Alison Kutz
President

Karin Todd
Office Manager (& Logistics)
Karin and Melanie have become an amazing tag team with all things related to orders, inventory and payment. When asked what she enjoys in her free time, Karin’s response is always, “What free time!?”
Melanie Aceves
Accounts
When not at the office, Melanie guides students through their yoga practice, takes hikes with her fiance and puppy, and enjoys a variety of dance classes.
Hector Rosado-Castillo
Technical Sales
Hector comes from a tropical horticultural background specializing in orchids and carnivorous plants. He received a Bachelors of Environmental Sciences from the University of Utah, was awarded the Ecological Society of America SEEDS grant, and was also sponsored by the National Science Foundation to conduct an independent research project on pollination networks in tundra, alpine, and sub alpine environments. Hector has extensive experience working in zoo and aquarium settings as a horticulturist where chemical use could lead to loss of endangered animals and have an adverse effect on breeding populations. Working with at-risk species resulted in the research of beneficial insects as a safe solution in these sensitive conditions. These studies eventually led to his position at Sound Horticulture, where he can now learn and research to his heart's content while incorporating knowledge gained through hands on practice.
Hector’s hobbies closely mirror his professional interests, incorporating the study of mutualistic relationships in nature through a candid love of the outdoors. He enjoys hiking, observing plants and animals, and spending time with his partner, Kathy, and their dog, Harley.
Alec Blume
Technical Sales
Alec joined the Sound Horticulture team in 2019 after graduating from Western Washington University with a degree in environmental science and minors in chemistry and biology. He loves to learn about insects and their role in pest management and has spent countless hours identifying and studying them. His excellent macro photography of beneficials is slowly making its way onto the website.
At work, Alec assists customers with technical questions and manages a variety of research projects, helping bring Sound Horticulture into a bright, technologically efficient future. When he has time to relax, he enjoys hammocking on the beach and taking macro photos of plants.