Jeff O’Brien named BCLNA 2025 Educator of the Year
The BC Landscape & Nursery Association (BCLNA) has named Jeff O’Brien, founder of Brands in Blooms, as its 2025 Educator of the Year.
The award recognizes an individual who goes above and beyond to educate both the horticulture industry and the public about the value of plants and gardening.
“This award means so much to me because it represents the community I love serving,” said O’Brien. “At 40, with the unwavering support and sacrifice of my wife, three kids and my business partner, I stepped into entrepreneurship to give everything I have to garden centers. I share this honor with them and with every garden center owner who works tirelessly so others can discover the joy of plants and the magic of gardening.”
O’Brien’s career has been rooted in education from the start. His MBA dissertation on consumer behavior in the independent garden center channel inspired the launch of Brands in Blooms and the creation of the Next-Gen Masterclass, which has equipped more than 300 garden centers across North America to attract and retain the emerging generation of gardeners. Building on this foundation, O’Brien and his team have also developed technology built specifically for garden centers — a CRM that manages marketing across email, text, and social through an educational storytelling framework, and a website and e-commerce platform designed to help retailers profit from one of the fastest-growing segments of the industry.
Photo courtesy of Jeff O’Brien.
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