Our Staff:
Meet the dedicated and loyal crew that makes visiting Valley View Farms a unique experience. Most of our management staff has been here for 15-30 years, and continue to make Valley View Farms a consistently friendly, warm and knowledgeable place to shop. Valley View Farms employs about 80 full-time employees, with twice as many during our busy seasons. Family owned and operated, Valley View Farms projects that family-like atmosphere through its employees.
- Bill
Foard - Andy
Foard - Brian
Brannan - Carrie
Engel - Kathy
Foard - John
Hessler - Tim
McQuaid - John
Miller - Andy
Shelley - Alan
Thomson
President & CEO
Founder & Owner
Billy graduated with a B.S. in Agriculture from Cornell University in 1960, with an emphasis on Horticulture. An astute businessman, he is also an enthusiastic and experienced vegetable gardener, and proudly produces the largest and tastiest tomatoes in Baltimore County each year.
Vice President Co-owner
34 years at Valley View Farms
Billy's son, Andy, graduated with honors from the University of Maryland with a degree in Business Administration in 1986. He has been officially working at Valley View since he was 14. Throughout the years, he has participated in virtually every aspect of the business. Andy is a master carpenter and his handiwork can be seen throughout the store.
Garden Shop Manager
22 years at Valley View Farms
Brian started as just a kid in the Garden Shop, and is now managing the department. His years of experience with pesticides, fertilizers and hardgoods help keep Valley View on the cutting edge of what's new, and what's tried and tested, within a constantly changing and expanding area of the garden industry.
Retail Greenhouse Manager
34 years at Valley View Farms
Carrie started at Valley View Farms in 1972, and is well-known in the area. Our in-house "Gardening Guru", she appears regularly on WBAL's Sunday Gardener and a Tuesday Gardening Q&A, and writes a monthly column for the Valley Times. She is also our resident "blogger". She lectures frequently to garden clubs and garden-related forums throughout the area.
Christmas Shop Manager
35 years at Valley View Farms
Kathy's career started in 1975 picking tomatoes at our farm, and has grown over the years into the buyer and manager of our very popular Christmas Shops. Along the way she acquired a degree in English and Secondary Education from Goucher College and also managed our Fullerton, Perry Hall and Northwest Plaza satellite locations.
Patio Shop Manager and Dept 56 Guru
35 years at Valley View Farms
Since 1975, John's keen eye and creativity has led to his expertise in buying and selling quality outdoor furniture and summertime accessories. He switches hats halfway through the year and applies his artistic abilities towards building our awe-inspiring 80-ft Dept 56 display which has garnered us the honorary distinction of "Club 56 Dealer", awarded for being a leading supplier and having one of the best Dept 56 displays anywhere.
Water Gardening Manager
33 years at Valley View Farms
Timmy not only runs our busy Water Gardening Department, but he also oversees many of the day-to-day personnel, scheduling and general store responsibilities. Billy and Andy Foard are proud to have someone as dedicated and hard-working as Tim on the staff, and greatly appreciate the many contributions he has made over the years.
Wholesale Greenhouse Manager/Grower
19 years at Valley View Farms
John graduated from Penn State in 1990 with a BS in Horticulture, and started the next year at our farm in Hydes, MD, growing plants for our retail store. John is responsible for growing the top-quality plants we sell--the spring pansies, annuals all summer and the luscious poinsettias during the holidays-- all grown exclusively for Valley View to ensure consistent quality.
Perennial Department Manager
35 years in the industry
Andy joined Valley View Farms in 2001, bringing with him boatloads of experience and knowledge, from plant propagation to wholesale growing to landscaping. A true "plantsman", he also builds a mean stone wall. Andy has done a tremendous job in our perennial department and we feel lucky to have him on the team.
Nursery Manager
34 years at Valley View Farms
Alan's our "Tree Man", whether it's a Japanese maple for your garden or a Fraser Fir at Christmas. From early spring into the fall, he and his staff can help you find the most perfect and/or unique tree or shrub for your garden. Alan's been with us since 1976, and there's probably not a tree or shrub he hasn't seen!
