Claire Zuidervliet, Owner – Grower
Customer Support, Sales, and Propagation Manager

Claire Zuidervliet developed an early passion for plants on her family’s farm, where they grew wholesale mums and pumpkins for local garden centers around the state of Connecticut. She started her formal plant science education in her high school’s Agriculture Science program, and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in Floriculture and Nursery Production with a business minor from Delaware Valley University.

Over the years, Claire has worked in diverse horticultural settings, including garden centers, commercial greenhouses, and public gardens. Claire joined Octoraro as an Owner - Grower in February 2025. When she’s not running the business, she can be found chilling with her cats at home and binging comfort shows on Netflix.

Kevin Zuidervliet, Owner – Grower
Logistics, Order Fulfillment, and Procurement

Kevin is a 2013 graduate of Susquehanna University with a degree in Student Development in Higher Education. He found his passion for horticulture in Australia and New Zealand, where he worked on organic farms for 6 months after graduation.

His professional career in horticulture includes managing a community garden while in AmeriCorps VISTA, completing the Professional Horticulture program at Longwood Gardens, working as a Nursery Horticulturist growing and propagating containerized trees and shrubs at Longwood for 3 years, designing and installing small gardens on the side, and eventually landing at Octoraro as the Head Propagator in 2021. He now works alongside his wife Claire as an Owner - Grower at Octoraro, where he endeavors to grow a sustainable, and successful business.

Diane Boyd, General Manager - Finance, HR, Plant Care

Di has an extensive work history in finance and human resources. She has anchored the Octoraro management team since 1998. She’s frequently the friendly voice on the phone when customers call.

Di is also a former EMT with an Associate Degree in Medical sciences (phlebotomy). She is dedicated to serving others on mission trips to Central America to set up medical clinics.

Jim MacKenzie, Senior Advisor

Jim MacKenzie graduated from Penn State University with a BS in Landscape Architecture in1986. He worked subsequently in the field and related professions in Philadelphia and Warren, Pennsylvania and Driggs, Idaho until 1993. In 1994, he became co-owner of Octoraro Native Plant Nursery and managed the business as President until 2025.

Jim remains engaged in the nursery during the transition to new owners Claire and Kevin Zuidervliet. He is actively involved with the Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association (PLNA), serving previously on the PLNA Board of Directors for 13 years and continues on the Government Relations Committee. In 2003, then Governor Rendell appointed Jim to the Statewide Water Resources Committee where he served as Vice-Chair until 2008. He was recently appointed to the board of directors of the Center for Plant Excellence, a partnership among the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Penn State Extension and industry leaders to address emerging challenges and opportunities.

Paul Solomon, Propagator

Paul holds a BS in Horticulture from Penn State University. His career began as a member of the horticulture team for Disney World’s Epcot Center. After moving back to PA, he served as a Penn State Horticulture and Mushroom Extension agent, spent seven years as a golf course superintendent, and twenty years running his own landscape and nursery business.

For ten years, Paul was a contract grower for Octoraro. He officially joined our propagation team in 2019, quickly earning his unofficial title of “seedling machine.” Outside of work, Paul and his wife Sharon enjoy spending time with their four children, spouses, and grandchildren.

Larry Joyce, Facilities Management

Larry brings over 35 years of green industry experience to Octoraro. His work history includes nursery and greenhouse operations, design-build contracting, and sales. He has come full circle where he began his career with J. Franklin Steyer’s Nursery, where we now lease the greenhouses on that original nursery property. Horticulture runs in the family as his son Pat is the Nursery Manager at Longwood Gardens.