2024 Honoree - Gretchen McNaughton

Gretchen McNaughton empowers home gardeners in their pursuit of creating the garden of their dreams. After graduating with a degree in Journalism & Mass Communication from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, she began her career working in the travel and tourism industry in Alaska. In 2021, a new opportunity found her returning to her home state and joining the team at Bailey Nurseries, the horticulture company behind consumer brands Endless Summer® Hydrangeas, First Editions® Shrubs & Trees, and Easy Elegance® Roses. Her journey began with managing social media and consumer content creation and has evolved to her current role as Communications & Content Strategist, where she now leads the team responsible for these efforts. Her work on strategizing new and innovative ways to ignite home gardeners’ passion for plants has opened her eyes to the wonders of the plant world and taken her around the United States.