Gladys Andiru Opiyo

Shenandoah Growers, Harrisonburg, Va.

Grower

Reorganized production systems in 17,000-square-foot greenhouse, improving overall efficiency and product quality; Improved company’s propagation of mint plants by 50 percent – from 40 percent to 90 percent; Created a successful propagation program of rosemary plants to supply half of company’s plug requirements for year-round production.

Books on the nightstand: Flower Confidential and The Orchid Thief; Favorite vacation spot: Gladys likes to return to her hometown of Moyo and “just relax and enjoy time at home with my parents and siblings;” Gladys left Uganda to go to college in Costa Rica and became fluent in Spanish in three months.

Can’t live without: Coffee