Meet Annie Glaser | OSU HCS Alumnus Class of 2015
Annie Glaser is the General Manager at Foertmeyer & Sons Greenhouse, in Ohio. She received her Bachelor's Degree (2015) from our department in Horticulture and was highly engaged with Pi Alpha Xi (PAX), while a student here.
Luckily, Annie had time to share a bit about her career + some advice for anyone considering pursuing a career in horticulture...
How’d you initially become interested in horticulture?
My initial interest in horticulture stems from my time with my grandfather. He was a fourth-generation farmer and very knowledgeable about plants. We would spend our weekends working in the garden where he would show me all the basics.
When I began looking at my education options, I knew I wanted to continue to work with my hands and be outside as much as possible. I decided to pursue a degree in the horticulture field. I originally started on the Landscape Architect track at OSU but after taking some classes with Peg McMahon I quickly realized I wanted to be a grower and work in a greenhouse.
How did your time in HCS help prepare you for your career?
The time I spent at HCS helped prepare me for my career in many different ways. Under Jim Vent’s guidance at Howlett Hall Greenhouse, I was able to gain a foundational knowledge of horticulture that I still apply in our greenhouses to this day. As a hands-on learner, having the opportunity to leave class and immediately go to work in the greenhouse was extremely beneficial. On top of this school-work experience, I was able to prepare for the future by shaping my expectations of work-life balance. The horticulture industry is not always a “9-5” job and having that flexibility is a necessary part for having a successful career.
One of the most enjoyable things since graduation is being able to reconnect with classmates from HCS as industry professionals and see where their careers have taken them.
Could you tell us about your experience in Pi Alpha Xi (PAX) as a student
Being a member of Pi Alpha Xi has been beneficial to me and my career in that it helped me realize the importance of networking and building a community in our industry. Due to the unexpected nature of producing live goods, growers and other industry professionals often rely on sharing knowledge and other techniques by reaching out to their extended network. During my time at HCS, Pi Alpha Xi became a central community for the students involved. Developing this sense of community while gaining my education has crossed over into my professional life.
What’s the rough career path that brought you to being the General Manager at Foertmeyer and Sons Greenhouse?
My first job in the industry was through the AmeriCorps Vista program at Franklinton Farms. This was a year-long position where I was able to grow food for a CSA and donate thousands of pounds of food to the local community. Upon completion of this program, I started applying for local greenhouse positions knowing I wanted to stay in the Columbus area. To get my foot in the door I started seasonally at Foertmeyer and Sons Greenhouse during fall shipping season. I reached out to Foertmeyer the following spring and I was then brought on as a full-time production employee. I believe that starting and working at the production level, in the beginning, has enabled me to not only better manage our production employees but also to improve our efficiency and quality of our work-life balance.
Once a grower position opened up, I was selected to join the team. I discovered that I enjoyed the technical aspect of growing including PGR applications as well as manipulating environmental conditions. I continued to explore the technical side while gaining additional responsibilities and autonomy within the workplace over the next few years. Gaining experience and knowledge throughout my career at Foertmeyer and Sons Greenhouse has led to my current position as Head Grower and Greenhouse General Manager.
What’s a normal day look like for you and what do you most look forward to each day on the job?
A normal day for me starts with our short morning meeting with our production workers where tasks are delegated for the day. My next stop is the propagation house to observe the crop and make adjustments as needed. From there I will typically walk crops either by myself or with another grower to discuss scheduling, quality, and any necessary applications for pests, diseases, PGRs, etc. Using this and other knowledge gained throughout the day, I then take some time to adjust our production and growing plans accordingly.
The thing I always look forward to is taking the time to be in the greenhouse each day and seeing all the progress our team has made. Seeing the tangible results of the team's effort is really fulfilling.
What have been a few highlights of your career so far?
Throughout my career, there have been a few things that stick out. I don’t know if I can fully describe how much of a high point getting promoted to Grower was. It was so satisfying to finally be considered a professional at something that I hold so close. Over the years I have been fortunate enough to speak at different trade shows, including Cultivate (right here in Columbus, OH) and the Plug and Cuttings conference. I strongly encourage anyone attending OSU to go to Cultivate, it’s an amazing opportunity for networking and getting acquainted with the industry!
In the summer of 2023, I was honored to be recognized as one of GPN Magazine’s top 40 Under 40 in the horticulture industry. One of the most exciting things about the horticulture industry is how it is always evolving. I’m currently looking forward to Spring 2025 in which Foertmeyer and Sons Greenhouse is expanding operations by opening a new facility.
Any advice for students considering studying horticulture and pursuing related careers?
Yes! As a graduate of OSU, something I cannot stress enough is your internship. Take care when choosing this and make the most of it. Absorb as much knowledge as you can because the horticulture industry is honestly generations of knowledge gained from trial and error.
As a member of AmericanHort’s Generation Next Committee, it’s important for me to mention the HortScholar program. This program is open to all undergraduate and graduate students and really exposes them to the entire horticulture industry. There is an application process and ultimately 6 students are chosen to attend Cultivate and become honorary HortScholars. It can really set you up for success and get your foot in the door if you’re job searching or looking for an internship as well.
Today, we have a wide variety of academic paths for you to choose from to help you grow your career…