“The difference between a job and a career is the difference between forty and sixty hours a week"
- Robert Frost
Education
The curling of the leaves before an autumn storm. A sunset made up of a mouthful of colors. Waves breaking on pearlized sand. Those are the moments I live for and have built a career around. My deep connection to nature as forced me, as a landscape designer, to look at every project and experience in a holistic manner. I have brought together my professional education, both on the job and through formal school, with my many colorful experiences from around the world to recognize the importance of local inspirations. I use only regional materials in my designs, and look to local artists for inspirations for my latest projects to create a perfect harmony for each specific locale.
To keep my focus sharpened and to be well aware of every moment, I have always strived to be on the cutting edge of new career paths and opportunities. I first sought to complete my educational program in landscape design, when at that point, I saw the need to develop my business skills. The business management program I am currently in, is teaching me more than I ever wanted to know about running a business. The end result of this further education, with completion of my studies at the end of 2008, is to have a better feel for people, what it takes to motivate them, and how to make everyone come together to run a successful venture.
My focus on people has also led me to encounter a greater diversity of workers that are taking part in the green industry today. The ever increasing rate of hispanic employment is forcing communication to be a critical issue. Realizing this, I decided to master Spanish. Tackling the spanish language has not only taught me another language, but has also imparted a cultural empathy for a entirely different culture, with different holidays, religious practices, and values. Who's to say father shouldn't get a few days off for his daughters cumpleãnos? I believe he should.
Experience
When presented with the opportunity to move to Australia to work for a landscape design/build firm, I hopped (as the kangaroos do) at the chance. Coming from a small family landscaping business, this opportunity has sharpened my design skills, and developed my business management skills in a way I never could have imagined. Being here has taught me how to adapt to a diverse work environment, and quickly learn new foreign products and methods, and enhance my sustainable design capacities.
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Activities
Member of PLANET (professional landcare network)
ONLA (Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association)
ISA (International Society of Arboriculture)
CSLA (Columbus State Landscape Association)
Landscape Contractors Association of NSW
2006 Student Ambassador for the Green Industry Conference (PLANET)
2003-2007 Habitat for Humanity Volunteer
2005 Ohio State Fair Design Contest Winner
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