MEET THE GREEN RESOURCES TEAM
Petey Richards - Owner
Petey is a proud native Nashvillian and has seen Nashville transform from his modest hometown to the sprawling city it has become. Petey is a 1991 graduate of Belmont University and has been involved in Nashville’s plant landscape since 1988. Petey has been involved in thousands of events over the years from intimate weddings to decorating a cruise ship, from massive trade shows in Las Vegas to local fundraisers. He has literally decorated almost everything with plants. Petey started with Teasley’s Convention Florist in 1988 and bought the company in 2006. In 2016 Petey bought an existing business from a friend called Green Resources. A perfect marriage as both businesses allow him to continue to play in the dirt.
Petey’s hobbies include fishing, spending time with his wife Leigh and their two children, and his favorite is being “The Voice” of the Davidson Academy Bears.
Shawnda DeStefano - Director of Operations
Shawnda's interest in working with plants began with her first job at the age of 16, working at Conroy's Florist in Southern California. As her career aspirations evolved, her passion for plants did as well. During a 15 year long career in property management, she set herself apart from her peers by thinking outside the box. Shawnda planned monthly songwriter's events and art shows to drive traffic and retain residents. She used plant and floral elements to decorate, soften the setting, and create a welcoming experience for residents and guests alike. It was during this time that Shawnda decided to focus her aspirations into creating events and started an event planning business. Through that endeavor, she began working with Freeman, a decorating company where she gained a firsthand knowledge of the trade show industry. This is where Petey Richards and Shawnda's worlds would meet. She would eventually accept a position as Director of Operations of Petey's newly acquired business, Green Resources. Since 2017, Shawnda has led an effort to bring a fresh perspective to a solid foundation of loyal clients, create a social media platform, grow business and satisfy Petey's ambitions of "not being the biggest, but being the best!
Shawnda spends her personal time living on the lake with her dogs Fletcher and Ferdinand. She enjoys music, travel, friends and spending time with her adult twin daughters. She also finds painting, interior design and working with her personal plants to be highly therapeutic.
Tyler - Green House & Facilities Manager
Hailing from the great state of South Dakota, Tyler's musical journey began after graduating from high school in 2006. His pursuit of music is his driving force for who he is and what he would like to achieve with his presence on mother earth. Tyler attended a private music school in St. Paul Minnesota, where he earned a BA in music performance, emphasis on guitar. After graduating in 2010, he took a big jump and moved to Los Angeles to continue his dream towards music.
For almost eleven years, Tyler says he certainly had his successes and failures—in and out of bands, playing on the Sunset strip and playing reggae at the beach—and then COVID hit. When everything shut down, there was not much to do—but the majority of the Greenhouses remained open! This is where his growing love and passion towards plant life really emerged.
In 2021, Tyler had an unexpected opportunity to get out of LA and move to a place he was unfamiliar with, Tennessee. Now from humble beginnings with cacti, to having more plants than his house can hold, he feels fortunate to be a part of a thriving, wonderful team—all while starting a new chapter in his musical journey in Music City, USA.
Tyler's interest in plants, coupled with his infectious positive attitude, brings a great energy to the team. In addition to managing day to day responsibilities of the greenhouse, Tyler can also be found visiting accounts performing regular quality control inspections and replacing plants that no longer meet Green Resources standards.
Gabe - Plant Care Specialist
Gabe has had a love of nature for as long as he can remember. He enjoys hiking, biking, camping, canoeing, and photography. Spending time with family and friends is very important to Gabe, especially when that time is spent outside. He is a full-time "plant dad" to over 45 houseplants. His life motto is "just one more plant!"
Gabe displays a great passion for plants in his daily responsibilities as a Plant Care Specialist. Having to start his day while most of us are still sleeping, Gabe has proven to be a self motivated, reliable asset to the team.
Barbara - Plant Care Specialist
Barbara is a native of Buffalo, New York, but has lived in Nashville for the past 30 years. Before joining Green Resources, Barbara worked for Van Wingerden International in the Home Depot Garden Center. She has worked with Green Resources since 2005. Barbara brings a vast knowledge of plants to our team.
She loves all things vintage, gardening indoors and out, and spending time with family - 2 sisters and 2 sons.
Perry - Plant Care Specialist
Perry began his career overseeing a privately owned estate in Buckhead Atlanta. Perry was responsible for all floral design in the home and for banquets held at the estate. His responsibilities also included interior and exterior landscaping while managing and maintaining the three acre estate.
With encouragement from a friend, Perry made a drive from Atlanta to Nashville to apply for employment with Gaylord Opryland Hotels horticulture department and a chance to attend their program. Receiving employment, a move was made. Perry absorbed the horticulture program and soon began maintaining the Cascades Atrium and Restaurant. Perry was very happy working in paradise every day. Four years in and wanting to further his horticulture knowledge, Perry began working as a plant technician in down town Nashville which eventually lead him to Green Resources.
Since 2008, Perry has happily worked with Green Resources maintaining some of our largest accounts including Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Perry has a love for animals, dogs and birds in particular. Perry loves returning home to his "children" and maintains his home with the same care he does his job responsibilities. Having a home filled with beautiful, healthy blooming plants, Perry says, "plants make the world go round".
