Ones To Watch: Denise Godfrey

Ones To Watch: Denise Godfrey

As part of Greenhouse Grower’s 25th anniversary celebration, we are profiling industry people we expect to shape the industry for the better over the next 25 years. Now in its 11th week online, our Ones To Watch series continues with Denise Godfrey of Olive Hill Greenhouses who was featured in our September issue.

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Age–30

Her Job–Denise is the second generation of Olive Hill Greenhouses, a wholesale nursery known for selling tropical foliage.

More Than Just Plants–Aside from the family business, Denise is on the board of directors for Green Plants for Green Buildings. “It is a matter of getting the whole green industry up to date with research so that all of us may speak with authority on the benefits of plants,” she says. “Not only are they beautiful, they fight pollution, provide oxygen and generate creative and productive environments.”

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Under Pressure–Several global challenges could confront growers over the next 25 years, including the potential lifting of Quarantine 37, which Denise says might drive foliage growers into Mexico. “With the free movement of people and products, the possibility for the introduction of invasive pests is much higher,” she says. “What demographic of individuals will we need to hire to ensure we will have employees in the absence of immigration reforms?”

Twenty-Five Years From Now–Denise hopes Generations X, Y and their children can sustain the industry, but they need a little nudging to move forward. “We need to take the lifestyle approach to educating children and families in our community,” she says.

Why She’s One To Watch–Denise invests much of her time with industry organizations and speaks her mind to ensure a future for the growing community. She was one of the youngest presidents of the San Diego County Flower and Plant Association from 2006 to 2008, and she participated in the California Agricultural Leadership Program (CALP) for two years.

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