Working at the intersection of horticulture, art and architecture, David has applied his passion for plants to a growing list of innovative projects, building a broad variety of modern, human-centric spaces with abundant plant life at their heart.
David is a pioneer in the field of vertical gardens. He holds a degree in Environmental Horticulture Sciences and Psychology from California Polytechnic University at San Luis Obispo. He credits his time spent apprenticing at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, London, with setting him on the path to living wall design. It was at Kew that he came to appreciate the beauty of epiphytic plants—those which have naturally evolved to grow vertically on trees.
David sees his work as an integral part of a public shift in consciousness towards a renewed desire for closeness with nature and an appreciation of the restorative effect of plants, especially in urban environments. For David, creating living walls affords the chance not only to promote awareness of native and endangered plant species, but also to have a direct impact on quality of life.
David speaks on the benefit of living walls in urban architecture and his work has been featured in publications such as Fast Company, CBS, Wall StreetJournal, Dwell, Architectural Digest, The Los Angeles Times, Wired, Work Design Magazine, San Francisco Chronicle, andSan Francisco Magazine. In 2019 he was honored to join the 2019 Class of the “Top 40 Under 40” by The San Francisco Business Times.
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.
Kim keeps the wheels in motion at Habitat Horticulture using her seamless coordination skills to work with Contractors, Architects, Sub-Contractors and Owners, ensuring all insurance and workers compensation documentation is up to date and compliant. Her attention to detail can be attributed to her experience working as Office Manager for Osborne Partners Capital Management.
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.
Jordan has been with Habitat Horticulture for over five years and brings more than 15 years of experience in the plant industry, beginning his career at Kawahara Nursery in 2007. As a Field Manager, he ensures some of the company’s most high-profile installations remain healthy and vibrant. Jordan enjoys working on smaller, well-designed projects like Palo Alto Networks Building 2 and 6329 Grand Oak for their simplicity and lasting impact. He’s particularly fond of bromeliads for their striking colors, patterns, and versatility in both indoor and outdoor settings.
Karianne has served as Habitat Horticulture’s Integrated Pest Management Program Manager and Maintenance Technician since 2020. She oversees pest and disease prevention strategies, including biological controls and monitoring. Previously, she worked as a plant science lab technician at an indoor vertical farm specializing in aeroponics. Karianne holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural and environmental plant sciences with a concentration in plant protection from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Her passion for ornamental horticulture was sparked while managing greenhouses and growing succulents. For over a decade, she’s also volunteered as a tropical landscaper at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, 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.
Karyn in a maintenance technician for Habitat Horticulture. Karyn graduated from the University of Southern Utah with a bachelor’s degree in biology, including a concentration in biological sciences. Her extensive experience in Greenhouses has helped hone her living wall maintenance skills, making sure each plant gets the care it deserves.
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.
Dr. Matt Ritter is a botany professor in the Biological Sciences Department at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, California, where he studies California’s native plants, horticultural plants, and trees in the urban forest. He’s the author of several fiction and non-fiction books, and many scientific articles. He is a leader in the California botanical community, editor of the Madrono, the Journal of the California Botanical Society, statewide board member of California Native Plant Society, and the Wildlands Conservancy. He also wrote the funniest and best-selling guide to California’s urban forest, A Californian’s Guide to the Trees among Us (Heyday, 2011). He won the Cal Poly’s Distinguished Teaching Award and the International Society of Arboriculture Award for Excellence in Education.
Prof. Michael Raviv is one of the world’s leading experts in hydroponic and soilless growing media. As part of the Agricultural Research Organization, Ministry of Agriculture, Israel Newe Ya’ar Research Center since 1979, his work focuses on plant production in various soilless media, which led him to initiate (together with Prof. J.H. Lieth, UC Davis), the book: Soilless Culture – Theory and Practice. (2008, Elsevier).
Since 1993 Prof. Raviv’s focus is on Organic Agriculture. His main interest is in composting, different uses of composts and especially their use as suppressive agents against soil-borne diseases. From 1995 till 2014 Prof. Raviv taught the only academic course on Organic Agriculture in Israel, in the Hebrew University, Faculty of Agriculture, Rehovot. Over the years he published 99 papers in peer-reviewed journals, 14 chapters in books, 23 articles in professional magazines in English and 59 articles in professional magazines in Hebrew. In addition he edited or co-edited 7 books.
Michael’s expertise in soilless media has helped Habitat Horticulture refine our vertical growing systems, from our proprietary Growtex® growing media to devising a nutrient recipe that is optimum for long term growth.
Ken Robertson has worked in the real estate industry for over 25 years, executing billions of dollars in transaction volume on behalf of institutional and private investors.
Ken focuses on placemaking, re-positioning strategy, and marketing with keen insight into key value drivers for real estate operators and investment managers.
Ken was born in the San Francisco Bay Area and grew up in south Orange County. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from California State University, Long Beach, and his MBA from the University of Southern California.
Today, Ken splits his time between coastal real estate investing and consulting, providing advisory services to real estate investors at the intersection of happier people and great places.
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
