Bryan Word

President/Owner of Blackjack Horticulture, Inc.

Horticulture alumni

HIGHLIGHTS

Education:
B.S. in Landscape Horticulture/Design with a minor in business

Graduation:
2000

Current Position:
President/Owner of Blackjack Horticulture, Inc.

Current Location:
Birmingham, AL

WHAT ARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES?

As a small business owner of a landscape contracting company, job responsibilities aren’t specific to any one area. With approximately 50 employees and an excellent team of leaders to help with daily operations, Bryan tries to focus his time on the overall operation and structure of the business, as well as business development and maintaining client relationships. As with any small business, some days just taking out the trash is an accomplishment.

awarded:

2010 Alabama Nursery and Landscape Horizon Award

LIFE AFTER GRADUATION:

Upon graduation, Bryan moved to Birmingham to work for a small business called Blackjack Gardens as a landscape project foreman. Less than a year later, Bryan married his wonderful wife, Holly, whom he met at Auburn. Holly is an education major and taught school for 13 years in the Opelika and Mountain Brook school systems before staying at home full time to care for their two children. In 2004, Bryan, and a partner at the time, had the opportunity to purchase the landscape division of Blackjack Gardens, which spun off to become what is now Blackjack Horticulture, Inc. Many exciting changes have occurred since then, and the company has continued to grow and flourish under the direction of the core leadership team, many of whom are Auburn graduates. Bryan and his family are actively engaged in the life of their church and community and love coming back to Auburn as often as possible.

FAVORITE AUBURN MEMORY:

I have so many great memories of my time at Auburn, it’s hard to pick just a couple. Football games certainly are at the top of the list, as well as all of the many friends I met. I would be remiss to leave out the BBQ House! We also had a lot of great professors in the Horticulture Department who I still visit with often and have impacted my life over the years. We enjoy being back in the Loveliest Village several times a year.