Cory J. Whitmer Sales Manager

I became interested in horticulture at the tender age of about 7. This is when I started working in the family garden, which was about a 1/4 acre. At the time, I had no idea this was foreshadowing a life long passion. In fact, the first 3.5 years of college I was a psychology major with the dream of helping people. After taking Environmental biology 101 at Eastern Illinois University, I knew I wanted to help people in an environmental way. To everyone's disbelief, I walked into my College advisors office and changed my major to Environmental Biology and Botany.

In 1991, I accepted an internship with a non-profit organization called The National Tree Society. The local chapter had two active members, the Director and I. Working with many volunteers we were able to get over 50,000 trees planted, set up multiple city tree boards, and develop 6 city nurseries throughout central Illinois. I have been working in the horticultural field ever since. I was an assistant grower of trees and shrubs for 3 years before moving into the design field. After 5 years of being a Landscape Designer and Foreman, I decided to move back into the growing side of the industry. I became the Head Grower and Nursery Manager for the largest nursery in Fort Wayne, IN. After several years of fighting with the political red tape of this corporation, I decided to move on. I sent out 5 resumes and received 5 job offers. After talking to Mark Halla, then president of Halla Nursery I decided to accept his offer and move to Minnesota. I became responsible for all of the trees, shrubs, and water gardening products.

I now work with Mark at The Mustard Seed Inc. When Mark started to build the team at the Mustard Seed, I had strong feeling that it was going to be a great company. He obtained the best of the best in every facet of the company. Although the fact of going to work for a start up company was scary, after a lot of thought, I decided to take a chance and I joined the team. The potential I see in this company and team really gave me no other choice.

In 2003, I became a Certified Professional though the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA) when I achieved the highest score in my testing group of 53 people. I 2005 I also became a Certified Illuminologist, which is an expert at night lighting. Since 2003 I have been an active member of the MNLA Nursery Committee. I have had various articles published and have given numerous seminars to a wide scope of attendees, from beginning gardeners to Professors, throughout the Midwest.

My philosophy of life can be summed up best by a quote by one of the smartest businessmen ever; "Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young." - Henry Ford

My goal in life is to be the best I can be at everything I undertake and to make a difference in the industry that I love. As a great man once said "History will be kind to me for I intend to write it." - Winston Churchill