Karina Greenwood

My primary focus is working with clients to secure projects and fill the installation schedule

Much of my time during the installation season is spent turning through designs while making clients and projects feel special and uniquely ‘Field’.  This includes focusing on the clients wants and needs, reflect their personality a bit in the landscape, and instill something special in each design / project.  We also manage the design process timeline to make sure the design process goes smoothly and quickly to book projects and keep the crews busy.

I was a Technical Designer in the clothing industry for 15 years and after burning out in that industry, I went back to school for an associate’s degree in landscape design.  I’d designed my previous yard, and loved it so much, I thought it could be a great career for me.  It was the best career decision I’ve made, and Field has been so gracious in allowing me to voice my opinions, embracing my creativity, and trying new and unique things in our designs and installations.

I worked in a pop-up greenhouse in collage to help pay for tuition, and since then plants and design satisfied my artistic needs.

In the clothing industry, I was a pattern maker, marker maker, technical designer in a number of smaller and large companies in the twin cities for 15 years doing everything from making stuffed animal patterns, dog wear, evening wear, men’s wear, athletic wear, dancewear, headwear, and many other softlines products.  My last role was at Target as a technical design manager in the Intimates and Men’s softlines departments.  I oversaw the Technical Designers in both departments, as well as did special training with technical desingers in Women’s wear.  Essentially, technical designers take the designers drawings and work with overseas contractors to make them a 3 dimensional garment that fits Targets specifications.  It involved working with designers, fit models, and overseas manufacturers.

After attending Dakota County Technical College for Landscape Design, I started as a landscape designer at Field and the rest is history.  Coming out of school,I was looking forward to working for a landscape company long term.  I’m so fortunate that I landed at Field.  It’s been the most collaborative, supportive, fulfilling company to work for, and thus I’ve been here 12 years so far.

Ever since my experience in the pop-up greenhouse, I fell in love with plants.

I have a BFA from MCAD, so design is in my blood.  Landscape design satisfies a creative need that couldn’t be filled in the clothing industry.  While a lot of the same troubleshooting and computer skills are the same, landscape design for me is like painting with plants,  and every plan becomes a unique art piece that I get to pass on to our clients to enjoy for years to come.

I found out about Field before I went to school for landscape design through a friend and Field crew member.  After I married and moved to Burnsville, I hired Field to do some landscaping in my backyard.  They installed a retaining wall and patio area that I’m still enjoying to this day.

After graduating from Dakota County Tech, one of my instructors called me up to let me know Field had a design assistant position open.  I interviewed and they were impressed with my portfolio, then a bit later I was hired as an assistant designer.  I admit, I wasn’t quite prepared for what was in store for me :).  Its fast pace and varied job duties were a huge challenge, and shortly after starting I became a Designer.  The role consisted of answering phones, client consultations, site measuring, designing, estimating, and being onsite to check on projects during installation.  Even though it was a big learning curve for me, all of those skills are so important to being successful in the role as it evolved over time.