Staff Biographies
Matt Bartlett - Shipping Department Manager
Matt graduated from The Ohio State University in June of 2000 with a B.S. in Agriculture. He majored in Landscape Horticulture and minored in Landscape Construction. Matt has worked with Millcreek Gardens since graduation and is currently the Shipping Department Manager and oversees our Facilities Maintenance. He is also a licensed Ohio Certified Pesticide Applicator. In his spare time he enjoys hiking, hunting, fishing, and gardening.
Mary B. Coons - Sales Office Administrator
Mary joined us in the Fall of 2001. She is a 1981 graduate of The Ohio State University with a B.S. in Horticulture and has been a grower for the past two decades. Mary is currently the sales office administrator and provides outrageous service to our customers!
Jay Dingledine - Assistant Grower, Perennial Quart and Herb Departments
Jay graduated from The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute in June 2005 with degrees in both Greenhouse Production and Management and Nursery Management. He interned at Millcreek during the Spring of 2005 and joined the team full time after graduating. He is an Assistant Grower in the Perennial Quart and Herb Departments and his duties include pulling orders, general plant maintenance, and helping in other departments when needed!
Grant Downes – Assistant Grower, Perennial Quart Department
Grant joined Millcreek in the spring of 2006 in the Plant Production Department. He graduated from Ohio State in 2005 with a B.S. in Landscape Horticulture, and was also a member of the percussion section in The Ohio State University Marching Band. Now in the Perennial Quart Department, Grant assists with plant maintenance, order pulling, and customer service. When not at work, he enjoys music, running, kayaking, and hanging out with family and friends.
Katie Ellis - Head Grower, Herb Department
Katie joined Millcreek Gardens in the Spring of 2005 while finishing her last quarter at The Ohio State University. She graduated in June of 2005 with a B.S. in Landscape Horticulture and a minor in Spanish. Currently she is the Head Grower in the Herb Department as well as being the Head Grower for our Annual line. She helps in other areas as needed. She enjoys traveling, reading, and gardening in her spare time.
Brad Harvey - Head Grower, Perennial Quart Department
Brad graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.S. in Agriculture in March of 2002. He majored in Landscape Horticulture, with a minor in Plant Pathology. He is currently a Head Grower in the perennial Quart department. His duties include pulling orders, general plant maintenance, chemical applications, and helping in other departments when needed!
Fred Higginbotham - Head Grower, Groundcover Department; Assistant Grower, Perennial IMPACT Department
Fred joined Millcreek as an Assistant Grower in the IMPACT Department in March 2005 after completing a six month internship with Millcreek the previous year. In 2006 he helped develop our Groundcover line and now serves as the Head Grower in the Groundcover Department in addition to his duties as an Assistant Grower for our IMPACT Perennials. He has a B. S. in Agriculture from The Ohio State University, where he majored in Crop Science. Fred also comes to Millcreek with an Associates Degree in Floriculture from Alfred State. He is a skilled cook and enjoys reading and spending time with family.
Megan B. Kline - Head Grower, Perennial IMPACT Department
Megan graduated from Ohio University in 1998 with a B. S. in Environmental and Plant Biology. She joined Millcreek Gardens that year as the IMPACT Department Production Supervisor. She is currently Head Grower of the IMPACT Department and is responsible for the daily operation of the department including securing plant material, crop scheduling and plant production, plant maintenance, and order pulling. Her responsibilities also include producing the Millcreek Gardens weekly "The Honor Roll" availability list, the Millcreek Gardens catalog, and she is the resident webmaster for our website. In 2004 she was named the recipient of the Perennial Plant Association's Young Professional Award at the annual symposium in New York City. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, gardening, and visiting with family and friends.
Jen Mackan - Production Manager
Jen is beginning her 10th year with Millcreek Gardens. She earned a B. S. in Agriculture from The Ohio State University, majoring in Floriculture and minoring in Agricultural Business. She is currently the production manager, responsible for the production of our quart perennial and herb flats. In the fall and winter she works in the propagation department and also helps with plant maintenance in the Quart Perennial Department . Jen is an Ohio Certified Nursery Technician and is currently our Safety Coordinator. Jen also served as shipping manager for 3 years.
John K. Murray - Head Grower, Perennial IMPACT Department
John is a 1988 graduate of The Ohio State University with a B. S. in Landscape Horticulture. He is an Ohio Certified Nursery Technician in both Landscape and Garden Center. John has been with Millcreek Gardens since 1988 and worked first in Quart Perennial Department and since then, he has been instrumental in developing our IMPACT line of perennials. He is currently a Head Grower in the IMPACT Department and is always looking for new plant suggestions, so please feel free to contact him with your questions or comments! John also takes most of the plant photographs that you see posted on our website!
Kim Nichols - Production Manager
Kim has been employed at Millcreek Gardens for 20 years and is currently our Propagation Manager. She has been the Head Propagator for 13 years and oversees the production and care the perennial and herb plug and seed trays. She attended The Ohio State University and also served as Shipping Manager for 2 years.
Mark Noble - Maintenance Department
Mark has been employed in the Maintenance Department at Millcreek Gardens for 16 years. He is responsible for maintaining heavy equipment and tractors as well operating the bobcat to unload all incoming deliveries. In the spring, he helps various departments including plant production and shipping. In the fall, he is charge of building new greenhouses, running irrigation, gas, and electric lines, and installing heater and shutter systems. His team is responsible for covering huts in the winter and uncovering them in the spring. During extreme weather conditions, he is on call 24 hours a day to keep machines functioning properly to maintain constant temperatures in the greenhouses.
George Pealer - Owner
George has a B.S. degree in Agriculture from The Ohio State University, specializing in Horticulture. He started Millcreek Gardens with his wife, Lynda, in 1978. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association and the Perennial Plant Association. Outside interests include gardening, biking, tennis, and hiking.
Lynda Pealer - Owner
Lynda graduated from the Ohio State University with a degree in Ornamental Horticulture. She also holds a degree in Microbiology from Purdue University. She helped establish Millcreek Gardens in 1978, and has provided a strong, steady hand in Millcreek’s growth. You may hear her answer your phone call in the spring and summer! Her outside interests include yoga, biking, hiking, tennis, and gardening.
Craig Powell - Assistant Grower, Perennial IMPACT Department
Craig has been employed at Millcreek Gardens for 16 years and is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a B.S. in Ornamental Horticulture. He is currently an Assistant Grower in our Perennial IMPACT Department. Craig is very interested in the introduction and development of new, unusual, and underused perennials. In his spare time he enjoys gardening, hiking, and concert touring.
Sara Straits - Head Grower, Perennial Quart Department
Sara graduated from The Ohio State University in March of 1999 with a B. S. in Agriculture. She majored in Horticulture with a minor in Natural Resources. During the summer of 1998 she interned at Millcreek and joined the team full time after graduating. She is currently Head Grower of the Perennial Quart Department where her duties include general plant maintenance, order pulling, and ordering plant material. She also enjoys helping out in other departments whenever needed!