The Wizards Behind the Curtains

So, yeah, we're just like you (if you didn't get the Oz reference). We've got families, we work hard, we swim at Barton Springs, walk the Riverwalk, and love Central Texas. We love what we do and we love you! Before we get too mushy on you, meet your biggest fans:

Ryan Adams

Admiral of the Fleet

Sometimes people don't complete their questionnaire for their online bio and we crafty content writers get to make up our own: Ryan was raised by wolves. One night while hunting, Ryan began to wonder if there was more to life than eating small animals and avoiding traps. Plus the wolves would always make him climb trees to get prey, he often felt used and like it just wasn't how nature intended. So he started researching mother nature, saw what was going on and thought he could help.

That's when Ryan found us. Well, actually I think Grace brought him around. He started out as a driver. He started taking care of the vehicles too and before you know it, he became Admiral. If you have any questions about your delivery, this friendly gent will help you out. See more of him here - Facebook Profile

Colin Ager

Colin The Great

Colin is a recent NYU grad and was drawn to Austin by our culture & music. He may go back to grad school in a year or two, but wants to take some time to figure out his path. While in New York he helped run a group of 17 Farmers Markets in Manhattan! He also ran the ever-popular Dessert Truck which roamed NYC doling out sweets. He's a big believe in the movement and how local, organic food can help the environment.

Mason Arnold

Cookie Monster

Mason Arnold has been a Sustainability pioneer and serial entrepreneur since graduating from The University of Texas at Austin in 2001 with a degree in Chemical Engineering. Greenling's customers aren't the only ones who have noticed Mason's passion for Sustainability. Mason has been recognized as a finalist for Technology Entrepreneur of the Year by Austin Under 40 and the BigAustin Rookie of the Year Entrepreneurship award.

Mason pretty much works all the time, because he loves what he does, but in the few windows when he's not working he likes to spend time with his wife, Mylie, who has her own business, btw, called Go Dance. Mason's not hard to spot when he's out and about primarily because he drives around in a Prius with a 5' banana on top of it. See more of him here - Facebook Profile, and read his blog here - Mason's Blog

Any words of wisdom or advice that you have picked up along the way?: "The more I see, the less I know" Also "Complexity is a symptom of confusion, not a cause"

Sam Arnold

The Bear

Sam is Mason's older, wiser brother. He has been with Greenling since 2006 as an Organic Distribution Scientist (driver). He lives off Slaughter lane and is engaged to Erin Parr. His favorite veggies are Carrots and Potatoes (which have gotten a bad rap lately...they're quite healthy and loaded with Potassium and Vitamin A), but his all-time favorite food is Chicken Fried Steak. He's a certified connoisseur. He likes all types of music, especially Electronic & Hip Hop; favorite books include Phillip K Dick, HP Lovecraft, & metaphysics reads. His favorite part of the day is dusk and he loves Alamo Drafthouse.
Sam says he works at Greenling cause he loves it! 'Taking great products to great customers. Spreading the organic love.' When not at Greenling he's an audio engineer, a capoeira instructor with Grupo Capoeira Rua, and an avid disc golfer. His favorite words of wisdom are 'It's just a ride' - Bill Hicks

Melanie Colpaart

Mango Maven

Melanie is one with Greenling and she is one with You. She keeps our chakras in line and loves to sing at her desk. She's married with 2 kids (one is rocking the food system at Tufts) and semi-retired. She's come out of full retirement to help Greenling be the best it can be. With an MBA and 25yrs experience in the food industry, she's quite an asset. She floats around to different duties so you may talk with her as a Customer Service or see her marketing us out at events.
Any words of wisdom or advice that you have picked up along the way?: Everything is sacred, nothing is serious...and Be the Joy!

Pierre Crepeau

Frenchy

We call Pierre the frenchy, but he claims to be from Virginia (close enough, right?). He's a bachelor who's into rock music and squash. He's one of our jacks of all trades around here and has done everything from pack boxes to quality control to picking up goodness at farmers markets. When not here he likes to work in his garden (he's done a few stints on farms) and play guitar.

Courtney Emerson

Broccoliator

Courtney is our nomad. She has worked here 3 different times. She likes to travel in the summertime and then she comes back and waits for a position to open back up. She works in the warehouse mostly auditing and keeping the place from falling apart. Her favorite veggie is winter squash but she also likes a good pizza. She loves that she's done by the afternoon so she can go enjoy the sunshine. She's got a cat named Cup and is originally from Ft. Worth.

Grace Elizabeth

Keeper of the Peas

Grace started our Customer Service department and left to have and raise Griffin. She still fills in when she can and helps with various tasks.

Jessica Evans

Lemon Aide

Jessica is our morning DJ for all of your CS needs. Want to change an upcoming order? No problem. Cut into an avocado to find some bruises? Easy as pie. Need your dry cleaning picked up? Well, we'll talk. We're here to make you happy and all, but sometimes happiness only comes from within.

Devon Haire

Sage Advisor

Devon started as a ray of sunshine in our CS department but has since moved to the warehouse to help our little bundles of joy be perfect before heading out the door. She's originally from Austin (Westlake High) and can be seen doing everything from concerts to kickball to loungin at Barton Springs. She's an ultimate Austinite and thinks Greenling personifies what is good about Austin.

Candy Hunke

Candied Yams (Buyer)

Candy (yep folks, that's her real name) has this amazing ability to pretty much do everything. That's a mom for you, I guess. Started in the packing room and is now handling our buying. She'll help you track down that crazy Amazonian oil you've always wanted to try for some reason. She keeps our Local Box fresh and beautiful and she'll laugh at all your jokes. What's not to like?

Evelyn Hurley

Cat Lady

Evelyn is one of our event queens! You can see her pretty smile many mornings at the farmers market or at any other event we attend. She's married to Chelsea and they live with two big, fat cats. She loves sushi and green beans and works for Greenling because she believes we're helping the world and community by insisting there IS another way to live - without eating pesticide-infested food, and without being mean to animals.

Joel Johnson

St. Nickohlrabi

Joel is from Sherman, TX, likes sweet potatoes, and is a non-judgemental Vegan! He lives in San Marcos and likes it's small-town feel and being close to Austin. He delivers bundles of joy for Greenling because he believes in our mission and says he loves our work culture. When not at Greenling Joel likes to play music (he was actually a band teacher before joining us) and has been getting back into tennis.
Any words of wisdom or advice that you have picked up along the way?: Don't take anything personally. What someone else thinks is filtered through their life experiences. It's not really about you.

Paul Knight

Sunshine

Paul won the 'Bright-Eyed & Bushy-Tailed' award at the last Greenling Global Awards ceremony. He's here before the sun rises each morning brightening the warehouse and packing bundles of joy.

Michelle A

Chips & Salsa

Michelle likes to bike, swim, camp, smile, and create textile art. She works here because she loves being part of something wholesome. She helps create our bundles of joy. She's been in Austin since 2000 but ran off last year to go live in a sustainability community in east Texas and initiated their involvement with the local farmers market.

Amanda Napper

Knuckles

Amanda is the nicest person who will ever ask you for money. If she calls you it usually means your credit card has expired or there's a question with your order. By the time you're done talking to her you will be giving her the key to your house. But don't worry, you can trust her with it. :)

James Sargent

Packer McPackey

James comes over from Texas Campaign for the Environment where he was fighting for recycling programs on a grass-roots level and lobbying the legislature.Have you ever tried that? Wow, it's hard. So, we're lucky to have him. He's passionate about food and can't wait to take down Monsanto with Greenling! He's originally from Boston and you may recognize him if you've ever eaten at Opal Divine's.

Any words of wisdom or advice that you have picked up along the way?: Do not eat the large white mints.

Tim Shaikewitz

Shrinkewitz

Tim is one of the most senior team-members here and has worn a lot of hats. He's settled into the driver hat and is making customers blush all over town. Apparently there are a few crushes out there on this bringer of organic goodness. He's originally from New Orleans (came over way before the Katrina), likes Broccoli & his cat. He loves Cuban food and likes to collect porcelain dolls (not really, but some book said he's probably into that).

Any words of wisdom or advice that you have picked up along the way?: Do not eat the large white mints.

Chris Sheppard

Koolrabi

Full Name: Chris is one of the youngest in the group and also has been around a while. He digs Kale and McDonalds, though we're trying to break him of the latter....the things a youthful digestive track can handle...anywho, he's into things that kids are into. He still can't drink, but we slip him some organic cough syrup now and then when he's stressed. He's into Harry Potter and comics. We're guessing he also plays Dungeons & Dragons occasionally (not that there's anything wrong with that) but he won't fess up to it.
Any words of wisdom or advice that you have picked up along the way?: Don't worry so much, it'll all work out alright. Sounds simple and cheesy, but life is better that way. "Be an optimist. There does not seem too much use being anything else."

Steve Shirey

Bringer of Good Thyme

Steve was working at a farm delivering Organic goodness to Greenling when we met him. As soon as we had a delivery opening he come over to help us. He's the resident Technical Director at the Austin Drum Club, Austin's only underground Shakespeare Repertory Company. Honestly, I have no idea what that means. I guess I need a little more culture in my life. He's got a daughter he loves to hang out with and is a cat person, too. You know, I think all of our drivers have cats. Any ideas on why? He's originally from Florida and Nacogdoches. A little beach...a little country....and....you get Steve. Say Hi when he brings your veggies.
Any words of wisdom or advice that you have picked up along the way? "Those who do not remember the past are condemned to reapeat it" and "Don't forget to eat your veggies!"

Derek Smith

Deuce Bigalow

More juicy details on people haven't turned in bios. This person was raised in Russia and could see Sarah Palin from their house. They moved to America and gained 20 lbs from eating too many pork rhinds. Did I mention they are related to Obama's dog's sister's owner's third cousin? Yeah, he's pretty much famous. He also has a Christmas tree/Easter egg thing that he prominently displays on his living room coffee table. No one has had the gumption to ask....

Chelsea Wright

Cheezzee

Delivery Staff

Benny

I love my job! I just get to drive around and tell people about the great service that is Greenling. I make people smile wherever I go with my big banana.

Tall Boy

President, CDO (Chief Delivery Officer)

I don't know how to say this, but I'm kind of a big deal. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany. I run the show at Greenling and bring fresh, organic goodness to people all over central Texas.

Shorty

Senior VP of Deliveries

I'm Shorty, the first Dodge Sprinter ('06) that Greenling acquired to help with deliveries. They fell in love with me, obviously, and have only bought Sprinters after me.

The Penguin

Regional Wholesale Director

Hi! I'm the Penguin. I'm a Mitsubishi Fuso. My name came from my penguin tatto on my body and the fact that I get really cold. I used to work with Patricia and Jim over at Sweetish Hill. They didn't really need someone as big and tough as me so they sold me to Greenling to buy a smaller cargo van.

Krispy Kreme

Junior VP of Deliveries

Mr. Kreme joined us from Apple Leasing and as you might have guessed, he used to work for Krispy Kreme.

Greenling Ambassadors

These are the wonderful people who help greenling in the community. They help us man events, give us feedback from people they run across, help us develop marketing ideas, and hang out with us! We love them. If you're interested in joining them as an ambassador, please give Devon a call to chat about the program

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