Alison Kutz, Owner and President
Alison comes from a background of greenhouse management; first building then operating a wholesale specialty plant nursery in Bellingham, WA in the early 80’s. Inspired to grow herbs and edibles without dangerous pesticides and with limited industry information available, Alison looked to the Canadian grower network nearby for tools. Beneficial insects produced on nearby Vancouver Island were available, so the biocontrol journey began there. After 20 years of research in beneficial insect use, compost tea brewing, designing soil blends and other green growing methods, she began Sound Horticulture in 2000. Her passion for holistic cultivation fuels and encourages her company’s broad aspirations; bringing biological solutions from years of experience to large scale crop management, greenhouse ornamentals, hydroponics and more. Her favorite pastime is messing in the garden until the tide comes in, then paddle boarding in Chuckanut bay. Salt water goes a long way in getting dirt out from under fingernails!
Wava Vautour, Office Manager
Wava is back with the Sound Horticulture team! She graduated from WWU in 2019 with a BS in Bioanthropology. With experience in quality control, logistics, and inventory control, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the company. Wava volunteers regularly at animal rescue farms, has two cats and enjoys all the Pacific Northwest has to offer with her partner Maggie.
Melanie Aceves, Finance and Accounts
Melanie joined Sound Horticulture in the spring of 2017. Her degree in business administration highlights her appreciation for numbers and systematic routine, bringing order to the chaos of the beneficial insect industry. Well seasoned and extremely pleasant in customer service, Melanie is an indispensable part of our powerhouse office team. When not at the office, Melanie guides students through their yoga practice, takes hikes with her husband and puppy, and enjoys a variety of dance classes.
Elaine Sawyer, Technical Sales, Content and Digital Marketing Specialist
Elaine joined the team in 2022 and works remotely from Idaho. Her background as the greenhouse manager for the Environmental Horticulture program at LWTech in Kirkland, WA, helped her learn the art of biocontrols and beneficial insects. She also has horticulture experience working at a retail nursery and operating her own fine gardening and container design business, Rainyleaf. She loves being outside and hiking, traveling and visiting botanical gardens, disc golf, baking for Community Loaves, and reading as many good books as she can find.
