John Clements
Encinitas
Summary
Dynamic horticulture leader (Horticulturist of the Year 2022) with a proven track record of horticulture management in an institutional setting. Proven track record in enhancing landscape aesthetics and improving plant health. Succeeds in implementing improvements in both employee output and revenue enhancement. Expert in Integrated Pest Management and plant health. Excels in employee management and team leadership, recognized for transforming day to day operations.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of Horticulture and Development
Drab to Fab Landscaping
San Diego
11.2024 - Current
- Leading the landscape maintenance and landscape enhancement departments.
- Led the company to the third consecutive year being named the "Best Landscape Company in San Diego" by San Diego Magazine.
- Responsible for recruiting, hiring, training, and employee management for the landscape maintenance division.
- Responsible for safety inspections and safety training and oversight of our Worker's Comp policies.
- Oversees the health and beauty of the landscapes of all of our commercial and residential accounts.
- Creates budgets and forecasts revenues and costs.
- Maintains all properties using Integrated Pest management principles and practices.
- Doubled our revenues in the first year with the company.
- Leading the my divisions to double revenues again this year. Thus far, actuals are triple this time last year.
- Handles all outside vendors and subcontractors.
Director of Gardens
San Diego Botanic Garden
Encinitas
01.2021 - 09.2024
- Transformed director of horticulture position into a hybrid role, incorporating strategic planning, landscape design, and construction.
Expanded responsibilities included specialized event planning and revenue generation through Lightscape holiday event. - Managed recruiting, hiring, training, and personnel management of horticulture department staff.
- Implemented horticulture volunteer program, including training and scheduling volunteers.
- Managed water usage across garden, coordinating with two water districts, eight water meters, city of Encinitas, and county of San Diego to ensure optimal irrigation and sustainability.
- Acted as our resident horticultural expert for other departments in the garden, television and radio, print media, guests, and local institutions and organizations.
- Oversaw Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program, directing and reporting chemical usage to comply with safety standards and promote healthy plant growth.
- Developed and implemented landscape projects, overseeing design, construction, installation, and efficient water management to enhance garden aesthetics and functionality.
- Participated on the managing employee director's board and acted as liaison with the non-profit executive board, attending all board meetings.
- Developed and calculated budgets for the horticulture department and for special events. Presented budgets to the non-profit board of directors.
- Conducted safety inspections, reported to relevant enforcement agencies, and ran employee safety training and record keeping.
- Supervised plant placement and collections recordkeeping using accession tags and GIS.
- Assisted in managing nursery operations and plant propagation efforts to ensure healthy stock.
- Expanded our collections of rare and interesting plant material through many sources including collectors, plant associations, and BGCI.
Horticulture Manager
San Diego Botanic Garden
Encinitas
02.2019 - 12.2020
- Assisted Director of Horticulture and Operations Manager with managing the horticulture department.
- Supervised the horticulturists and assigned their duties.
- Supervised volunteers working in the horticulture department.
- Assisted in cost projection and budget creation.
Estate Manager, Arborist, Horticulturist
Self-Employed
San Diego
01.2008 - 02.2019
- Worked independently managing estates, commercial citrus orchards, avocado orchards, protea farms, and working in high end gardening situations.
Education
Some College (No Degree) - Ornamental Horticulture/Nursery and Landscape Tech
San Diego Mesa College
San Diego, CABachelor of Arts - Social Sciences Education
Point Loma Nazarene University
San Diego, CA06-1987
Skills
- Expert level knowledge of multiple genres of plants
- Integrated Pest Management
- Horticultural Management Experience
- Landscape Design and Construction
- Great Communicator
- In-Depth knowledge of horticulture in an institutional environment
Languages
Spanish
Professional
German
Limited
Certification
- QAL
- Arborist
Accomplishments
- Horticulturist of the Year 2022
Affiliations
- San Diego Horticultural Society
- Co-Admin with Nan Sterman of 24,000 member San Diego Gardener Facebook Group
- Del Mar Mesa Garden Club
- Professional Tree Care Association
- Association of Professional Landscape Designers
Custom Section 1
- Brandi Eide, Curator and Director of Collections, San Francisco Botanic Garden
- Nan Sterman, Garden Writer, Designer, Public Television Garden Program Presenter
- Ken Andersen, Owner of Walter Andersen Nurseries Inc.
- Harry Phillips, Co-founder and former co-owner of Andy's Orchids
Timeline
Director of Horticulture and Development
Drab to Fab Landscaping
11.2024 - Current
Director of Gardens
San Diego Botanic Garden
01.2021 - 09.2024
Horticulture Manager
San Diego Botanic Garden
02.2019 - 12.2020
Estate Manager, Arborist, Horticulturist
Self-Employed
01.2008 - 02.2019
Some College (No Degree) - Ornamental Horticulture/Nursery and Landscape Tech
San Diego Mesa College
Bachelor of Arts - Social Sciences Education
Point Loma Nazarene University