Personality
Meet Our Experienced Team

Equipped with a wealth of expertise and passion, our garden center team is ready and excited to help you enjoy your outdoor space to the fullest! Whether you need inspiration for your garden project, or simply want to stock up on some essential plant care supplies, we're here to welcome you with the advice and service you deserve.

Get to know our passionate plant pros below!

Debbie Pell
Debbie Pell

Meet our owner! Debbie has always had an entrepreneurial spirit and knew she wanted to be a small business owner – the best advice she ever received along the journey was: "Pick something you love because you are going to be doing a lot of it!" So that's exactly what she did!

She and her girls shopped at Lindley's after a fun day on the beach, and when Debbie heard it was for sale, she knew it was a dream come true! The original location was a 4-acre Oak Hammock – who wouldn't want to work there!? The journey of a lifetime began opening day on September 29, 2000 – her eldest daughter's 19th birthday.

Debbie grew up on the southside of Chicago until 1980 when her and her family moved to Osteen, Florida. Her passion for gardening began at about 9 or 10 years old when she fell in love with the lilac tree and vegetable gardening. Though she still misses the lilac trees, veggie gardening is still incredible in Florida year round!

In her free time, Debbie proudly serves on the UF/IFAS Volusia County Extension Advisory Board. She also enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, reading, and walking her dog Sophie. Her 8-year-old chocolate lab, Sophie, works at Lindley's, too – check out her bio!

Sophie Pell
Sophie Pell

Sophie is Debbie's beloved pup and a Lindley's honorary employee! Debbie first brought Sophie to Lindley's in the Fall of 2012 – she was only 12 weeks old! Tanner, her dog cousin, was the best at showing Sophie the ropes. 

Sophie's favorite part about "working" at Lindley's is that she gets to meet new people everyday! She gets to meet new kids – her favorite – and gets lots of treats. 

Born and raised in New Smyrna Beach, Sophie's entry into the garden world was lemon grass and red fountain grass – they just taste so good! In her free time, Sophie enjoy long walks with her human, Debbie, and going for a swim in the lake. Next time you're at Lindley's, stop by and say hi to Sophie!

Jennifer Pell
Jennifer Pell

In 2000, when her mom (Debbie) wanted a career change, she found Lindley's for sale. Jennifer said she would help out for a few years until she was finished with college, but needless to say, she fell in love with the business, the people and the plants! She, then, changed her college path to horticulture. One of her favorite parts of her job is how she can be a graphic artist, landscape designer, irrigation tech and plant doctor all in one day!

Born and raised in Volusia County, Jennifer grew up with Deltona and Osteen as her home, and New Smyrna Beach as her playground. As her gateway into the gardening world, Jennifer was walking home from school one day and a neighbor was throwing out a Sansevieria Bird's nest. She thought it was so cool, so she brought it home to her Papa's house and they potted it together!

Jennifer Pell holds her Bachelor of Science degree in landscape nursery management from the University of Florida. In addition to her previous love of pottery, in her free time Jennifer enjoys fishing with her kids and their family dog, Bear – a black lab. 

Jennifer Pell and her son, Ryan Sorice

Jennifer Pell and her son, Ryan Sorice

Chuck Walker
Chuck Walker

A treasured member of our Lindley's family since February 2011, Chuck has done it all - there's too much to list! Originally from New Castle, Pennsylvania – about 50 miles north of Pittsburgh – Chuck enjoys working with plants, landscaping, and creating. There was never really one specific plant that intrigued Chuck into the gardening world, but the grouping of multiple plants with colors and textures to complement each other has always caught his interest. 

Chuck's hobbies include golf, bowling, and spending time with family and friends. He loves being outdoors working in the yard, building new things, and watching squirrels and birds. He even has 2 cats that showed up and adopted him and his wife as well as chickens that have become entertaining members of his little family!

Christine Gerlander
Christine Gerlander

In 2020, Christine loved Lindley's so much that she offered to volunteer with us – we offered her a job instead! She grew up in Seminole County and entered the gardening world through her love of Hibiscus – they're big, bright, colorful, variegated, and have double blooms! 

In addition to spending time with friends and family, boating, gardening and decorating, Christine enjoys caring for her beautiful, sweet Shetland Sheepdog named Misty, who will turn 14 soon! Everyone loves Misty!

Doug Hunt
Doug Hunt

Doug started out as customer and got to know the Lindley's team during his visits. He decided that he wanted his last work experience to be doing something he loved so he came onboard in September 2015! Now serving as Lindley's Marketing and Brand Specialist, Doug's specialties include native plants and butterfly gardening.

As a kid, Doug moved around every two years, so he never really thought of anywhere as his hometown, but he did get to see a lot of the country! When Doug moved into his first house with a garden, he planted 700 daffodils his first Fall there, making daffodils his gateway plant into the gardening world! 

Doug has a wonderful rescue dog, and in his free time, he enjoys cooking, reading, playing the cello, and of course, gardening!

Jake Johnson
Jake Johnson

Born and raised right here in beautiful New Smyrna Beach, Jake is our Landscape Foreperson Extraordinaire since August 2019! He joined the Lindley's team because he loved the reputable, wholesome structure of our business with local roots – plus, getting to do what he's interested in was a bonus!

He began his journey into the gardening world with a love for tropical plants, but that love has stemmed into house and patio plants, too! In his free time, Jake's top priority is spending quality time with his wife and kids, and if he ever takes time to himself, he enjoys video games and pop culture. Fun fact: members of his family also include a green/blue iguana and an assortment of fish!

Jason Cadieux
Jason Cadieux

Since December 2017, Jason has been Lindley's go-to specialist on bonsai plants, soils and growing hot peppers – his gateway plant in the gardening world was a Scotch Bonnet Pepper! He brought his passions to the Lindley's team because he loves to assist and educate the public on healthy growing practices. 

Jason grew up in Kansas City, MO and Bisbee, AZ, and in his free time, he enjoys Caribbean cooking, reggae music and cryptozoology!

Melissa Walch
Melissa Walch

Since February 2016, Melissa has served as our C.E.W. or Chief Executive of Watering - a top-priority job in the nursery! Because of her love for Morning Glory Vines, Melissa joined the gardening world, leading her to work at what she dubs "NSB's only real garden center!" 

Originally from Everett, Pennsylvania, Melissa is a beachaholic and a big, big Nascar fan! 

Nancy Byrd
Nancy Byrd

Originally from Akron, NY, Nancy joined the Lindley's team in July 2020, serving as Inventory Management and VP of Smiles! She was considering a part time job after being laid off from a computer programming job, and with her love of gardening, she knew Lindley's would be the perfect fit! Nancy has always loved plants and gardening. She always saw it as a great excuse to be outside and not doing housework!

In her free time, Nancy enjoys sewing, running, bicycling, and spending time with her dog and cat!

 

 

Steve Morris
Steve Morris

Originally from Haverford, Pennsylvania, and the handiest of handymen, Steve changes everything and it's always better than the original plan!

Steve joined Lindley's in 2012 and originally wanted to join the Lindley's team to offset the "newly-retired boredom syndrome," but he soon came to love the environment and the people at Lindley's – and still loves what he does every day. His gateway plant into the gardening world was the Azalea!

In his free time, Steve enjoys biking, kayaking, walking, woodworking and hanging out with his 11-month-old lab/golden retriever/shepherd mix! 

Taylor Knight
Taylor Knight

The first plant Taylor ever fell in love with was a citrus tree, and her specialties include succulents, succulent gardens and houseplants. In 2016, Taylor joined Lindley's because of her love of the outdoors and being able to work with people who share her passion for living things. 

She loves her animals, too – her rat Bonnibel, her bearded dragon Ben, her cat Silas, and her Corgi Atlas! Originally from Traverse City, MI, Taylor has some unique hobbies. She enjoys spending her off time working on cars, collecting vintage sewing machines, and restoring old Ray-Ban glasses!

Wyatt Gant
Wyatt Gant

From joining the Lindley's family in 2018 because of his desire to work with plants, Wyatt's specialties include rare cacti and succulents, carnivorous plants and orchids. Having grown up in Edgewater, Wyatt's gateway plant into the world of gardening was a Nepenthes Miranda, a carnivorous tropical pitcher plant! 

In his free time, Wyatt enjoys hanging out with family and their 2 cats, a dog, a snake and fish as well as working on jigsaw puzzles!

Linda Sackman
Linda Sackman

Originally from Bratislava, Slovakia, Linda joined Lindley's in 2021, she wanted to join the Lindley's team because it makes her feel like a kid in a toy store! Her gateway plant into the gardening world was tomatoes, she loved watching them grow on her windowsill. 

In her free time, Linda enjoys yoga, hiking, swimming, and reading! Linda also enjoys watching her 6 chickens, two small dogs, a cat, and her two acres to care for.

Doug Pinney
Doug Pinney

Originally from Coldwater, MI, Doug joined the Lindley's team in 2020, because of his love of plants and being outdoors. Growing up, Doug always loved working in his grandpa's garden. 

In his free time, Doug enjoys fishing, hunting, traveling and he loves to cook! 

Abe Loucks
Abe Loucks

Originally from New Smyrna Beach, FL, Abe joined the Lindley's team in 2021. He knew Lindley's would be the perfect fit because he enjoys being around plants and taking care of them! Abe first found his love for gardening when cutting spider plants.

In his free time, Abe enjoys riding motorcycles, playing basketball, racquetball, and spending time with his animals, he has 5 dogs, 7 cats and 2 horses!

Adriana
Adriana
Brandon
Brandon
Debbie
Debbie
Jake
Jake