Sally Read, Owner
I went to the University of Arizona and will be a Wildcat until the day I die. I graduated and moved from Tucson Arizona to Ocean Beach California to start my real life “big-girl” job with E&J Gallo Winery. I was with them for many years and managed to climb the corporate ladder making my way (with Sommer) up to Wine Country. Working in all facets of Sales, Marketing, Hospitality and National Events, my love for wine, production and the vineyards grew and grew. After getting married and starting my own family I ventured on to some top producers in the industry.
In 2019, I moved with my littles, Jackie and Dean to San Diego CA. It was a fresh start. Since I had an unconventional background being in the wine industry, I landed a job in recruiting. It just wasn’t…fulfilling. My crazy love for plants just kept growing. I became slightly obsessed and would drag my kids to every nursery, quiz them on plant names, and we all learned a ton. It was weird. The universe knew what she was doing.
Soon I met Abby, and now here we are! I never in a million years thought I could have a company that is fun, inspiring and so full of growth. I created this brand for people who might need a tiny bit of help with their green friends. These are my people. The ones who love all things nature!
This project might have been a little ambitious to start, but I have loved every step (even the tough parts). So if you have read all that, thank you. We appreciate you and are here for you to celebrate the little victories of your journey to becoming your own plant ninja!
Sommer Brown, TikTok Ninja
As the newest member of the Plant Ninja team, Sommer brings a wealth of diverse experience in sales, marketing, events, and education across various industries. Whether it be her time in the Wine Industry, Whole Foods Market or her Family Brand, she is a wealth of knowledge with a curiosity and a never-ending desire to learn more.
Sommer grew up in Orange County and went to school for Linguistics. Always having a love for travel, she lived in Italy for a few years and decided to go back to school for American Sign Language. After many years of her career in the hospitality world, she landed at Gallo Wine Co. which is where we met. She was living in Orange County and I was in San Diego, but after paying our dues in grocery stores starting at 3 am slinging cases of wine, we were promoted to be the liaison between the Distributors (Southern Cal) and the Winery (Northern Cal) under the Gallo portfolio. Between teaching educational wine seminars, to hosting guests at some of the most incredible vineyards and wineries in Napa and Sonoma, we were immersed in all things wine!
Our paths have always intertwined, not just through our careers, but starting families and raising children. While homeschooling her two awesome children and helping with her husband’s business, she felt her love of all things green growing.
When Plant Ninja started to take off, I needed help. There was only one person I knew would love this brand the way I do. Sommer. I am thankful every day she is on the team and I can not begin to explain my excitement to see where this little brand will take us!
We may have traded wine tastings and vineyards for beaches and palm trees, but one thing remains the same. Our dedication to work, family and living a sustainable lifestyle, will never falter.
Abby Moldenhauer
Abby grew up as a San Diego native and began her career of loving plants in high school. While everyone was learning about 4H she was drawn to the horticulture program.
Working her way through various positions at local nurseries, in 1979 she began working for Sharon Kersey who owned Piggyback Productions. This is where she planted her roots in learning about interior plantscaping. She was given the opportunity to purchase the company in 1981, renamed it Abby’s Plantscaping and ran a well-oiled machine, growing the company, having over 100 clients and a team of 7 she knew the time was coming when she would want to hand over the reins. Over the next few years, she whittled it down to her core clients and that is what she sold to me in August 2021.
Since I refused to let her officially retire, I hired her back to be my consultant. Friends, if you have met Abby, she is such a special gem and such a wealth of knowledge. We need her. She has taught me so much about the basics, running a business, hiring, problem solving and everything in between. I consider her to be the OG Plant Ninja and although she is far too modest, if you live in San Diego she teaches classes and I encourage you to check her out!
We've always had a green thumb.
