Angie Gutierrez spent a decade mastering Loma Vista Nursery’s operational flow in our shipping department. Now, she’s taking her deep knowledge of plants and processes to our customers — sales-side. We caught up with her to learn more.
What is your new role at Loma Vista Nursery?
I stepped into my role as Territory Sales Representative last summer. In this position, I work directly with our customers to help them find the right plants for their businesses while building strong, lasting relationships along the way.
Angie Gutierrez, Territory Sales Representative, Loma Vista Nursery
What is your background and how long have you been with Loma Vista Nursery?
I joined the team in May of 2016 after applying for a Shipping Assistant position. At the time, I had no earlier experience in the horticulture industry, but I had always been interested in flowers and plants and was excited to learn more. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience throughout many areas of the nursery. From propagating plants and working in production to preparing and loading trucks, each role has helped me build a deeper understanding of our operations and the journey our plants take from the greenhouse to our customers. Much of what I know today has come from learning on the job and working alongside knowledgeable team members across the company.
What did your earlier role in shipping look like?
My earlier role was as Logistics Manager. I was responsible for leading the shipping department and coordinating logistics for all outbound shipments. This included overseeing daily shipping operations, managing schedules and ensuring that orders were accurately prepared and delivered to our customers on time.
What inspired you to make the change from the shipping department to sales?
Moving into sales felt like a natural next step in my career growth. It gave me the chance to apply the behind-the-scenes knowledge I have built over the years in a more direct way with our customers. I’m excited to take on a new challenge that allows me to continue learning while building stronger relationships with our customers and understanding their needs firsthand.
What does a “day-in-the-life” look like in your new role?
A typical day in my role varies depending on customer needs and time of year. I usually start my morning by checking and responding to emails and reviewing any urgent updates or requests that came in overnight. From there, I spend much of the day answering phone calls, communicating with customers and helping support their needs — whether that is placing new orders, adjusting or helping move inventory to fill trucks efficiently. I also work on sending quotes, following up with customers and making sure orders are correct and up to date throughout the day. Another important part of my role includes actively reaching out to customers, especially when we are trying to fill a truck or keep product moving. I also spend time gathering weekly photos of plants, which help customers make informed decisions about what is ready and available.
How does a typical day in sales differ from a busy day handling shipping logistics?
A typical day in sales feels like a much calmer and more focused environment compared to my earlier role in shipping. Instead of managing the fast-paced coordination of the entire shipping department and working closely with brokers and multiple internal teams, my attention is now centered primarily on our customers’ needs. In sales, most of my day is spent communicating directly with customers, helping them with orders, answering questions, sending quotes and making sure their needs are met. While there is still a lot of activity and multitasking involved, the pace feels more structured around customer interaction rather than managing the operational flow of outbound shipments.
How has your experience in shipping informed your new position in sales?
My experience in shipping has been extremely valuable in my new role in sales. Having worked in logistics for so long, I have a strong understanding of how orders move from start to finish, which helps me anticipate needs and answer customer questions more efficiently. Because of that background, I am often able to solve problems quickly without needing to rely heavily on the logistics team for every detail. For example, I can estimate how much space is left on a truck or better understand how freight costs are calculated for a customer. This knowledge helps me provide more accurate information upfront and improves communication with customers.
In what ways does your sales role integrate with the rest of the nursery’s team to keep operations running smoothly?
The sales team plays an important role in connecting our customers with the rest of the nursery. In many ways, we serve as the voice of the customer within the company. When customers share feedback, questions or concerns, we communicate that information to our production and operational teams, so everyone stays aligned. This communication helps ensure that we are not only meeting customer expectations but also continuously improving the quality of our plants and services. By bridging the gap between customers and production, we help keep information flowing both ways, making sure customers are heard and that the nursery can respond effectively.
“The sales team plays an important role in connecting our customers with the rest of the nursery,” Angie Gutierrez
What is one aspect of the sales side that has surprised you the most since changing roles?
It wasn’t necessarily a surprise, but one thing that stood out to me most when I first moved into sales was just how customer-oriented the role truly is. The level of focus on customer experience, along with how proactive the team is in problem-solving and responding to feedback, really stood out to me. In sales, there is a strong emphasis on staying ahead of customer needs, addressing concerns quickly and continuously improving based on what we hear from them. That level of responsiveness and collaboration was something I didn’t experience directly while working in shipping, where the focus was more operational.
What do you find most rewarding about working directly with clients?
For me, the most rewarding part of working directly with clients is building relationships. I enjoy getting to know our customers beyond just their orders, understanding their businesses, their needs and how we can support them in being successful. Over time, those interactions turn into strong working relationships built on trust and communication. It’s very fulfilling to be able to provide consistent support, help solve problems and know that customers can rely on me as a point of contact. Being able to connect with people in this way and play a small role in helping their businesses grow is what makes the customer-facing side of the role especially meaningful for me.
Double Play® Candy Corn® Spirea (Spiraea japonica)
What plants do you find clients request the most?
One plant I’ve noticed clients consistently request over the past couple of years is Double Play® Candy Corn® Spiraea. It has become a popular choice thanks to its unique color, seasonal interest and strong landscape appeal. In general, I find that customers are often looking for plants that are both visually striking and reliable in the landscape. Trends can shift from season to season, but varieties like Candy Corn® Spiraea tend to stand out because they offer something different while still being easy to incorporate into a wide range of designs and projects.
What is your favorite plant or tree grown at Loma Vista Nursery?
Right now, my favorite plant grown at Loma Vista Nursery is Wisteria ‘Amethyst Falls’. I love it because of its beautiful cascading blooms and the way it adds such a soft, elegant look to landscapes when it’s in full flower. It’s a standout plant that brings a lot of visual impact, especially when trained on a structure like a trellis.
Amethyst Falls Wisteria (Wisteria frutescens ‘Amethyst Falls’)
Anything you’d like to add?
I’m very grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to grow and learn during my time at Loma Vista Nursery. Starting with shipping and now moving into sales has given me a well-rounded understanding of both the operational and customer-facing sides of the business, which I really value. I also appreciate the support from my team and the chance to continue developing in a new role. I’m excited for what’s ahead and continuing to contribute to the success of the nursery.
About Loma Vista Nursery ‒ Midwest Wholesale Plant Grower
Celebrating 35 years in business in 2026, Loma Vista Nursery grows a variety of hollies, perennial plants, shrubs and trees for garden centers, landscape contractors and wholesale distributors.
Explore our website to meet our sales representatives, learn more about Loma Vista Nursery’s processes, plant varieties and business values. For help with orders or plant-related questions, please call (785) 229-7200 or send an email to sales@lomavistanursery.com. Angie, along with our entire team of plant experts, will be happy to answer questions and provide information about the reliable varieties we grow.
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