Our Vision Is Big: To inspire 320 million Americans to live a healthy gardening lifestyle 52 weeks a yearOur mission is simple: To instill a passion for nature and a love of gardening to all generations to improve environmental health and support human wellbeing.To support our mission we partner with like-minded companies and people who want to grow their business by increasing the global love of gardening and appreciation for nature, drive stewardship of the Earth and help care for all things that grow.Staying true to our core values for almost thirty years in business helps us create a company we're proud to run and where we are happy to work. Because it’s our responsibility to make sure that while creating beautiful products, we’re also caring for our beautiful planet.

Written for and contributed to countless trade journals, nursery associations, newspapers, blogs and magazines such as Organic Gardening, Better Home and Gardens and Fine Gardening. Appeared on the TV programs Prairie Yard and Garden and Hometime.

Representing the American Beauties brand of native plants and freelance garden writer for trade and poplar magazines.

Developed and conducted research projects including the native plant cultivar/species evaluation program and the plant cultivar introduction program. Other duties included:* Teaching, developing and maintaining relationships with researchers and industry * Conducting field-collecting trips to support research objectives. * Emphasizing native plants and their cultivars * Creating a site map and content for MCC website* Touring visiting professionals* Writing protocol for plant evaluations and computerized research data collection* Analyzing research data * Disseminating research reports to professional journals, trade publications, and popular publications* Learning a working knowledge of BGBase software * Supervising seasonal staff, interns and volunteer * Writing curriculum for and taught classes on research for the public * Training MCC docents* Building strategic partnerships with nurseries, researchers, collectors and breeders* Communicating research through public lectures, teaching and publication

Responsible for internal and external company communications including press releases, catalogs, newsletters, website copy, trade articles and leadership writing projects. Developed and maintained relationships with key media contacts, managed the public relations agency partner, served on the plant evaluation committee, acted as company spokesperson and coordinated special events. Other key experiences:* Helping to select and introduce more than 50 new plant introductions* Expanding the media contact database from 20 to nearly 2,000* Coordinating the 100-year anniversary celebration for more than 2,000 guests* Conceptualizing and executing the Trees are Cool campaign, partnering with the United Nations and coordinating the planting of 120,000 trees* Helped launch the largest plant brand launch in U.S. history: Hydrangea Endless Summer* Coordinating of volunteer efforts; mentoring national and international interns* Designing the rose garden for the Minnesota State Capital in honor of its centennial

Supervised a 15-member customer service and shipping staff. Helped the company achieve its first 99 percent sellout with record profits. Duties included: hiring, terminating, training, budgeting and scheduling for the year. Developed orientation and training manuals for new and returning employees, which increased efficiency and productivity.

Responsibilities included ordering, maintaining and selling of nursery stock for the full service garden center and installation company. Design work, customer service along with crew coordination was also within my area of responsibility.

Owned and operated my own business consulting, designing and directing planting private gardens. Specialized in ecologically sound "sustainable" landscapes.