Horticulturist
Resume:
NICOLE M. KITCHENS
*** ******** ***** ****, *****, MS. 39071
Phone: 662-***-**** Email: ***************@*****.***
Professional web address: http://growforthgarden.net
Skills Summary
Motivated, committed, mature professional with 30 years of diverse experience in private, state, and federal public service careers in horticulture, horticulture therapy, natural resources conservation, prescribed & wildland fire prevention, fire management planning, fire operations planning (inclusive of safety operations), and teaching/training leadership planning involving all ages/modalities. Skilled in technical and scientific research-based writing, grant writing, development, and implementation of written educational and therapeutic programs for teachers, applied horticultural, biological/ecological scientific operations, & on-the ground environmental practices, training educator and student, working with individuals or groups, and a strong teamwork ethic with ability to also work remotely/ independently. Knowledgeable with Microsoft Office, Adobe, and Apple based computer applications. I am slowly working through a M.A. in Applied Behavioral (Cognitive/Developmental) Psychology with future goals of working in same field. I desire to earn more experience in psychological research and professional therapy practices to continue my current experience with children, adolescents, and adults having spectrum-disorders, physically/cognitively impaired, substance abuse, incarcerated, Veterans (physical/PTSD), or geriatric populations on a more ‘professional’ psychological level beyond my current application of horticulture therapy/education. I am married to my husband, Shane (11 years) and we have an 8-yr. old daughter. He is employed for his own businesses as a wood scientist who travels much away from home/works late hours, so I desire a work schedule that is ‘family’ friendly in which to care for our daughter, who is a 3rd-grader at our local private school in Flora, MS.
College Education
Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA.
M.A. Applied Behavioral (Developmental) Psychology, 2021-2022
24 hours currently completed/36 hours total
Education on ‘hold’ until I can gain employment in which to pay for tuition
Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS.
B.S. Interdisciplinary Studies, June 2016
Double major with concentrations in plant and soil science(horticulture) and psychology, Dean’s List Graduate
Hinds Community College, Raymond, MS.
Junior College level studies in Agriculture, Forestry, and Wildlife Management, August 1991-July 1993
58 transfer hours towards 4-year college in Forestry, Agriculture, and Wildlife Management w/Extension Education Leadership Option
Technical Fire/Fuels Management, Class 25
36 upper-level college credits earned, 2005, through Washington Institute, Bothell, WA. TFM in coordination with Colorado State University, Pueblo, Co.
Professional Interagency Training (Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service) 3-year upper-development class for wildland, forest fuels, and forest fire management inclusive of directing, researching, and technical writing a professional capstone thesis field project on Fire and Fuels Management Analysis *Chosen as 1 of 3 students as only female in U.S. Southern Region to attend among 28 other interagency partners. After graduation, served for 3 years as Southern Regional Representative/Training Coordinator on national cadre for TFM.
Work-Life Experience
GrowForth Garden…& Bloom! Flora, MS.
https://growforthgarden.net
Owner, Independent Contractor
2016-Present
Horticulturist Educator/Horticulture Therapist
Specializing in administration of horticulture programs for all populations inclusive of professional horticulture therapy, art/nature-therapy, consultation in healthcare garden design, horticulture education, urban, small space and healthy-foods gardening, train-the educator, and natural resources conservation. Knowledge involves working with elementary, middle-school, high school-aged children, special needs children and young adults, Veterans, incarcerated men and women, physically or mentally impaired, and geriatric populations. I have been a substitute teacher at Tri-County Academy in Flora, MS., grades Pre-K-12 for 8 years. My experience in horticulture therapy/education includes working with the Mustard Seed (Brandon, MS), Sensory Garden design/development and private lessons (Reservoir Botanic Gardens/KRB) and Turtle Creek Nature Area, Rankin County Schools (inclusive of Special Ed), Hope Hollow Ministries (Canton, MS), recent administration of high-tunnel programs, plant/soil/garden education and therapy at local museum and farmer’s market as operative under a co-partnered U.S.D.A. Innovational Grant to promote Natural Resources Conservation Service practices to numerous public, private, and home-schools in addition to visiting public on a daily basis in central MS. Successful grant writing experience in agriculture, horticulture and natural resources education, and community improvement/beautification. Outreach numbers: 1,000-10,000 visitors/year (2019-2022)
Keep Flora Beautiful (Affiliate of Keep MS Beautiful/Keep America Beautiful) Flora, MS.
Executive Volunteer Director
2017-Present
Provides community-based leadership and education in environmental beautification and green-space improvement, reduction of blight, recycling, horticulture, and pollinator habitats. Responsible for leadership in raising funding and support in implementation of construction and development of the Elise G. Anderson Walking Park in Flora, MS., teaching local schools about the importance of environmental awareness, pollinators, trash reduction, recycling, and green-space improvement (horticulture, agriculture, and plant/soil science improvements), and grant-writing; former Vice-President/President/Flora Area Chamber of Commerce (2018-2019).
U.S.D.A., Natural Resources Conservation Service, Jackson, MS.
Soil Conservation Technician
2012-2014
Provided technical assistance to farmers and landowners on policy-based conservation practices inclusive of agricultural engineering field surveys, soil sampling, grazing lands, farming, pond management, wildlife management iniatives, writing technical conservation management plans based upon agency policy & programs, geospatial mapping, and office representation in Macon, Starkville, Ackerman and Kosciusko Field Offices under the Soil Conservation District Conservationist. Also, former Soil Conservation Service/N.R.C.S. Earth Team Volunteer writing newsletters and photography, Annual Soil and Water Camp Counselor, Poster Contest Judge, etc. (served from 1985-present) Reason for leaving: first pregnancy considered ‘high-risk’ by doctor at age 43 & no local day-care options due to rural living/return to college for B.S. degree.
U.S.D.A., U.S. National Federal Forests in MS., U.S. Forest Service, Jackson, MS.
NF’s MS Forest Fire Management Planner, Fire Prevention and Fire Training Officer
2001-2012
Served as Forest Fire Planner, Training/Prevention Officer (GS-11, step 4) on Supervisor’s Office Fire, Safety and Aviation staff for all N.F. Districts under the U.S. NF’s MS land management planning team to provide land management, forestry, biological, and ecosystem (NEPA/BAER) guidance in prescribed fire and wildland fire suppression on federal U.S. Forest Service lands in MS. Served as Lead Staff Training Officer for NF’s MS to lead, facilitate, conduct and teach Interagency fire courses at Southern Regional Interagency State & Federal Fire Training Center (nationally) and also as primary training officer on Southern Regional National Interagency Type-1 Incident Command Blue Team to provide training and documentation to state, federal, and local fire personnel in all positions of incident-command across the U.S. on natural disasters, prescribed fire details, and wildland fires. Provided public affairs education to hunters, recreationists, teachers, school students and various other public on importance of wildland fire prevention/prescribed fire management, and importance of fire education and prevention in ecosystem management. Acted in absence of Forest Safety Officer and Fire Management Officer on numerous occasions over career period for National Forests in MS and all MS Ranger Districts. Previous jobs in agency include starting-level Assistant Fire Management Officer (Developmental)(GS-5-7) responsible for writing technical prescribed fire and fire suppression plans, overseeing ground operations and fire personnel on daily basis, and implementation of OSHA Safety standards. During entire service from 2001-2012, started, trained & held numerous other ‘starting to advanced’-qualifications as a wildland firefighter, initial attack, engine operator, chainsaw operator, helicopter crew member, prescribed fire burn boss, public affairs specialist, wildfire arson investigator, fire ecologist, fire-prevention, land planning specialist, etc. Served on numerous national and local interagency cadres for fire training and land planning. Reason for leaving-new marriage & relocation to Starkville, MS., and took employment with N.R.C.S. on a lesser pay-scale in which to begin a family at later age.
Professional Certifications
Professional Horticulture Therapy Certification
Chicago Botanic Garden, Joseph Regenstein School of Continuing Education, Glencoe, Illinois in coordination with 15-credits earned from Oakton Community College (1-year program) (In-person course attendance/+online studies, final project submission)
2015-2016
(ASLA) Professional Healthcare Garden Design Certificate
Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, Illinois in coordination with American Society of Landscape Architects (In-person seminar/attendance/final project presentation)
2016
Royal Horticultural Society, Level 3 Certifications in Garden Planting, Planning and Design
(Online studies) Pershore College, Warwickshire, England
2014
Royal Horticultural Society, Level 3 Certifications in Applied Plant Growth, Plant Health and Propagation
(Online studies) Pershore College, Warwickshire, England
2014
National Permaculture Institute, Permaculture Certificate
72-Credit Hours (Online studies), Nashville, TN.
2017
Master Herbalist Certification, Center of Excellence
140-Credit Hours (Online studies), centreofexcellence.com
2018
Other Affiliations, Awards, National-State-Local Work Board Committees (lead/served), Other Previous Work Experiences, References
*Available upon request (to keep Resume short)
References
Germantown High School, Madison Co. Schools, Gluckstadt, MS.
Chandra Perritt Hays, School Counselor
*****@*******-*******.***
P.R.V.W.A., Ross Barnett Reservoir
Phil Huskey
407 Shadowood Drive
Ridgeland, MS., 39157
601-***-**** (cell)
********@*****.***
Keep Mississippi Beautiful
*Sarah Kountouris, Affiliate Executive Director, KMB
150 Fountains Blvd., Madison, MS. 39110
*****@***************.***
Town of Flora
* Les Childress, Mayor
P. O. Box 218
Flora, MS. 39071
601-***-**** (town hall); 601-***-**** (cell)
************@*******.***
Keep The Rez Beautiful
(Brandon, MS)
*Jeannine May, Affiliate Director
705 Forest Point Drive
Brandon, MS. 39047
601-***-**** (cell)
********.*.***@*****.***
Tri-County Academy
*Mr. Steve Flemming (Headmaster) and/or Joe Goolsby (Assistant Headmaster/Athletic Director)
400 Cox Ferry Road
Flora, MS. 39071
601-***-**** (school)
*****.********@*********.***
***.*******@*********.***
U.S.D.A., Natural Resources Conservation Service
*Jack Winstead, Retired Advisee to Andy Gipson, MS Commissioner of Agriculture
601-***-**** (cell); no email
*Jeff Wilson, Retired Liaison
601-***-**** (cell)
*****************@*****.***
100 W. Capitol Street, Federal Bldg.
Jackson, MS. 39210
Flora Methodist Church
*Pastor, Scott Carter and/or Associate Pastor, Kristi Wooten
149 Carter Street
Flora, MS. 39071
601-***-****(cell); 601-***-****(church)
*********@*******.***
Chicago Botanic Garden, Joseph Regenstein School
*Barb Kreski, MHS, OTR/L, HTR
Director, Horticulture Therapy Services
*******@**************.***
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