Christa Orum-Keller

Chairman

Christa has a Masters of Business Administration with concentration in Economics from DePaul University; holds a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Illinois; and has an Associate in Horticulture from Joliet Junior College. She is a Licensed Landscape Architect of ASLA and is an Illinois Certified Nursery Professional.

Christa has over 20 years of experience at the Midwest Companies, having worked in most areas of the companies including sales, marketing, logistics, finance, administration, inventory, purchasing, and production planning. Her nursery career began when she was a child working in the nursery making cuttings, weeding, mowing, potting and growing her own small crops under the tutelage of her parents. Her green industry professional career began in the landscape design build and maintenance areas. Her experiences include landscape design and contracting, sales and project management, as well as teaching horticulture and design. Her specific areas of interest include native plants, conservation and ecology, and sustainable planting combining native and non-native plants. She is especially interested in bringing diverse disciplines within the green industry together to reach common goals. Christa has been an active volunteer, serving on industry committees and boards for the ILCA, IGIA, and ILASLA. In 2013, she assumed the role of Chairman of the Board for Midwest Trading.

From our list of CultureWise Fundamentals, which one is your favorite?
Assume Positive Intent

Flashback to when you were 10 years old. What do you want to be when you grow up?
Designer of cities – I used to make elaborate community plans in my sandbox

What is your favorite plant?
Lavender because it reminds me of my grandmother in Denmark