Keith Koch Email & Phone Number

Hillsboro, Or, Us

Aurora, Oregon, United States

• Managed 5 acres of greenhouse and field space for nursery crops, including hanging baskets, planters, and various pot sizes.• Propagated Hydrangeas, Poinsettias, Kalanchoe, Chrysanthemums, and Geraniums; finished annuals, perennials, grasses, succulents, shrubs, houseplants, and select berry crops.• Supervised irrigation staff, coordinated daily tasks, and maintained crop health using cultural practices, PGRs, nutritional amendments, and climate adjustments.• Conducted water and fertigation testing, tracked crop metrics, and maintained records for scouting, height, pH/EC, and PGR usage.• Monitored Argus and climate systems daily, reported issues to relevant departments, and upheld greenhouse sanitation and preventative equipment maintenance.• Participated in meetings to strategize and align on quality, efficiency, and continuous improvement practices, including 6S and Lean methods.

Mabton, Washington

• Scouted greenhouse crops for pests, diseases, and growth quality, providing notes to managers on issues like chlorosis, mildew, insect populations, and transplant readiness.• Oversaw diverse plant varieties including URC/tissue culture roses (Knockout, David Austin), succulents, berries, grasses, and hops.• Conducted pH/EC testing, monitored climate conditions (humidity, moisture, temperature), and adjusted greenhouse systems (Argus, Cherry Creek Irrigation) to optimize growth environments.• Inspected incoming URCs/TCs, managed quality claims, and monitored crop progress, sharing updates with the sales team to address customer needs.• Collected plant and substrate samples for lab analysis of disease and nutrients, ensuring virus-free, true-to-type crops.• Collaborated on protocol development, standard operating procedures, and crop specifications with the head grower and management.• Managed and documented greenhouse trials, reporting data to leadership for trend analysis and enhanced growing techniques.• Attended industry conferences to stay current on pest management, disease control, and new product developments.

Austin, Texas Area

• Managing various aspects of a retail garden center, including management of plant stock, outdoor display design, inventory control, communicating and ordering from vendors, and customer service• Human resource duties to include interviewing applicants, training staff, conducting employee evaluation, and employee scheduling• Researching plant/product information, creating informational signage, and crafting and ordering large custom signs• Assisting customers by providing specialized knowledge of perennials, shrubs, fruit trees, shade trees, bedding plants, vegetables, herbs, succulents, conifers, tropicals, house plants, fertilizers, soils, amendments, pesticides, herbicides, seeds, bulbs and hard goods as well as proper planting and growing practices• Overseeing plant stock for quality control purposes, identifying pests and disease problems and addressing them utilizing Integrated Pest Management solutions and biocontrols• Attending annual conferences/workshops like TNLA, Garden Center Group and planting trials to stay up to date with current trends

Mission, Texas, United States

• Planting and cultivating vegetable garden for IDEA Academy cafeteria. Assisting with the planning and design of sustainable farming on school land and organic pest and disease management• Overseeing farm operations including assisting with constructing sheds, building fences, raised beds and installing piping and water lines• Traveling to assist with harvesting vegetables from four farms, throughout the Rio Grande Valley and providing coverage during staff vacancies

Bachelor'S Certificate In Urban Agriculture, Horticulture

Associate Degree In Horticulture, Plant And Soil Sciences