Steve Hutton - CEO Star Roses & Plants

STEVE HUTTON - President & CEO Star Roses & Plants Steve Hutton, president and CEO of Star® Roses and Plants/Conard-Pyle, is a third-generation nurseryman. At age of 12 he had his first paying job in the industry—following a number of non-paying jobs—selling pansies that he and his brothers grew to the garden center Star® Roses and Plants/Conard-Pyle had at the time.  After graduating from Earlham College with a degree in English literature, Hutton sought practical industry experience at a number of different nursery establishments. He worked in a cut rose operation, E.G. Hill, then for a year at a foliage plant nursery, Oakdell, Inc., in Apopka, Florida. His final stop was as a trainee at the world-renowned French rose breeding operation, Meilland International. When he returned to Star® Roses and Plants/Conard-Pyle in 1978, his first job was routing trucks during the spring shipping season. He later held positions as head of the license department, vice president of production and, finally, president of the company. Hutton is a past president of All America Rose Selections, president of the National Association of Plant Patent Owners, member of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Gold Medal Award Committee, member of the board of The Wholesale Nursery Growers of America and member of the International Plant Propagators’ Society. Additionally, he holds board positions in several local nonprofit organizations.  Star Roses & Plants Website