It was out of necessity and a love for the outdoors that Karen Cowan ended up entering the landscape industry in 1999. Early in her marriage, Cowan’s husband had hurt his back, and to make ends meet, she needed to find work.
“My cousin was working at Spillane’s Nurseries, which provided me with a start,” Cowan says. “During my time there, I gained a wealth of experience working in the nursery, learning irrigation, hand-digging plant material, and studying Latin names. It was also where I first learned how to be a leader.”
She spent five years working at Spillane’s before moving on to Dellarocco’s Landscape Design Company. It was at this point she realized she could make a career in the landscape world.
“Tim Spillane was instrumental to my professional development,” Cowan says. “I learned a great deal under his guidance and greatly appreciated his willingness to place me wherever I was needed most. By the end of my five-year tenure working with him, I had earned the position of assistant manager at a 50-acre nursery. Additionally, Tim Dellarocco was another key figure who allowed me to flourish under his leadership. Their mentorship has been invaluable to my growth in this industry.”
Over her nine years with Dellarocco’s, Cowan gained extensive experience in irrigation systems, running and managing planting jobs, designing planting projects, learning grading and general landscape operations.
Early on in her career, Cowan says one of her main challenges was being one of the few women in the field. She says she kept her head down and had to work incredibly hard to get noticed.
“Because I was also relatively new to the irrigation industry at the time, I often felt I had to work twice as hard to earn the respect of my peers and other landscapers,” Cowan says. “There were several instances where people overlooked me and asked who was in charge of the irrigation while I was standing right in front of them.”
Cowan went on to work for Skinner Overlook for four years before joining her current company, Landscape America, based in Wrentham, Massachusetts.
“When I left Skinner Overlook, I managed two technicians and maintained a dedicated office space,” Cowan says. “Upon joining Landscape America, the company did not yet have an irrigation department or a permanent office space; the team was operating entirely out of a construction trailer.”
She says that owners Doug and Andy McDuff had the foresight to recognize they needed to evolve into a full-service provider and brought her on to build this capability from the ground up.
“My favorite thing about Landscape America is the culture and the family-like atmosphere,” Cowan says. “Everybody here is dedicated to helping each other succeed and grow.”
Cowan worked at Landscape America for eight years before leaving for one year to pursue an opportunity as an account manager, which allowed her to transition out of the field. Upon her return to the organization, Cowan stepped into the role of irrigation manager, overseeing the irrigation department for Wrentham and Hudson.
In her current role, she sets up crews, manages schedules and client communication, creates proposals and works closely with account managers to ensure team alignment.
“Some of the biggest challenges I am finding today involve water conservation and the integration of new technology,” Cowan says. “Specifically, a primary hurdle is getting clients to buy into both concepts. It is important to emphasize that adopting new technology directly promotes better water conservation.”
Cowan’s primary objectives for the next five years include assuming management of an additional branch location and strategically growing and developing their irrigation department to reach technical excellence.
She says the keys to growing the industry are to develop strategies that keep younger generations involved and interested in the trade, create clear pathways for professional development within the industry and adapt business models to support long-term sustainability and growth.
Throughout her career, Cowan has explored many facets of the landscape industry but has found that by focusing on irrigation, she has carved out a niche for herself.
“What interests me the most about irrigation is the diagnostic process: figuring out exactly why a system isn’t working as it should,” Cowan says. “I enjoy the challenge of determining whether an issue is electrical, a result of low water pressure, or caused by other mechanical factors. I find the troubleshooting and diagnostic aspects of the work most engaging.”
If she had to do it all over again, Cowan says she would have attended an agricultural school to build a stronger technical foundation.
“Beyond formal education, the most important traits to carry are humility, kindness, and patience,” Cowan says. “My advice would be to learn as much as possible about every facet of the industry before choosing a specific path to specialize in.”
Over her career, Cowan says she’s also learned how to balance her family life and work life. One way she strikes a balance is by making an effort to donate time to her church garden to help feed families in need.
“One of the most important things I realized later in my career was the necessity of prioritizing my values: putting God and family first, followed by work,” Cowan says.
This article was published in the Sept/Oct/Nov issue of the magazine. To read more stories from The Edge magazine, click here to subscribe to the digital edition.
