Meet Proven Winners

Meet Proven Winners

Proven Winners is an international team of experts in horticultural plant and brand development, each of whom makes a substantial contribution to our growing program. In North America the founding members came together in 1992 to form the Proven Winners brand around new and innovative annuals plants. In partnership with one another and a network of international plant breeders and licensees, the founding members provide quality plant material and innovative ideas to support the continued evolution of the Proven Winners brand. Over the years, Proven Winners has expanded across North America and now includes carefully selected license partners who provide high quality, innovative plants in the shrub, perennial, caladium, calla, flower bulb and houseplant markets. To ensure that gardeners are successful with our plants, our brand also includes self-watering containers, high quality soils and fertilizers and planting augers. Home gardeners throughout North America know they can count on Proven Winners to make their gardens beautiful – which is the reason that Proven Winners is the "brand that gardeners trust".

Members

• Henry & Jeff Huntington,
  Pleasant View Gardens, Inc.
  
  
• Tom Smith and Sharon Smith
  Four Star Greenhouse, Inc.

Licensees

• AquaPots^® Self-Watering Containers
• Classic Caladiums (Proven Winners Heart to Heart Caladiums)
• Garden State Bulb (Proven Winners Packaged Bulbs)
• Nordic Nurseries (Proven Winners Annuals - Western Canada)
• Sobkowich Greenhouses (Proven Winners Annuals - Eastern Canada)
• Spring Meadow Nursery (Proven Winners ColorChoice Flowering Shrubs)
• The Plant Company (Proven Winners leafjoy Houseplants)
• Walters Gardens (Proven Winners Perennials & Art & Sol Mangave)

Breeders

The unique and innovative plants in the Proven Winners line are grown from material bred by a network of top international breeders.  Every plant that is chosen to become a Proven Winners has passed a lengthy series of tests lasting 2-3 years to trial the varieties for performance in numerous greenhouse and garden performance situations. This is why very few varieties are selected to become Proven Winners!

Proven Winners Staff

• Mark Broxon, CEO
  
  
  • Scott Acker,  CFO
    • Mary Espinoza, Human Resources Specialist
      
      
    • Ana Kobz, Accounting Manager
      • Rachelle Kellert - Merchant Reconciliation Support
        
    • Todd Sandoval, Senior Director of Technology
      • Dave Gray, IT Solutions Architect
      • Derek Gray, Software Engineer
      • Jacob Greenberg, Software Architect
      • Eric Kampmeier, Technical Specialist
      • Jody Kampmeier, Senior Programming Manager
      • Andy Debes Technical Marketing and IT Support Specialist
        
  • Marshall Dirks, VP of Marketing
    • Brian Oster, Interim Senior Marketing Director
      
      • Laura Geoghegan, Marketing Manager
      • Susan Martin, Head Copy Writer
      • Rachel Schneider, Graphic Designer
      • Kate Spirgen, Marketing Specialist - Business to Business 
      • Jeanine Standard, Social Media, and Public Relations
      • Annah Vertin, Marketing Specialist
      • Heather Wheatley, Marketing Specialist - Business to Consumer
      • Cara Widder, Digital Marketing Specialist
        
    • Cindy Meyers, E-Commerce
      • Kara Bartmess, E-Commerce Support
      • Tracy Gruner, Customer Care and Social Media Assistant
      • Carolyn Elsik, Administrative Assistant
        
    • Andy Olsen, Data Analyst * Dekalb Facilitator
      • Dave Wallin, Operations
        
  • Dave Konsoer, VP of Sales
    • Jessica DeGraaf, Director of Retail Accounts
      • Amy Howard, Retail Solutions Manager
      • Heather Poire, Retail Solutions Manager
      • Caitlin Hupp, Retail Solutions Manager
      • Karin Jenkin, IGC Support Manager
    • Josh Miller, Landscape Manager
      
    • Tabatha Gainey, Sales Support
      
    • Tim Anderson, Director of Grower Accounts
      
  • Kevin Hurd, VP of Product Management
    
    • Noah Derohanian, Director of Product Development
    • John P. Gaydos, Director of Product Development (Retiring April 2025)
    • Makenzie Pellissuer, Intellectual Property Manager
    • Jim Putman, New Products Manager
      
      • Savannah Sandoval, Project Management Coodinator
    • Patti Williamson, Project & Events

Marketing office:
1600 E Lincoln HWY STE F
DeKalb, IL 60115-4962

815.895.8130: Customer Service - Home Gardeners
815.895.1872: Customer Service - Industry Professionals

Administrative office:
PO Box 1006
Campbell, CA 95009
408.391.1992

Fulfillment Center: (not open to the public)

1600 E Lincoln Highway Suite F
DeKalb, IL 60115
815.991.9692