Alum of the Month: Katrina Lansman
July 3, 2017Katrina Lansman is the Project Manager at Lanoha Nurseries in Omaha, Nebraska.
Hometown: Harlan, Iowa
Major and Graduation Date: Bachelor of Science in horticulture with a focus in landscape design, Fall 2015. Master of Science in horticulture, Fall 2016.
Major Job/Position Responsibilities: At Lanoha Nurseries I am working directly under a very talented designer where I help to manage landscape crews out on job sites. I also manage a crew that focuses on planting annual pots at commercial and residential areas around the Omaha area. Other than managing crews I get to do some annual planting designs, meet with clients in the garden center to pick out plants for their landscape, install water feature pumps, lay out the plants according to a design, and regularly check on and guide crews at maintenance properties. Being a manager has helped me learn how larger landscaping companies operate and has also given me a lot of valuable hands-on experience with problem solving and doing anything and everything that needs to be done to complete a project.
During my time as a graduate student in the Horticulture Department with Dr. Ann Marie VanDerZanden, I created an online, garden design course. This course merged elements from each of the different landscape design courses offered to students at Iowa State University. The goal of this course was to be able to reach out to those wanting to learn about garden/landscape design. After building the course, I was selected to teach it! There were 4 students who completed the course that went from November to March and I am excited to use their feedback to keep improving and offering the course!
What you like most about your Job/Position: First, I really like the people that I work with! I think it is really important to be productive at work but still have fun doing it. I also love the feeling I get when I see the difference my work or the crew’s work makes once a job is completed. Landscaping has an instant impact! I also love being able to use my horticultural and landscape design background to help educate crew members, clients, and students. I look forward to where each of these opportunities I have right now will lead me.
What advice would you give to current students: My advice to horticulture students is to take advantage of the amazing opportunities and resources that are available to you through Iowa State and the Department of Horticulture. I studied abroad in Ireland, was involved in multiple clubs and organizations, and stayed around for an extra year for my Master’s. However, I still wish that I would have been involved in more. Iowa State is where you will make some of your best friends and memories that you will hold on to for the rest of your life…As well as get a fabulous education that will prepare you for the industry of course!