An Initiative of the Chattahoochee Tech Industry Advisory Council
Celebrating recently graduated horticulture students from Chattahoochee Tech, Gwinnett Tech
Meet Vera
Vera graduated from Chattahoochee Technical College in May 2026 with a 2-year degree in Horticulture. She has accepted a salaried position as a gardener at the Southern Highlands Reserve in Lake Toxaway, North Carolina, starting next month.
Service as a Way of Life
Vera worked as a student worker while at Chattahoochee Tech, maintaining the grounds around the horticulture building and completing outdoor projects as needed. She also volunteered extensively with the Georgia Native Plant Society. In her spare time, she propagates native plants in her backyard with her father, redefining the meaning of father-daughter quality time.
A New Beginning
At the Southern Highlands Reserve, she will work under the direction of Garden Manager Brent Antrim.
About Southern Highlands Reserve: With the help of landscape design professionals, the Reserve grew out of a master planning process encompassing strategic management and aesthetic goals. The Reserve’s gardens are managed to illustrate how thoughtful design combined with complex native plant communities can showcase our high elevation microclimate. We hope our visitors experience the gardens as a place to reconnect with nature and reflect upon their role in the Grand Design.
Vera is a talented, hard working person. She contributed thoughtfully to the Industry Advisory Council and to the horticulture program overall at Chattahoochee Tech. We can’t wait to see what she will accomplish in the future. Cheers, Vera!
Meet Ruby
The Right Person, The Wrong Time
In early January, Ruby—a final-year horticulture student at Gwinnett Tech—walked into Plants Creative. While the company was in the midst of onboarding three new managers and initially felt they lacked the bandwidth for an intern, Ruby’s presence was undeniable. Well-spoken, sharp, and hungry for field experience, she was the right person who forced a change in plans.
The Experience & Rapid Integration
Ruby entered Plants Creative’s nine-week internship program, "The Experience." While the program usually rotates students across departments, Ruby advocated for the Production Track, sharing that she was happiest in the field.
Her impact was immediate, as she naturally possesses several soft skills (and true people skills).
- As a fully bilingual professional, she didn't just translate; she explained the "why" behind the work to the crews, earning instant respect from the construction and maintenance teams.
- On her administrative days, she diligently mastered the company’s admin systems and training videos.
- She took lead on Additional Services (flowers, mulch, and pine straw) and even managed the logistics of a crew member's injury recovery, owning the process from doctor appointments to follow-ups. That employee came to rely on her, and so did Pam.
From Intern to Manager
Ruby’s internship totaled 330 hours of proactive contribution. Before she even graduated, she did something most interns don't: she asked for more. Rather than settling for a crew lead position, Ruby pitched herself for a management role, citing her rapport with the guys and her ability to optimize scheduling. Last Friday, she finished her internship and signed a full-time job offer as an Additional Services Manager.
The Secret Sauce
At 34, a mother of two, and a Gwinnett Tech standout, Ruby represents the diamond in the rough our industry needs. Pam Dooley describes her as a difference maker who possesses that rare mix of empathy and natural leadership.
Ruby’s story is a powerful testament to the value of Gwinnett Tech’s horticulture program and the mutual benefit that occurs when our member companies co-design opportunities with motivated students. She isn't just a new hire. Ruby is the future of account management and production leadership in Georgia urban agriculture.
