Nicole Soukup
Oakville,ON
Summary
Driven Landscape Technician with proven expertise in horticulture techniques and team leadership, notably at City Of Burlington. Excelled in mentoring, safety protocol adherence, and innovative garden revitalization, showcasing time management and collaborative skills. Achieved significant improvements in garden aesthetics and ecosystem health through strategic plant selection and maintenance practices. Detail-oriented team player with strong organizational skills. Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously with a high degree of accuracy. Organized and dependable candidate successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Gardener/Landscaper
City Of Burlington
04.2016 - Current
- Crew leader responsible for training/mentoring new team members on best practices in horticulture techniques ensuring consistent quality across all tasks.
- Crew leader for the Leaf Program.
- Optimized team efficiency by effectively delegating tasks, ensuring proper equipment usage, and monitoring work progress.
- Coordinated effectively with fellow co workers on projects from conception through completion for seamless workflow execution.
- Acting Supervisor filling in for Horticulture. Dealing with resident issues, maintaining work schedules, approving time cards, approving expenses, monitoring emails and responding when necessary.
- Prepare daily time sheets. Keep accurate and up-to-date records of scheduled tasks, and material inventory to maintain gardens and track progress
- Prepare and implement Traffic Protection Plans, as per Book 7 when working on the road. Train new staff members on how to prepare and execute road set ups.
- Research and identify appropriate plant species according to regional climate conditions and individual site conditions. This can involve collaborating ideas with team members.
- Conducted thorough site assessments to identify potential issues or improvements in existing landscapes for enhanced visual appeal, optimize plant health, proper plant selection, and garden bed revitalization.
- Tree, shrub, perennial, and annual installation.
- Identify and remove invasive plants and noxious weeds for garden aesthetics and ecosystem health.
- Identify abiotic and biotic factors which can affect plant health. Apply fertilizer and herbicides while adhering to safety guidelines and regulations.
- Participate in R.P.F's road side pruning program through out the winter months to ensure pruning standards are met and improving visibility on roadways. Utilize chainsaws/chipper for grounds maintenance, brush clearing, tree removal and thinning.
- Perform seasonal maintenance tasks such as pruning, edging, weeding, and mulching to promote plant health and longevity. Burlap shrubs/trees for winter protection.
- Participate in G.S.D and S.G.S.D winter program. Maintain class GDZ license.
- Continued learning about plants, gardening techniques, pruning techniques, and best practices to further develop my knowledge and enhance my skill set.
- Communicate with public inquiries/concerns when approached on site. Resolve public concerns promptly by addressing issues professionally and offering viable solutions.
Landscape Technician/Designer
Contemporary Design and Landscape
05.2002 - 04.2016
- Landscape Design for residential and commercial clients using Dynascape Garden Graphics. The design process included design consultations, sales/presentations, quoting, and contract preparation including scheduling deposits/payments.
- Landscape foreman for construction. Oversaw all projects from start to completion. This included garden bed excavation, garden bed preparation, installation of trees, shrubs, perennials, interlocking stone, natural stone, water features, and coordinating contractors.
- Responsible for inspecting, tagging, hand picking all trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals to be purchased for projects.
- Responsible for organizing/ordering all other materials required to install a landscape. This included natural stone, pre cast stone, aggregates, mulch, soils, sod.
- Maintain work records, and track all materials used per day.
- Lead hand for all commerical pruning projects.
- Operate a wide range of equipment such as backhoes, skidsteer, front end loaders, concrete saw, chain saw, salt truck, snow plow, all small engine equipment.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office.
Education
Certificate - Supervision
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, ON04.2024
Landscape Ontario
2024
Arboriculture Canada
2023
Diploma - Landscape Technician
Humber College
Toronto, ON06.2005
Skills
- Team Leader
- Excellent Communication
- Time Management
- Customer Service
- Work Organization/Prioritization/Decision making
- Problem-solving abilities
- Team Collaboration and Cooperation
- Reliable and Dependable
- Multitasking
- Pruning Techniques
- Plant Identification/Plant Installation/Plant maintenance
- Landscape Design
Timeline
Gardener/Landscaper
City Of Burlington
04.2016 - Current
Landscape Technician/Designer
Contemporary Design and Landscape
05.2002 - 04.2016
Certificate - Supervision
University of Waterloo
Landscape Ontario
Arboriculture Canada
Diploma - Landscape Technician
Humber College