Ricardo Moreno | Landscape Program Manager

Ricardo Moreno has over 15 years of supervision and project management experience in Portland, OR and in Mexico City, where he grew up and launched his career. Since arriving in Portland, he has applied this experience within the landscaping, design, and construction fields, where he has also utilized his academic training in Industrial Design and Drafting Technology (from the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City and Portland Community College). In addition, he has gained an understanding of the nonprofit sector and the issues impacting low-income communities as the manager of an affordable housing development owned by Hacienda CDC, where Verde recruits most of its workforce.

Mateo Fletes | Landscape Crew Member

Mateo Fletes was born and grew up in Nayarit, Mexico. In 2003 he moved to Oregon and attended High School. Soon after, he worked in the construction field. In 2008 he joined Verde. He likes working at Verde because he is learning new techniques to protect the environment. He and his partner are raising two young girls, Arleth, 9 and Amy, 7, who bring him a lot of joy. In his free time, he likes to play soccer and play the guitar. He wants to learn more about construction and landscaping and eventually start his own business.

Carlos Lopez | Landscape Crew Member

Carlos Lopez is from Yucatán, México. He arrived in Oregon in 1999 and initially worked as a machine operator, before beginning his work with Verde. He enjoys working at Verde because of all the opportunities to learn new skills, including English. Carlos is married and has two children, a 10 year old girl and a 2 year old boy. He spends his free time with his family and also likes to play soccer and baseball. He wants to have his own business someday so that he can provide jobs for people in need.

Samuel Martinez | Landscape Crew Member

Samuel Martinez is from Veracruz, Mexico. He came to Oregon in 2005 and work as a farm worker. He joined Verde in 2007. He likes is it because he has had the opportunity to take English (ESL) classes and play a role in taking care of the environment. In his free time, he plays baseball in a local league, where he shines as a pitcher. He'd like one day to have his own business where he can put in practice what he has learned at Verde.

Jesus Nuñez Jr. | Landscape Crew Member

Jesus Nuñez Jr. was born in Estado de México. He moved to Oregon with his family when he was 11 years old and attended Centennial Middle & High Schools. He joined Verde in 2007 and loves being part of the team. He enjoys learning all the different ways in which he can help the environment. He is married and has two young children: a7 year old boy, and a 15 month old girl, with whom he spends his time when he is not working at Verde. He would like to start his own business one day to improve life for his family.

Jesus Nuñez Sr. | Landscape Crew Member

Jesus Nuñez Sr. is from Nayarit, Mexico but grew up in Jalisco. He came to Oregon in 2003 and worked in the food and commercial landscaping industries. In 2006 he joined Verde and since then he has become Shop and Equipment supervisor as well as a crew foreman. He enjoys working outdoors and doing his part to protect the environment. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family and playing soccer.

Antonio Rojas | Landscape Crew Member

Antonio Rojas is from Guanajuato, Mexico. Lived in Garden City Kansas for 13 years prior to moving to Oregon in 2008 in search of a better job opportunity in a field he enjoyed which is landscape. His quest for the right job was hectic till he found it when he came to work for Verde doing what he enjoys, landscape. In his free time he volunteers as a health promoter for Providence Hospital, Catholic Charities, Programa Hispano and other organizations. He also likes to play soccer and growing vegetables in his garden.

Todd Blossom | Blossom EarthWorks

Todd Blossom is the founder and proprietor of Blossom EarthWorks, a landscape contracting company that strives to promote ecological solutions for urban and suburban environments. Todd specializes in designs that are low maintenance, drought tolerant, and use native plants to restore habitat and manage stormwater runoff. Before founding Blossom EarthWorks, Todd served as the head land steward for the 60 acres of the Still Meadow Retreat and Conference Center, where he organized and lead educational programs about food gardening and native plants with the local school and the Youth Opportunity Center. Todd's extensive experience with landscaping and training make him an asset to Verde Landscape.

Manuel Castaneda | Pro Landscape, Inc.

Manuel Castaneda is the President of Pro Landscape, Inc., which he founded in 1986. In 2008, he was named Oregon Minority Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Association for his expansion of Pro Landscape from a single-service maintenance enterprise to a full-service landscape design, installation, and maintenance company. In 2010, he was recognized as the Small Business Administration Graduate of the Year. Originally from Mexico, Manuel emigrated to the U.S. at the age of fourteen. He understands the importance of communication and the challenges of overcoming language barriers. An innovative entrepreneur, Manuel gives Verde Landscape insight into running a successful landscape enterprise and cultivating small business entrepreneurship.

Jane Hansen | Lango Hansen

Jane Hansen is a principal for Lango Hansen Landscape Architects, a firm dedicated to innovative projects that integrate living materials into existing environments to create a context-based sense of place. Jane is known for exploring alternative green technologies, such the living wall in the Hotel Modera courtyard. Her firm has also taken on such projects as the Smith and Bybee Lakes Wildlife Area and the Gateway Transit Center. With a degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Oregon and nearly 20 years of experience in the field, Jane contributes to Verde's Landscape Advisors on topics ranging from program organization, landscape design, and specialized training programs for crew members.

SuSu Hunniecutt | Teufel Landscape

SuSu Hunniecutt works in business development and as an estimator for Teufel Landscape. She has 14 years of experience in the horticulture industry, including work with wholesale & retail nurseries, integrated pest management (IPM), gardens and arboreta, landscape construction, project management, and maintenance. SuSu specializes in sustainable landscape construction, including stormwater management, living walls, rain gardens, permeable paving, plant selection, and ecoroofs. Not only does she provide Verde with valuable insight into the sustainable landscape industry, but she also works to connect Verde Landscape Crew Members with innovative projects, such as the design and implementation of ecoroofs.

Claire Maulhardt | GreenWorks

Claire Maulhardt is a landscape designer for GreenWorks Landscape Architecture + Environmental Design, where she contributes to the design and planning of parks, sustainable design projects, civic spaces, and other projects. Claire seeks to use her knowledge of design and urban ecology to transform our culture into a more sustainable one. She holds Bachelor's in Landscape Architecture from the University of Oregon and currently serves on the Executive Committee for Oregon American Society of Landscape Architects as the Student Liaison Co-Chair and Emerging Professionals Co-Chair. She advises the Verde Landscape enterprise on topics ranging from design and implementation to future training programs and career workshops for crew members.