My horticulture and plant biotechnology projects have developed from my life sciences training, my manufacturing plant design experience and my lifelong interest in horticulture.
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Experience
I grew up in a family of gardeners and plant collectors and have had a lifelong interest in horticulture. I designed and help my father and grandfather build my first greenhouse when I was in the tenth grade in high school. It was a solar design, with the roof angle set to maximize solar gain in the winter in northern Pennsylvania. We attached it to the south side of my parent’s house and forty-plus years later my eighty-year-old father was still using it regularly. I built my next greenhouses, this time with my father helping me, when I started Great Lake Gardens.
My horticulture experience, combined with my experience in fermentation process development and manufacturing plant design, led to my work with Valent BioSciences. Initially, I consulted on the design of the Valent BioSciences greenfield biopesticides plant. Later, I was part of the team that assisted Valent BioSciences with the development of the design for their new Biorational Research Center. This center includes 8,500 SF of gutter-connected greenhouses, a 4,000 SF headhouse, and 67,000 SF of research laboratories and supporting facilities.
The following is a list of horticulture and plant biotechnology-related projects that I have worked on during my career.
Projects
Valent BioSciences Biorational Research Center
Plant Embryo Rescue Laboratory
Ornamental Perennial Sunflower Breeding
Micropropagation Laboratory
Cyanobacteria Photosynthetic Sugar Pod Development
