Graduate Profiles – Avery Lacroix ’21

Have you often wondered where graduates end up after they finish at the School of Horticulture? Or curious what career options are available in the industry? In our monthly series we’ll highlight a different graduate every month to showcase the diversity. We’ll be sharing the full inside look here on our website!

Meet Avery Lacroix, Class of 2021!

Hybrid Landscape Management – Operations Manager

At my Current job as the Operations Manager at Hybrid entails overseeing the general operations at the company including: the property maintenance division, high end horticulture, Construction, and our repair shop. I also manage the snow and ice division in the winter months. My main tasks involve scheduling, training, implementing policies and procedures, increasing efficiency, site monitoring, employee reviews, and I still love to get out in the field with the employees at Hybrid.

Q: How would you describe your experience entering the industry after graduation?

A: I finished school on a Friday and began my internship/ career pathway on the following Monday. I got directly into large scale commercial planting and quality control on public park installations with Gateman-Milloy. It was an abrupt change and there is definitely a change of pace depending on where a student may end up but the school prepared me for the majority of the challenges I faced on the job site. Some things you need to repetitively do in order to truly understand them, and I needed to be near 100% on a quality standpoint.

I think the school gives you an edge when it comes to a thorough understanding of landscape installation.

Q: What challenges have you faced and overcome in your career after graduation?

A: The main challenges I faced at first was being a young person in the industry and gaining experience. You will never stop learning and always put your best foot forward and good things will come.

Q: What was your favorite plant on the Botanical Grounds while you were at school?

A: I always loved the elms outside of residence. I loved the cherry trees in the spring. Maybe you can find my daffodil planting and the end of the (old) sign bed area.

I loved planting trees at the parks and it’s still something I love to do today.

Thank you Avery for sharing your journey so far with us! It is great to hear from alumni from all stages in their careers!

If you would like to be featured here and inspire the next generation make sure to complete our graduate survey here: https://forms.gle/pt2MPgJsALYdf1b3A.