MEMBER PROFILE
DEB WILEY
Melinda Myers : A Teacher at Heart
© PHOTO MARK AVERY
Melinda Myers has an objective . Really , it ’ s the objective . It ’ s the first thing on her resume , right after her name and contact information : “ Helping people grow their gardens , landscapes and careers .”
It ’ s no stretch to say that ’ s also her calling . It ’ s what she was born to do . “ I look at everything I do as teaching ,” she said . “ Being on TV and radio is a job , but what I do is educate and inspire people through gardening .”
After graduating with a degree in horticulture from Ohio State University , Myers ’ first job was as director of the Young Adult Conservation Corp . in Milwaukee , Wisconsin . Her nine-member crew , ages 16 to 23 , were neither in school nor working a job . Here , she was their student . “ They taught me what their lives were like ,” Myers said .
That two-year stint , which included maintaining the University of Wisconsin Extension Service ’ s urban test gardens , led to a job as a home horticulture agent at UW Cooperative Extension and associate professor with tenure , followed by a year as director .
“ It gave me a taste of how to maximize your reach with limited resources ,” Myers said . “ I look back and see how that path led me here .”
JOINED GWA IN 1981
Her hiring at Cooperative Extension meshed with Myers ’ decision to attend her first GWA meeting in 1981 . “ I joined for information about new products and exposure to the industry ,” she said . GWA , then known as GWAA ( Garden Writers Association of America ) was more affordable than other meetings , and valuable for the connections , access to products and camaraderie . “ I always feel better when I come back from Garden Writers ,” she said .
As a way of giving back , Myers served two terms as a regional director from 1996 to 1998 and two terms as a national director from 2008 to 2013 , giving her valuable information about “ seeing the inside of an organization and running a business .”
Melinda Myers has parlayed her horticulture background into a brand with international reach .
Seeking a way to have an impact on a larger scale , Myers took a job as a landscape operation supervisor , then as assistant city forester for the city of Milwaukee , negotiating contracts , doing arbitration , and creating jobs . Her four years with the city “ was a great experience , and I loved the environment , but I missed the teaching part .”
ALWAYS TEACHING OTHERS
Milwaukee Area Technical College hired her as a horticulture instructor , where she taught courses such as woody ornamental identification , job site communication , specifics of landscape maintenance and residential landscaping . In 2006 , she left to become president and CEO of Melinda Myers , LLC .
“ It was a hard choice . My ( freelance ) business was growing , and I had to either shut down my business or leave teaching ,” she said . Her first inkling that she might not stay in a traditional teaching job came when the president of the technical college urged faculty to think outside the box . “ I realized I don ’ t have a box ,” Myers said .
Budget cuts made leaving both necessary and exciting . Myers wrote her first book . A radio station wanted her to stay on the air . She broke into TV and newspapers . “ It was scary . My jaw was clenched for six months .”
Myers ’ flexibility gave her an opportunity to “ find partnerships and creative solutions ,” she said . “ I ’ ve done a lot of things that didn ’ t make me money , but gave me connections . Nothing hurt me but lost time .”
GUIDING PRINCIPLES Today , Myers has two employees and an advisory committee . She clearly maps out her personal brand and works hard to co-brand “ Melinda Myers ” with other organizations and products . She uses three guiding principles as yardsticks for growth : “ Does it educate and inspire through gardening ? Does it expand our reach ? And , are we having fun ?”
Success means Myers now can be selective
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