THE TEAM

Caleb                Van Wingerden

​Operations Manager


​I have been with Dutch Heritage Gardens for 6 years’ total. 3 years as a grower and the last 3 years as operations manager. I am involved in production, greenhouse allocation/spacing, ordering supplies for each department as well as logistics coordinator.

My role in the company is to oversee all aspects of the operation and to find sustainable ways to improve overall operations.

I chose DHG because I am very passionate about my work. This is a sustainable career and I enjoy all the moving parts that is a part of it. There are a hundred different things that are done each week and I enjoy wearing different hats and being a part of this industry. The entire process fascinates me from a little seedling/unrooted cutting growing into a beautiful flower to shipping it to a consumer and seeing our product on people’s deck or garden. That is the true joy of this career also it doesn’t hurt that it smells divine and I get to occasionally spoil my wife with beautiful arrangements created here.
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Some of my goals for the future of the company would be to expand our business to 15 acres by 2020.
Some personal goals are to study Spanish for 5 minutes every day, read every day and to be able to do a headstand/handstand in yoga.
My favorite thing to do in my spare time would have to be gardening while listening to audio books or deep house music.​

I am father to my daughter Lilliana and I was just recently married to my wife Melanie. We are expecting our 2nd child in August of 2017. I am a family man, we love to go on hikes to explore Colorado’s beautiful scenes.

Some of my hobbies include basketball, yoga, and working out. I also enjoy waking up early in the morning to do my routine which includes meditation and reading.

Brian Austin
​Head GROWER

​My name is Brian Austin and I am the head grower at Dutch Heritage Gardens.

I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture and in Landscape Horticulture from Colorado State University.   I’ve been with the company for eight years; this is my third year as head grower.

I chose DHG because I saw Aaron as an innovator in the green industry, always striving to stay on the cutting edge of growing.  At DHG, we are readily provided with everything needed to grow as a business, and that is what makes working here so enjoyable.  As the head grower, I oversee all aspects of growing.  From planting seeds and cuttings, to making sure things are growing on schedule, to watering, to fertilizing, to pest management, to managing all of the people involved in these processes, it is my responsibility to ensure a consistently high level of plant quality.  

​Growing up in the greenhouse business, I have always wanted to be a head grower.  Working at DHG has been a lifelong dream come true.  In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family.  We love spending as much time as we can outdoors hiking, fishing, camping, and hunting.  I also enjoy working on projects at home on my five acre mini-ranch.​

Eric DeCamp

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​I was born and raised in Downers Grove, IL,  a suburb of Chicago.  During high school, I ran cross country and competed in pole vault for the track and field team.  My family has always been involved with the outdoors.  In 1997, I completed the Eagle Scout rank in the Boy Scouts.  The outdoors is a big reason I moved to Colorado and the main reason I’ll never move back.
 
I started working for DHG a couple of years back.  I had been a server and a bartender for the 15 years prior to finding DHG.  I was looking for something I could apply my science background towards.  After taking and enjoying multiple courses in biology, geology, astronomy, and chemistry, I quickly realized the agriculture industry was my calling.
 
Two of my more centralized roles at DHG include operating the sow line and helping with logistics.  I am responsible for ensuring the seed crop is planted according to a predetermined schedule.  On the logistics end, I am responsible for unloading supplies and materials being delivered to the greenhouse, as well as exporting the fully grown plants via our trucks to the appropriate retail outlets. 
 
The thing I love most about working for Dutch Heritage Gardens is the people I’m surrounded with.  It’s not only my coworkers, but also the people that buy our products.  Everyone around me loves plants and flowers.  Being surrounded by living, breathing, growing creatures brings out the best in people.
 
My goal for the future is to just keep learning.  Every day is an opportunity to learn something new about this business. 
 
When I’m not frolicking through the flower fields at DHG, I’m participating is several things.  I love fishing, hiking, running, shooting guns and arrows, and camping.  Don’t get me wrong though, I love the indoors too.  I’m a huge sci-fi and fantasy fan.  (GOT!)  I also love my Chicago sports teams to a fault and play copious amounts of video games. GO CUBS!

Miguel Aguilar
​Production & labor Manager

My name is Luis Miguel Aguilar. I have been working for Dutch Heritage Gardens for 10 years.

I started as a general laborer and worked my way up into the company’s Production and Labor Manager. I oversee, organize and manage all greenhouse employees on a daily basis.
I enjoy my career because in the end of the season my hard work gets recognized.

It is my responsibility to ensure all plants are planted on time and are organized throughout the greenhouse during their growing period.

During shipping I manage all employees pulling and packing our products, ensuring we only ship the best product.
 
My personal goal is being a better version of myself each and every day.

​My favorite way to spend my off time is enjoying my growing young family.

CARLOS lOZOYA​
Maintanance MANAGER

​My name is Carlos Lozoya and prior to coming to Dutch Heritage Gardens, I was a blacksmith, carpenter, mechanic, plumber and painter.

I have always found a greenhouse to be a very interesting place so I started working for DHG and have been a part of the family since 2010.

I am the maintenance manager and my responsibility is to ensure the facility and all equipment run properly every day. We have a different project or challenge on a daily basis. Which is why I am always striving to learn new skills and better myself in my career here at DHG.

​I enjoy watching movies, playing with my children, working at home, and improving the well-being of my family. 

Gilberto MARTINEZ 
​ASSISTANT GROWER

My name is Gilberto Angel Martinez and I chose to work at DHG because I love growing plants and I have a good boss.

My role here is multifaceted.  My number one duty is as an assistant grower of over 3 acres of plants. During the slower season I work with the maintenance crew to assure our facility and all equipment are kept in good condition and are ready for the next season. It works out great and I enjoy working here year round, because my hobby is being a mechanic.

My goal is to be the best plant grower I can be and to learn new technics each season.

​In my spare time I love spending time with my family, swimming and playing sports, which is also my passion.

Johnathan STROMBECK
​ASSISTANT GROWER

I’m Johnathan Strombeck. After the military  I joined DHG’s team as flowers seemed like a nice change of pace.

I am passionate about what I do and embrace all aspects. I like Dutch Heritage is a family owned business where you can feel accomplished at the end of the day.

My role in the greenhouse is as an assistant grower. It is a great career. I love to work and there is a lot to do here.

My goal for the future is to move up the greenhouse hierarchy and become a better grower.

​I like to fill my spare time with work and travel.

Jared
assistant grower

My name is Jared and I am 26 years old. I do not have a college degree however I have dedicated thousands of hours to the study of plant life. My passion for growing began when I was eighteen as I have always had a profound respect for all living things.

After moving to Colorado over a year ago I stumbled upon a job opportunity at DHG. What a great stumble.

The knowledge I have obtained is priceless. I am a seed/cutting assistant grower which keeps me on my toes to say the least. The need to be aware of every single seedling or cutting is enjoyable to me. No plant left behind! Germ count, no excuses!

In the future I am planning on starting my own organic produce farm.

​Growing is my passion and when I have a spare moment I find myself tending to my own plants, studying them, learning about them, and generally loving them.

Yadira orozco
​manager

My name is Yadira Orozco and I have dedicated 10 years to DHG. I like and enjoy the work I perform within the company.

I am a manager and my functions include training and supervising new employees, as well as overseeing a crew of 7-10 employees carry out the daily tasks. Additionally, I am in charge of pulling and packing orders for shipments to our customers.

​In my spare time, I enjoy reading, watching movies and spending time with my family.

Martha Acosta
​manager

My name is Martha and DHG is my home.

I chose to work for DHG because all the family and friends who work here have expressed their love for this place. I am a manager and  a member of the Line Production Team.

​Whenever I’m not at the greenhouse, I am at home spending time with my family and my grandchildren.

YADIRA mARTINEZ
​manager

My name is Yadira Martinez and I have been working for DHG for 10 years.

I am a manager and my responsibility is supervising a group of people ensuring they complete their daily tasks. I also teach new employees how to properly do their job.
 
​During my spare time I like to discover and enjoy new things with my husband and kids.

Teresa Cuevas
​manager


​My name is Teresa Cuevas.  I have worked at Dutch Heritage Gardens for five years and I have a dynamic role in the company.

I am a manager and I am responsible for teaching my crew the proper skills needed to complete our daily tasks as well as motivate them to get the job done well.

I enjoy my job as I learn something new every day.

​My passion is my daughters. I like spending time with them, going for a walk with them or dancing.