/
/
/
Employee Spotlight: Jeff Kunovic

Employee Spotlight: Jeff Kunovic


Jeff Kunovic

Job Title: Director of Operations California

Time with Star® Roses and Plants: 3 years

Orange Glow Knock Out
Learn More About Our Employees

Q: Can you share a little about your work background and how you got your start at Star® Roses and Plants?  

A: I got my start 40 years ago with a local apple orchard and greenhouse. That is when I realized there is a career in Horticulture. I have been blessed to work with many great companies and learn different skills along the way. When the Director of Operations position became available, I jumped at the opportunity to join a great company.


Q: What is one thing about your job that you particularly enjoy?

A: The people I work with make the job very satisfying. Without their hard work and dedication, it would make the job difficult.


Q: Is there anything that surprises you about the horticulture industry?  

A: Production planning to meet our customers’ needs is very challenging because it is always an estimation. It takes a couple of years to produce the needed inventory, but we are always making adjustments as product demand increases or decreases. 


Q: We’re lucky to work with a product that is beautiful and alive: plants! Can you speak to how that affects you and the way you do your work? 

A: It is hard to describe the feeling I get when working with plants. Our industry is a lifestyle and every greenhouse and field walk watching our roses grow from cuttings, to plugs, to full plants is so satisfying.  Not to mention the California sun makes it difficult not to get up each morning energized to work.


Q: It’s hard to choose a favorite plant, but what is one that you particularly love right now?  

A: The one that sells out!


Q: Many plant trends come and go over the years. Is there one trend or plant that you wish would have taken off and stuck?

A: Good question – nothing stands out as something that I wish stuck. Our industry is all about timing and weather, getting the product in our customers’ hands when they are at the peak for sales.


Q: What’s one piece of advice you’ve received or one thing you’ve learned from working in the horticulture industry? 

A: You are only as good as your last shipment. Paying attention to the details makes a difference in our product and customers’ satisfaction.


Q: The 25th Anniversary of The Knock Out® Rose is coming up in 2025. Do you have a personal Knock Out® story? Why do you think it has been so revolutionary?

A: My first experience with Knock Out® was growing them for a nursery in Ohio.  As a grower you are always skeptical of good things, but the Knock Out® Family of Roses has proven to live up to the challenge and sustain the reputation of champion of all shrub roses. 


Q: When you’re not working, what do you like to do for fun? 

A: Going on walks with my 4-legged companion Sunny! I really enjoy golfing. It’s a sport I’ll never master and gives me time outside soaking in the smell of fresh cut fairways with friends and helps me forget about work for a few hours.