Joining Habitat Horticulture in 2011, Mickey brings a keen sense of the construction process, formal design training, a professional attitude and a lifelong obsession with plants to the company. His devotion and meticulous manner is crucial in ensuring all design documents design documents and details are fine tuned before handing them off to our installation team. No matter the scale of the project, Mickey is constantly pushing the envelope and recreating our idea of a “living wall” by shifting form and geometry to blur the lines between architecture and living canvas. Mickey has worked on most of our major and more complex projects including SFMOMA, Salesforce, 45 Lansing, Tesla, Facebook and the California Academy of Sciences. Mickey is a proud graduate of the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo landscape architecture program.

As Director of Maintenance, Emil oversees our maintenance teams. His focus is on keeping our living walls and botanic installations thriving and our clients happy. He also ensures that the maintenance crew is able to work safely and efficiently. With over 15 years of landscape management experience, Emil is well versed in the complexities of his role—performing each task with poise and a positive attitude. Prior to joining Habitat Horticulture, Emil owned and operated a landscape construction company in Seattle and later went on to become Maintenance Manager for Fox Landscaping in the Bay Area.

Collin joined Habitat Horticulture in 2017. His previous roles included Construction Estimator for a high-end stone mason and Site Supervisor for Americorps where he led crews on residential construction projects. As Senior Project Manager, Collin keeps an eye on key details while understanding the broad scope of every project he touches, ensuring that all projects are executed smoothly and within budget.

Maria, Associate AIA, LEED AP BD+C, is a Project Manager at Habitat Horticulture with over 12 years of experience in high-performance building design. Prior to joining the team, she led design efforts across a range of sectors, specializing in daylighting, energy efficiency, thermal comfort, and water conservation. Her background in healthy buildings made Habitat a natural fit. Maria holds a B.S. in Architectural Studies from the University of Illinois and a Master of Architecture focused on climate-responsive design from Arizona State University. She’s especially fond of SFMOMA and The Foundry installations, and enjoys growing orchids and agave.

Rafael oversees the purchasing of all building materials at Habitat Horticulture, a critical role that ensures each project—often running simultaneously—receives the highest quality components it requires. With over 20 years of purchasing experience, he manages supplier relationships and builds strong partnerships to secure timely access to top-tier materials. His expertise helps keep installations on schedule and up to the company’s exacting standards. Outside of work, Rafael is a passionate ballroom dancer who competes in events around the world.

With a background in interior plantscaping and plant buying, Meg’s passion for greenery runs deep—even after a detour into respiratory therapy, she found her way back to the plant world. At Habitat, she brings a unique blend of horticultural knowledge, logistical savvy, and strong communication skills to both plant procurement and project management. She’s especially proud of her work on the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, where the creative design and sourcing challenges made for a rewarding experience. Her current favorite plants include Polyscias fruticosa and Scindapsus varieties. Outside of work, Meg is always chasing her next adventure, be it skydiving, learning to ride a motorcycle, or learning a new craft.

Derek holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental design from the University of Manitoba and a master’s in building technology from TU Delft in the Netherlands. His passion for integrated systems and sustainability emerged during the 2020 Solar Decathlon Europe, where he led the design of the PCM Active Living Wall, helping Team Netherlands win eight awards. Derek is especially proud of his involvement with our Beverly Hills Residence living wall. He’s also fascinated with the robust and high-performing spider plant, which features prominently in many of our installations.

Lucía plays a vital role in our design process, helping to determine how we incorporate our living walls into the buildings and spaces they form a part of. That can mean working an installation into an existing building or helping to place it seamlessly into plans for a new construction. Her detailed 3D renders and architectural drawings give our clients the chance to see how our installations will transform their space, and later they guide our installation team as they build. Lucia holds a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. For her, the most inspiring spaces are those that evoke emotion by melding the built environment and the natural world. With her experience in large-scale commercial projects and residential buildings, she has an acute understanding of proportion and a keen spatial intelligence. She is also a true plant lover, creating botanical illustrations and artwork in her spare time.

Lucas came to Habitat with a background in social media marketing and a mission to share the magic of living walls with a wider audience. His growing love for horticulture made the role a natural fit, and he’s passionate about showcasing how plants can transform spaces. He especially enjoys visiting Habitat’s private residential installations, where the personal touch and soothing greenery create something truly special. A fan of ferns and tropical plants, Lucas values their calming energy. Outside of work, he’s often outdoors—hiking, paddleboarding, or playing pickleball—and he channels his creativity into composing original music and photography.

Karianne has been with Habitat since 2020, where she keeps our living walls healthy by leading pest and disease prevention efforts, using biological controls and careful monitoring. Before joining the team, she worked as a plant science lab technician at an indoor vertical farm focused on aeroponics. Karianne holds a degree in agricultural and environmental plant sciences from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, with a concentration in plant protection. Her passion for ornamental horticulture took root while managing greenhouses and growing succulents. Outside of work, she’s spent over a decade volunteering as a tropical landscaper, earning multiple design awards.

Steven transitioned from the “horizontal” world of landscaping—where he specialized in California native and drought-tolerant designs—to the vertical artistry of living walls at Habitat. His deep knowledge of regional plant species and their unique needs makes him an invaluable asset, especially in the Bay Area’s microclimates. Steven’s favorite projects include One Sansome and 50 Beale, both of which showcase how living walls can be bold or serene depending on their setting. He’s especially fond of Selaginella lepidophylla, the resurrection plant, for its striking adaptability. Outside of work, Steven enjoys snowboarding, time with his pup Tino, and live music.

With a lifelong background in landscaping—from cemetery care to living roofs—Sarah brings wide-ranging experience and heartfelt passion to her work at Habitat. Drawn by the company’s artistry, she now wears many hats: managing a team, handling installations, repairs, and maintenance. Some of her favorite walls include Westfield UTC, her first Habitat project; The Rinrose, for its bold textures; and another serene private residence in Los Angeles. Though not in the plant palette, her favorite species is the lilac (Syringa vulgaris), for its nostalgic scent and ties to her Ohio roots. Outside of work, Sarah loves road trips and camping with her family.

Chris was first introduced to Habitat Horticulture through David’s father, and he’s been dedicated to the craft ever since. Known for his strong work ethic and love for the job, Chris takes pride in maintaining the beauty of our living walls. He especially enjoys the design aspect of the installations and is always happy to surprise passersby who assume the walls are artificial—until they see him carefully tending to the plants. His favorite species is the Maidenhair fern, which he loves for its full, luscious look. Chris brings both heart and hands to everything he does.

Lauren joined Habitat with a strong foundation in houseplant care, having previously worked at SummerWinds Nursery in Campbell, CA. A lifelong plant lover, she built greenhouse cabinets at home to grow her collection—turning her hobby into a thriving hands-on skillset. At Habitat, Lauren brings deep knowledge of plant health and a keen eye for diagnosing care needs. She’s especially drawn to the SF MoMA wall for its scale and texture, and UC Berkeley’s HDAH wall for its striking color flow. Her favorite plant? Hoyas—for their variety, beautiful blooms, and propagation potential.

With nearly 30 years of horticultural experience—including work in retail, installation, and ongoing plant care—John brings deep expertise and a sharp eye for detail to everything he does. He works exclusively on the 24 iconic living columns atop Salesforce Tower, keeping them vibrant and thriving in one of the city’s most visible and ambitious green installations. A fan of unique plant species like fan palms and Masdevallia orchids, John takes pride in being part of a company that’s redefining what horticulture can look like in the built environment—and making a meaningful impact along the way.

With a background in food and craft beer service, Tom brings strong customer service skills and a warm, personable energy to the Habitat team. Introduced to the company by his friend, he quickly found fulfillment working hands-on with living walls. Known for his work ethic and positive attitude—shaped by the example of his parents—Tom takes pride in every project. His favorite installation is the Kearny Street wall, which he loves for its bold swaths of oxalis and succulents that feel more like art than landscape. He’s especially drawn to ficus varieties and succulents for their character and vibrancy.

Before joining Habitat, Spencer was both a teacher and an experienced mariner, bringing with him a strong work ethic and a calm, collaborative spirit. Now part of our maintenance team, he helps keep our living walls thriving with care and attention to detail. His favorite project is the Helen Diller building at UC Berkeley—featuring twin 13-story living walls in a single courtyard, which he describes as nothing short of amazing. Spencer especially enjoys working with our diverse collection of ferns, from Maidenhairs to Blue Stars. Outside of work, you’ll often find him playing banjo with friends.

Karyn’s love for plants took root during college, where she worked as a seed collector with the BLM in Southern Utah. After roles in propagation and plant education, she moved to Los Angeles and found the perfect fit with Habitat’s LA team. Karyn brings a creative eye—shaped by her hobbies in ceramics, drawing, and crochet—to the care and artistry of living walls. She especially loves watching Rinrose evolve and admires the native-focused design at 11755 Wilshire. Her favorite plant is the Creosote bush (Larrea tridentata), whose scent after rain reminds her of home in the desert Southwest.

With a background in landscape construction, Hector joined Habitat as part of his “plant life destiny”—and he’s been bringing good vibes and green thumbs ever since. Known for his attention to detail and positive attitude, Hector takes pride in making each living wall look its best. One of his favorite installations is Kennedy Wilson, a peaceful urban courtyard with a perfectly balanced, zen-like feel. At home, he keeps the plant love going with his own hobby garden. His favorite plant? Abelia × grandiflora ‘Kaleidoscope’—a beautiful, vibrant species that brings color and life to any space.

Romeo, our founder’s loyal pup, is a beloved fixture at Habitat Horticulture. Whether happily trotting through the warehouse or lounging in the office, his calm, friendly presence brings joy to the entire team. Always ready with a wag and a nuzzle, Romeo is the perfect canine complement to our crew—reminding us to slow down and enjoy the greenery around us.

We are always on the lookout for enthusiastic, plant-centric people who would like to help make our cities a little greener! If you’re interested in joining our team, please send your resume to hello@habitathorticulture.com.