OUR TEAM
Meet the Leaders
Alex Shipley
Chief Sales Officer, co-owner
Alex was born in Nova Scotia, Canada. Like his brothers, Alex spent his childhood working for his father in his greenhouses. He graduated from Vancouver Island University with an associate degree in Commerce. After arriving in Tucson in 1997, Alex spent his time working alongside his family when Civano Nursery, Inc. began salvaging trees. He spent most of his days in the field getting his hands dirty helping dig and transport many of the trees and cacti. Today, Alex serves as co-owner and Chief Sales Officer of Civano Nursery, Inc. His passion is actively selling plants across the state and aiding in keeping our inventory fully stocked with the industry's most desirable plants.
Nick Shipley
Chief Operations Officer, co-owner
ISA Certified Arborist® W-4094A
Nick was born in Nova Scotia, Canada. He is an ISA Certified Arborist. From 1997-2004 he served as Reclamation Manager for Civano Nursery, Inc. where he oversaw salvage of trees and cacti from development sites. From 2004-2014 he served as Farm Manager and Head Grower for Civano Growers where he oversaw all aspects of plant production. Nick currently serves on the boards of Smartscape, The City of Tucson Landscape Advisory Committee, and The Desert Horticulture Conference. Nick was raised in the industry and started working summers in his father's greenhouses at the age of 11. He has an incredible passion for plants and is driven to see them thrive in our urban landscapes.
Chris Shipley
President, co-owner
Chris has been in the nursery industry since he was a child working alongside his brothers and father in Nova Scotia before moving to Tucson. Since day one, Chris has worked closely with land developers, architects, and golf courses providing our customers a wealth of knowledge that he is happy to share. His motto is, "Just be a nice person", and it shows in his industry relationships. He truly enjoys getting to know each and every customer. Having worked alongside his wife, Melanie, at our retail garden center since it opened in 1999, he understands current industry trends and the needs of our regional customers throughout the Southwest in regards to retail plant quality, seasonal selection, and the power of branded Civano Originals to increase margins in the retail space.
Les Shipley
Founder, Construction and co-owner
Born in England, Les attended Pershore Institute of Horticulture and graduated with a National Diploma in Horticulture. Since then, Les has established Plant Care Inc., an interiorscape and landscape company actively doing business on both the East and West coasts of Canada. In 1997, he moved to Tucson as Project Horticulturalist for The Community of Civano, an 818-acre sustainable community located on the Southeast side of the City. A year later, he was joined by his three sons and daughter-in-law; Chris, Nick, Alex, and Mel to establish Civano Nursery.
Meet the Sales Team
Civano Growers is home to a team of knowledgeable and dedicated individuals who are committed to providing the best customer service possible. We combine our expertise with understanding the needs of our customers. Meet our team and see why Civano Growers is the best choice for all your plant needs.
Stephanie Vickers
Sales Manager | Social Media and Marketing
ISA Certified Arborist® W-14925A
Arizona Certified Nursery Professional
Arizona Certifed Landscape Professional
Sustainable Landscape Management Certified
Stephanie began her love of all things desert flora from a young age. That love turned into a 25-year career in the nursery industry. Stephanie is committed to her customers and strives to provide the highest customer service. Her hobbies include at-home gardening, working on classic cars, and spending time with her husband and her nine-year-old son.
Alvaro Cardenas
Sales Team Supervisor
Arizona Certified Landscape Professional
Sustainable Landscape Management Certified
Alvaro is a Tucson native and a passionate outdoorsman. He has a love for hunting, fishing, and exploring the diverse ecosystems of the Sonoran Desert. His love for the environment extends into his work at Civano, where he dedicates himself to cultivating and protecting indigenous flora, ensuring their legacy for generations. (Hablo Espanol)
David Chavez
Estimator
Arizona Certified Landscape Professional
Sustainable Landscape Management Certified
David comes from a long line of gardeners from the small community of Bisbee. He recently closed his landscaping business, named after his grandmother Aurora, to join the Civano team in the winter of 2020. He's quickly learning all aspects of working in a growing grounds as large as Civano Growers and is eager to continue that lifelong education. David enjoys running, camping, hiking, and being in his garden.
Adriana Romo
Regional Sales Associate
Sustainable Landscape Management Certified
Don't let Adriana's youth fool you. With a passion for edible plants, Adriana began her career as a master fruit tree grafter in Tennessee. In 2018, she graduated from high school with honors, and her passion for plants continues to grow. In her free time, Adriana likes to hike, cook, be around children, and make art. The happiest day of her life is when she recently got married. Hablo español.
Tahilin Andrade
Regional Sales Associate
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Tahilin is an incredibly fast learner. Since the beginning of her career here in propagation, she absorbed all she could about each plant, curating her love for all things flora. Getting her hands in the dirt made her appreciate the love of her job and is taking it to the next level in sales. She thrives on helping others, as well as cooking, and spending time with family. Se habla Espanol.
Francisco Serrano
Commercial Sales Associate
Arizona Certified Landscape Professional
Sustainable Landscape Management Certified
Pancho began his career in 2017 at Civano, working with various crews that maintained the grounds. As an adventurous soul, his love for visiting National Parks and bike riding around Tucson keeps him occupied in his free time. Pancho is a lover of hockey (Go Rangers!), 80's music, and Christopher Nolan movies. (Hablo Espanol)
Amanda Ortiz
Commercial Sales Associate
Amanda is our determined Taurus. She is devoted to serving the community that surrounded her as she grew up. She is a Tucson native, who is always willing to give a helping hand. Amanda was a two-sport collegiate athlete. She attended Shaw University with the goal to become a radiologist however, during COVID she redirected and found a passion for gardening. Amanda has now established sustainable growing behaviors and aspires to share her knowledge/ experience with individuals she meets along her journey. If Amanda isn't at the farm, she's probably tending to her gardens, or keeping dogs out of them! Amanda is a dog lover, she has 4 furry family members who hold a special place in her heart! Amanda remains very active from yoga to pickleball to golf. She keeps an open mind and finds a way to move her body and enjoy the outdoors.
Purchasing
Our dedicated team at Civano Growers has a passion for plants and understands the importance of finding the perfect selection for your needs. With great relationships with other nurseries, we are constantly bringing in the best quality plants for our customers.
Ryan Adams
Purchasing Manager
A Tucson transplant since 1983, Ryan is well-familiarized with all desert plant life. His career with Civano began in 2004 as one of our first delivery drivers. Since then, Ryan is now our Purchasing Manager and is one of the most familiar faces at Civano Growers along with his ever-faithful companion, Charlie the Dog. In his spare time, Ryan enjoys multiple outdoor activities and is a cactus enthusiast.
Charlie Adams
Morale Represenative
I've been the loyal Civano Morale Rep for over a decade in that time I've been greeting customers with smiles and keeping them happy while they wait for their orders. I especially enjoy lap time with the Civano team. I also love treats, hanging out with my sisters, and love the occasional zoomie.
Meet the Logistics Team
At Civano Growers, we pride ourselves on having a dedicated team of professionals who ensure prompt delivery of our plants. Our friendly and professional drivers go above and beyond to ensure that our plants are delivered to your job site or nursery on time. Meet the team that helps us achieve this exceptional customer service.
German Sabori
Logistics Manager
German started with Civano Growers in 2018 as a puller for the Loading Dock. He obtained his Commercial Driver’s License and took on the out-of-state routes. Having shown exceptional leadership, and attention to detail, German is now Logistics Manager. German is a dedicated father and enjoys family time the most.
Victor Cabrera
Loading Dock Supervisor
Daniela Sanchez
Retail Loading Dock Supervisor
Paul Vega
Out of State Driver, CDL
Professional Driver
Roy Angulo
Out of State Driver, CDL
Professional Driver
David Duran
Tucson/Phoenix Route
Professional Driver
Perla Navarro
Tucson Route
Professional Driver
Meet the Grow Team
Civano Growers is supported by a dedicated team of experts with years of experience in plant health and grow operations. We are extremely focused on growing plants of only the highest quality, so rest assured that you’ll only receive the healthiest plants from us.
Mauricio Sabori
Field Manager
Arizona Certifed Landscape Professional
Sustainable Landscape Management Certified
Mauricio has been with Civano Growers since 2012. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Public Administration. Having worked as a Shrub Crew Supervisor, CDL, Production Supervisor, and Field Manager, Mauricio has shown he is a leader by nature. All the knowledge he gained throughout the years makes Mauricio a valuable employee to Civano Growers.
Sarah Hoglund
Plant Health Manager
Arizona Certifed Landscape Professional
Sustainable Landscape Management Certified
Originally from Northern Minnesota, Sarah has lived in the Sonoran Desert since the late 1990s. Since 2015 she has focused on quality control and pest management in nurseries and commercial agriculture crops. Her favorite way to spend time is working in the garden with family and pets. Sarah has been with Civano Growers since late 2021 and is thrilled to be part of the team!
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Karl Nelson
Lead Grower
ISA Certified Arborist®
Arizona Certified Nursery Professional
Karl holds a Master's degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Arizona. He is an ISA Certified Arborist and an AZ certified Pesticide Applicator. He specializes in irrigation systems management and plant disorder diagnostics. He has been an active gardener and outdoor cook for over 30 years.
Alma Garcia
Propagation Supervisor
Arizona Certifed Landscape Professional
Sustainable Landscape Management Certified
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Irving Romo
Inventory Supervisor
ISA Certified Arborist®
Arizona Certifed Landscape Professional
Sustainable Landscape Management Certified
Irving has been a valuable and dedicated employee of Civano Growers since 2016. Having worked at the loading dock, in propagation, and inventory, Irving has a strong understanding of company operations from start to finish. He is a lover of plants and animals alike.
Ricardo Sanchez
Irrigation Specialist
Kevin Sierra
Grow Supervisor
Eric Martinez
Potting Supervisor
Cesar Lara
Shrub Crew Supervisor
Andreina Dominguez
Greenhouse Supervisor
Meet the Administrative Team
Welcome to Civano Growers. Our administrative team is committed to ensuring that our operations run efficiently, which is essential in keeping our business running at its peak. We aim to foster a positive workplace culture, where everyone feels valued and supported.
Lorraine Ramirez
Human Resources | Inventory Control Manager | Safety Coordinator
Arizona Certifed Landscape Professional
Sustainable Landscape Management Certified S0622-1972
AZDA Pesticide Safety Trainer Certified #8977
Safety Forklift Trainer Certified #442584
Lorraine started working for Civano Growers in 2019, she brings more than 20 years of inventory and warehouse experience to the company. She is a certified Trainer and Safety Coordinator. Lorraine is our current certified HR and Inventory Manager. Her passion and dedication to keeping the integrity of inventory have allowed her to quickly climb the ladder. In her free time, she loves baking and crafting. She is actively involved in her children’s school and holds a Vice President position at the Pueblo High School Booster Board. (Si Hablo Espanol)
Vickie Acosta
Accounts Payable Manager
Arizona Certifed Landscape Professional
Vickie has been in the accounting field for over fifteen years. Before coming to Civano Growers, she worked in the roofing industry for over eighteen years. She loves the beach and Disneyland. She enjoys listening to music, spending time with friends and family, and making people laugh.