Drew - Founder & CEO
Drew's first encountered carnivorous plants when he was 12 years old. Over the years, his collection has grown into one of the foremost in the world. His passion has led him to study habitats of these incredible plant species around the world and he's taken back this knowledge to design and build horticultural environments based.
Drew studied physics and biology at Stanford and then completed an M.S. in Optics from University of Arizona with thesis focused on design of LED grow lights. Drew worked in Silicon Valley biotech startups and nanotechnology companies for a decade (Pacific Biosciences, KLA-Tencor, Google X). In 2016, Drew and his family moved to Austin, TX in to build a state of the art nursery and laboratory to house Carnivero.
Bailee - Horticulture Manager
Background: I recently graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelor’s in Horticulture Production. Prior to that I collected houseplants for several years.
Favorite plant: I am really fond of Amorphophallus titanum and really any Nepenthes!
What you enjoy most about your work: I find horticulture to be very relaxing and rewarding! I love getting to take care of carnivorous plants on such a large scale.
What you enjoy doing outside work: I love to read, take care of my plants, and baking. I also love taking care of my pets!
Halia - Lab Manager
Background: I'm an ecologist with a background in entomology, wetland ecosystems, forestry, and animal medicine. My master's thesis investigated environmental and genetic factors that impact the reproductive success of Sarracenia alata populations in Texas.
Favorite Plant: I have too many! but standing next to a Giant Sequoia has never disappointed.
What do you enjoy most about your work: I get to continue researching carnivorous plants but from a new perspective.
What you enjoy doing outside of work: My pup, Lincoln, and I are having fun exploring Austin, growing medicinal plants, weight lifting, camping, and learning new hobbies like painting and playing the piano.
Janine - Customer Service and Fulfillment Manager
Background: Before working at Carnivero I managed a UPS Store for a few years, so I have a lot of experience with packaging, the shipping industry and customer service.
Favorite Plant: Pinguicula Moctezumae, it catches all the pests in my green space and it has an adorable pink flower.
What do you enjoy most about your work: I like selecting the perfect plant for a customer and making sure it is packed with care.
What you enjoy doing outside of work: In my free time I like to fuss over my indoor plants, check out local music or comic book shops with my family, take my dog on hikes and try out new recipes in the kitchen.
Mason - Sales Manager
Background: I am a multifaceted person with a diverse array of passions and expertise. As a board member of the International Aroid Society, I contribute actively to the advancement of knowledge and appreciation for aroids worldwide, personally focusing on velvet anthurium and monstera species.
Beyond my botanical pursuits, I am deeply engaged in the world of exotic animals as an avid hobbyist, breeding and caring for a variety of species. My enthusiasm for both plants and animals is complemented by a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts from the University of Texas at San Antonio, where I specialized in classical printmaking and contemporary drawing forms.
Favorite Plant: Anthurium papillilaminum (specifically the Ree Gardens Clone)
What do you enjoy most about your work: I love collaborating with the incredibly talented team at Carnivero, surrounded by some of my favorite plants.
What you enjoy doing outside of work: Outside of work, I take care of my own personal zoo of sorts. I have a Black-capped caique, American dilute green-cheek conure, green-crested turaco, snakes, geckos, dwarf opossum, tarantulas, quail, a reef tank, and everything else you can think of.
Keith - Opperations Coordinator
Background: Originally Im from Alabama were I worked in a cracker plant feedin' the fire, Now Im a true Austinite living and loving with my two pups.
Favorite Plant: Im obsessed with the colorful oxalis I have growing in all my plants. My favorite part is when there seed pods explode.
What do you enjoy most about your work: I like helping customers choose the right plants for them.
What you enjoy doing outside of work: In my leisure I love knocking down pins on the lane and chillaxing with my pups and a few brewskies, listenin' to Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Emily - Fulfillment Associate
Background: Before I started at Carnivero, I always had a passion for plants and found myself in many nurseries, groups, anything I could use to learn more about plants. Also, Working customer service for 6 years helps me look from the customers eyes to ensure their happiness!
Favorite plant: too many to pick but I have a new found love for anthuriums
What do you enjoy most about your work? I enjoy being able to put myself in the customers shoes to pick out the perfect plant for them and make sure it’s packaged with care
What you enjoy doing outside of work: Outside (and inside) of work i love to grow my plant collection, cuddle with my dog, and spend time with family.
Karina - Lab Technician
Background: I received a bachelor’s in biology at Texas State University where I was able to further expand my hobbies in entomology, bone collecting, and geology.
Favorite Plant: Curio rowleyanus but that might change as I learn more about plants!
What do you enjoy most about your work? I love being part of something that brings joy into peoples lives and getting to partake in that joy myself.
What you enjoy doing outside of work: I’m always looking for something to add to my personal natural history museum, if not you can find me roller skating.
Lui - Lab Technician
Background: I learned my aseptic technique from my time as an undergrad growing Arabidopsis at Purdue University. My main experience with tissue culture is from my time with DOW Agroscience working on their plants taking them from tissue culture out into growing chambers and finally their greenhouses.
Favorite Plant: Brasiliopuntia brasiliensis
What do you enjoy most about your work: I love learning about the Carnivorous plants, everyday its always something new to learn.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work: I love competing in fighting games. If I'm not doing that I'm either at the local botanical garden or tending to my own personal collection.
Kevin - Horticulture Team
Background: I began my career in the houseplant industry at Steve’s leaves where I was integral to the e-commerce operations and first began hybridizing begonias.
Favorite Plant: Begonia Montaniformis
What do you enjoy most about your work: I love the constant opportunity to learn about the biology and care of all the fascinating plants we grow.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work: I enjoy growing and hybridizing begonias. Many of my own hybrids are commercially available and have earned me the hybridizer of the year award at the 2024 American Begonia Society Southwest Regional conference. I also enjoy reading, strategy RPGs and dabbling in guitar.
Tayler - Sales Associate
Background: I am a born and raised Texan. I have worked in customer service and sales for 5 years. I’ve always had a deep appreciation for nature, and that curiosity gradually sparked my interests in plants.
Favorite Plant: Pinguicula ‘Johanna’
What do you enjoy most about your work: I enjoy the opportunity to do something new each day and expand my knowledge about plants as I go.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work: I love spending time with my two fur babies, going to the park, thrifting for unique finds, getting lost in a good book, and unwinding with yoga.
Lukas - Horticulture Team
Background: I started volunteering at a youth charity camp in Canada, eventually becoming its director. I studied environmental science and worked as a herpetological curator at a rescue animal education center. I've trained alligators and reindeer, and designed habitats at the Detroit Zoo for two years. For over a decade, I've kept reptiles and frogs, developing a passion for designing animal habitats that are both functional and visually appealing. This passion led me to grow plants for the Detroit Zoo's reptile and amphibian houses and secure a role at Carnivero. I continue to assist animal sanctuaries with habitat design while working as a handyman on the side. I'm enthusiastic about learning and eager to expand my knowledge at Carnivero.
Favorite Plant: Vriesea hieroglyphica always makes me happy.
What do you enjoy most about your work: At carnivero I learn something new everyday!
What do you enjoy doing outside of work: I have many hobbies, I’ve been playing guitar for nearly two decades. I like painting, hiking, kayaking, camping, fishing, rocking climbing, and playing super smash bros:)
Savannah- Live Sale Host
Background: I come from a long line of green thumbs but fell in love with aroids around 2019! I work full time as an elementary school social worker but I always have time for plants!
Favorite Plant: current favorite is my anthurium antolakii
What do you enjoy most about your work: I absolutely love interacting with people through our lives sales & connecting our customers with a variety of aroids & carnivores!
What do you enjoy doing outside of work: besides growing aroids, I have created geckos, isopods & I enjoy thrifting/antiquing for Uranium glass!
Jesse - Live Sale host
Background: originally from CA, I worked in nonprofit youth development programs for several years.
Favorite Plant: Foxglove
What do you enjoy most about your work: I really liked building the greenhouses.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work: soccer, Legos, refurbishing furniture, woodworking