They say that once you buy your first orchid, you don’t just gain a plant; you gain a lifelong obsession. For me, that obsession led me straight to the Triad Orchid Society. What started as a simple quest to keep a few garden center rescues alive has blossomed into a collection of over 50 specimens and a deep dive into the science of orchid care.
If you’ve spent any time in my grow room, you know that I don’t just "water and hope." I love a good system. My home is a laboratory where horticulture meets high-tech; I manage my collection within specialized IKEA Milsbo and Rudsta cabinets, outfitted with environmental sensors to monitor every degree of temperature and percentage of humidity. I’ve even written custom scripts to track my collection's health and blooming cycles, always looking for ways to help things grow more efficiently.
It is this passion for systems and community that makes my next step feel so natural. I am thrilled to announce that I’ve officially transitioned from a general member to the Digital Media Manager for the Triad Orchid Society.
For a while now, I’ve enjoyed the community and expertise that the Triad Orchid Society offers. Now, I have the opportunity to volunteer my professional background in technical architecture and digital strategy to give back to the hobby that has given me so much. Moving into this volunteer role means more than just posting photos; it’s about refining how we connect with orchid lovers across North Carolina and ensuring our society stays as resilient and well-nourished as our plants.
My goal is to make our digital platforms as organized and vibrant as a well-tended greenhouse. I’m looking forward to:
Growing our community: Connecting with fellow enthusiasts across the Triad and the broader orchid world to ensure we remain a go-to resource for local growers.
Streamlining Communication: Simplifying the way we share meeting info and event updates so that being part of the society is a seamless experience for every member.
Visual Storytelling: Using my eye for photography to capture and share the incredible blooms that make it to our show tables, giving our members' hard work the spotlight it deserves.
Community Automation: This is where my "tech brain" really kicks in. I plan to use my experience with Google Apps Script and database design to automate our back-end processes, from membership listings to event calendars, keeping our "behind the scenes" work running smoothly so we can focus more on the plants.
It’s one thing to admire a Cattleya on the bench during a monthly meeting; it’s another to build the digital infrastructure that shares that beauty with the world. This role feels like the perfect intersection of my professional life as a Support Analyst and my personal life as a dedicated collector.
Whether I’m troubleshooting a script or misting a rare orchid, I’ve always believed that the right environment, whether it be digital or physical, is what allows something to truly thrive. I’m honored to wear the new name tag and even more excited to get to work.
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