Get to know the incredible team behind the scenes making the Stemz magic happen every week in Winston-Salem, NC.

From farm pick-ups and unloading trucks to sorting orders, packing coolers with care, making deliveries, and yes, washing thousands of buckets, this crew keeps everything moving. Their hard work, genuine kindness, attention to detail, and positive energy are what makes Stemz, Stemz.

This blog shines a spotlight on these incredible humans who bring regionally grown flowers from local farms to florists like you across the Carolinas.

Check it out and meet the crew (plus their fave flowers) that keeps our distribution hub running and our wholesale flowers flowing. 💐🚚✨

Calypso | Winston-Salem Hub Manager

On top of designing new and efficient logistics systems for Stemz, Calypso also oversees the Winston-Salem distribution Hub! 

Growing up in Florida, she has worked first-hand with animals and plants alike, taking on the roles of beekeeper, wildlife rehabilitator, native plant restoration manager, and more! Anything that gets her outside and in the dirt – she’s game for. When she’s not buzzing around the Winston-Salem Hub, you can find her in the studio creating stained glass art or out thrifting her next trinket.

Her favorite part about working with Stemz is nearly impossible to choose, but ultimately it all comes back to the community. The staff, farmers, and florists alike are all united with the same goal: to spread joy in the shape of flowers. She is eternally grateful for the opportunity to play a part in that!

Favorite Regional Flower: As of today, Maraschino Cherry scabiosa!

Dragon | Account Manager

Having been a part of the Stemz team as a driver, sorter, and beyond for years – Dragon is now stepping into his new role of Accounts Manager! (More on this soon!!)

Dragon is a Winston-Salem native who has done a little bit of everything. He is currently studying philosophy and classics at UNCG.

His favorite part about working with Stemz is the constant exposure to new and unique plants and flowers.

Favorite Regional Flower: Black Prince snapdragons!

Matt | Sorter + Flower Courier

From farm pickups in Charlotte to deliveries across the Triangle, Matt is the guy to make it happen!

A self-described flower-punk and would-be denizen of Ecotopia, Matt loves filling his days with plants. One of our floral couriers, you might see him sorting flowers and running deliveries to and from the Winston-Salem Hub. Matt is also the creator of The Library, an AI-coscripted interactive narrative exploring memory, myth, and multimodal storytelling. He blogs at trance-scripts.com.

For him, the best part of working with Stemz is getting to connect with local farmers, florists, and flora.

Favorite Regional Flower: Camelot Lavender Foxglove

Jack | Sorter + Floral Courier

Taking truckloads of blooms all the way to Charleston, SC is not for the faint of heart, but luckily Jack is the just the right man for the job.

Hailing from Wisconsin, when he’s not at Stemz he enjoys hanging out at home with his girlfriend Calypso and cat Jelly, being outside, riding his motorcycle around town, and heading up to the mountains to hike in the summer and snowboard in the winter!

His favorite part about working with Stemz is interacting with the buyers and seeing how excited they get about their orders!

Favorite Regional Flower: Amaranth

Kayla | Hub Prep + Sorter

As well as receiving local farm product right here in the Triad, Kayla is right in the thick of it when it comes to sorting farm-fresh flowers into bountiful orders!

Outside of Stemz, Kayla is an esthetician and yoga teacher-in-training. She enjoys spending time with her two pups and exploring the outdoors with her husband, Leo.

Her favorite part about working at Stemz is building relationships with the farm partners behind each product and being part of Stemz’s mission to support regional farmers.

Favorite Regional Flower: Peonies!

Heather | Hub Prep + Sorter

Whether it’s receiving flowers at our distribution Hub, photographing new products for the website, or organizing the cooler to perfection, Heather is always on the move.

Heather is a graphic designer with a background in television production and digital marketing. A hobby naturalist and maker, she spends most of her time creating things, absconding to the woods, and learning new crafts. The remainder is spent reading beneath a pile of pets.

Her favorite part of working with Stemz is the staff and culture.

Favorite Regional Flower: Anything dark or spiky!

Oak | Sorter

Sorting thousands of stems in half a day is no problem thanks to Oak, who jumps in to get it done all while sharing the most incredible knowledge of the flowers and greenery around us!

Oak is a lover & curious learner of all things flora and fungi. They are especially passionate about native species as well as sharing with teammates which flowers and leaves are edible. Their education is in greenhouse and nursery production. They have a background in hospitality and an ever growing affection for harm reduction communications. They are also in love with making and sharing music! Music is everywhere, in everything, for everyone. 

Their favorite thing about working with Stemz: So much! It is an honor to be surrounded by such a warm, inclusive, empowering, and creative team of people who sincerely care about regional farmers, florists, and the environment.

Favorite Regional Flower: Aquilegia!

Erin | Sorter

Our built-in designer, Erin has an incredible eye for detail that makes her an essential part of our sorting process. You’ll see her at pick-ups hours at our Winston-Salem Hub, be sure to say hey!

Erin is a Midwest native but has called the Winston-Salem area home with her husband, Martin for the last 24 years. The last 22 years have been spent prepping her two lovely daughters for adulthood but she’s always dreamed of working with flowers in some capacity. She’s happiest when she’s arranging flowers for her friends and family, cuddling with her pup and traveling to the NC coast with her husband. 

Erin’s favorite part of working at Stemz is learning to identify all the regional flower varieties. Every week it seems there is something new she’s never seen. And of course working with the Stemz team!

Favorite Regional Flower: Lately it’s been poppies, peonies and cosmos…oh my!

Irene | Sorter + Floral Courier

The big truck is a daunting challenge, but Irene faces it head on as our Rougemont farm pick-up driver! You may also see her along our Asheville delivery route, slinging flowers from one coast to the other. 

Irene would describe herself as adaptable, fun, spontaneous, and willing to take on new challenges and experiences. She is always willing to jump in and help in any situation. She is new to the floral industry, but loves learning and always welcomes new experiences she can learn from and carry with her to any industry. 

Her favorite part about working with Stemz is meeting people and working together as a team – from working with the farmers loading the truck, to helping one another at the hub with sorting – because this role definitely involves collaboration!

Favorite Regional Flower: Snapdragons!

Gayle | Sorter + Flower Courier

New to the team, you will start seeing Gayle at pick-ups and deliveries across the region – be sure to say hi! 

Gayle is a multidisciplinary artist working as an architectural designer and dabbling in jewelry, wearable art, florals, and photography. They predominantly create up-cycled jewelry pieces, gender-fluid adornments and dried floral arrangements set in animal vertebrae, using materials that are sourced locally, secondhand and ethically from the earth. Combating overconsumption with an emphasis on local acquisition and sustainability, they approach their art with a mindset that mirrors their favorite part of Stemz – the company ethos. They admire the intentionality of the company in their pursuit of building community and bridging the gap between farmer and florist.

Favorite Regional Flower: It’s currently a toss up between African Bride nigella and Imperial Antique pansies!

Thanks for getting to know our crew even better!

One of the best parts of building Stemz has been getting to work with so many kind, talented, hardworking humans along the way. Whether for a season or for years, every team member has left their mark on our company, and we’re deeply grateful to have them as part of the Stemz story.

Say hi to the crew on your next pickup or delivery– they’re the people bringing regional flowers from farms to florists like you every week.

And if you’d like to learn more about the people leading Stemz, you can meet our founders and other core team members here. 💐