Star Roses and Plants Announces Restructure of Woody Ornamentals Team

WEST GROVE, PA – Star® Roses and Plants is pleased to share the restructure of their woody ornamentals team, which includes two promotions and a new hire.

Kristen Pullen has been promoted to Director of Woody Products and will be responsible for the overall strategy and performance of the woody plants program. Pullen has been with Star® Roses and Plants for over a decade and has tremendously impacted the development and growth of the woody program.

Pullen’s previous role of Woody Portfolio Manager will be filled by long-time team member, Mary Woolman. Woolman will oversee the full pipeline for woody genetics, from trialing to introduction. In her time with the company, she has shown significant dedication to the woody program and provided excellent guidance to internal and external partners.

To further support the growth of its woody ornamental program, Star® Roses and Plants has hired Simon Traskey for the newly created Woody Technical Advisor position. Traskey was brought on to provide his wealth of technical knowledge to the company’s sales team and external customers, an advancement that will increase growers’ success with the company’s woody portfolio.

“I am thrilled with the realignment of our woody ornamentals team and the opportunity to recognize and promote two long-term employees and further develop the team’s impact by adding an additional role,” explained Bradd Yoder, President of Star® Roses and Plants. “We are often viewed as primarily a bare root rose enterprise, but our woody ornamentals program is one of the fastest growing aspects of our company, and we know that this investment in our team and resources will foster that growth and highlight our previous and future impact in the woody category.”

Pullen and Woolman are both recipients of GPN’s Forty Under 40, which further demonstrates the team’s commitment to innovation, creativity, and the horticulture industry at large. The Star® Roses and Plants woody portfolio includes over 150 genetics, both internally and externally bred. Notable varieties include Flame Thrower® Cercis, Sweet Starlight™ Hydrangea, ‘Little Missy’ Buxus, and the Bushel and Berry® brand. For more information about the woody ornamentals program and plant portfolio, visit www.StarRosesandPlants.com

Founded in 1897, Star® Roses & Plants a distributor of roses, woody ornamentals and edibles, perennials, and trees. The company is also engaged in breeding and licensing of third-party genetics and owns leading brand names like The Knock Out® Family of Roses, Drift® Roses, Bushel and Berry® and Bloomables®.