, where I majored in Horticulture with a specialization of Greenhouse Crop Production. I have obtained a wealth of knowledge life lessons during my time as an operations manager and in the past as a grower. I had chosen horticulture due to my fascination with plant science and biological insect control. With my education and years of practical experience, I’ve had a chance to develop my knowledge in relation to producing consistent plant quality and developing effective management skills. Between my classes and work experience I have had a chance to work in highly advanced research greenhouse and some very basic greenhouses. I’ve grown everything from hydroponic tomatoes to annuals for landscapers and garden centers.

Operations Manager

Horticulture Wholesaler
6 Years – Current Employer
Operations Manager of a 60,000 square foot facility in with weekly travel and spray duties at our 70,000 square foot facility.

• I’m able to instruct my assistant growers on irrigation and my planting assistant on correct planting procedures based on SOP’s.
• I use basic Spanish speaking skills to converse with my direct reports with limited English skills.
• Analyze spacing requirements for each season and determine best use of greenhouse space to maximize profits while maintaining crop quality.
• Routinely monitor and adjust pH and E.C levels with pour through tests and S.M.E tests.
• Extensive experience with wadsworth environmental control and related equipment.
• Knowledge and utilization of greenhouse ERP software like PlantPartner, PICAS and Microsoft NAV.
  • Helped implement both PICAS and Microsoft NAV ERP systems.
• Routine scouting and implementation of an IPM program at all three facilities.
• IPM program - Tested and budgeted a project back to determine effectiveness and ROI of a biological insect protection program. With resistance to many of our chemicals, we needed a solution for Thrips and Spidermites in particular.
  • Since my trials showed better results than typical chemical sprays and the moderate cost of the program, all facilities have since begun using the IPM program I’ve created with impressive results and less waste.
  • I was able to reduce overall pesticide applications by 45% with the application of beneficials and biological pesticides. Reducing labor costs and pesticide exposure is something that is appreciated by our staff and the budget.
  • I am able to develop a basic program for organic crop production and know which chemistries and biological agent are most effective.
  • Developed relationships with biological insect control providers to maintain consistent control for our plants and reducing order delays or cancellations.
  • I have developed a reproducible applicator for large scale application. It’s an evolution of some crude versions made by others. These are used to maximize effectiveness. Hand dispersal is tiresome and inconsistent. Parts cost less than $10 and can be made in less than 20 minutes.
• I am licensed for pesticide application and purchasing of restricted use pesticides.
• I have developed PGR usage and timing guide for their application.
  • Can develop growth control program without chemical control and usage of environmental techniques such as DIF to effectively control plant height.
• I’m frequently involved in plant tracking, data collection and chemical tests on new crops or newer varieties. Historical knowledge and documentation are valuable data for any agricultural crop and has helped improve my growing skills year on year.

Grower

Full-Service Florist And Grower

• Years
• Head Grower of a 30,000 square foot greenhouse facility. They provide the experience of growing annual bedding plants, hydroponic greenhouse tomatoes, basil, and many types of leaf vegetables for the local market.
• Monitoring and adjusting fertilizer E.C and pH levels for hydroponic tomato irrigation.
• Environmental management using a Priva Maximizer control system.
• Greenhouse maintenance and sterilization.
• Use of PGR’s.
• Seeding, propagation, and transplanting of plant material.
• Pest/disease management
• Managing several employees who help pick, wash, pack, and maintain the crop of over 2,500 tomato plants

Salesmen

Lawn and Garden Retailer
2 Years

• Answer customer questions about plant needs and garden care.
• Maintain the fertilization, disease, and pest control of Nursery stock during the spring and summer.
• Learned how to operate a forklift, and have experience driving a work truck and trailer.
• An additional responsibility was the maintenance and care of the stores 24 tropical freshwater fish tanks.

EDUCATION

.S Horticulture - Greenhouse Crop Production and Management

Highly focused top-level sales professional with multiple years of experience in consultative sales roles. Extensive knowledge of the substrate and floriculture sector of the horticulture industry including 13 years selling professional growing media to commercial greenhouse, nursery, and cannabis growers. Accomplished in successfully building and maintaining large sales territories. Extensive knowledge of biologicals and their uses in substrates.

Territory Sales Manager

Greenhouse Supply Wholesaler
3 Years – Current Employer

• Sell horticultural supplies, greenhouses, substrates, fertilizer, biologicals, chemicals, and equipment to commercial greenhouse, nursery, and cannabis growers.
  Exceeded annual sales forecast by 8% first year and 12% in second year.

Central & South-Central US Sales Manager

Lawn & Garden Tractor & Equipment Manufacturer
2 Years

• Coordinated multi-state territory selling professional growing media to commercial greenhouse, nursery, and cannabis growers.
• $200,000 of new business from existing customer base.
• $800,000 growth in 2 years.
• 20% increase in customer retention.

Owner

Horticulture Consulting Service
8 Years

• Consulting service providing regularly scheduled property inspections.
• Taught customers how to utilize IPM practices on their properties.
• Landscape design and installation.
• Designed and installed mosquito misting systems.

Territory Sales Manager

Horticulture Wholesale Distributor
2 Years

• Sales representative for a commercial greenhouse and nursery supplies distributor.
• $1 million in new business generated over 2-year period.
• Sold substrates, greenhouses, fertilizer, equipment, and general horticulture supplies.
• Grower Supplies Division Manager

Ag Retail Distributor
1 Year

• Created and managed a new grower supplies division.
• Buyer for all grower product lines.
• Managed and trained sales reps on grower product knowledge.

Midwest Territory Sales Manager

Horticulture Technology Company
6 Years

• 450% growth of territory.
• Member of the Product Market Development Team responsible for the introduction and early sales of Pro-Mix substrates incorporated with Biogfungicide and Mycorrhizae.
• Surpassed annual sales forecasts every year, 6 years in a row.
• Winner of top salesman of the year award for North America.

Owner

Lawn Company
15 Years

• Built a multi-million-dollar company from the ground up.
• Wholesale nursery growing bedding plants and woody ornamentals.
• Lawn care company providing lawn, tree, and shrub care services.
• Landscape design and installation

Education

BBA in Marketing
Ornamental Horticulture