Z Porter, Associate Project Manager

I spent my youth exploring the hollows, creeks, and ridges of Southwest Virginia and Western North Carolina. My father is a botanist and a historian of science. He taught me about the flora of the region and cultivated my passion for ecology. Later, I attended Warren Wilson College where I studied Outdoor Leadership.

Most of my career has been dedicated to sustainable agriculture. Prior to accepting my position as Associate Project Manager at the Arnold Arboretum, I spent over a decade managing diversified vegetable operations in Greater Boston. Most recently, I served as the Director of Operations for an urban agriculture company based in Massachusetts.

At the Arboretum, I am responsible for the coordination and execution of infrastructure projects of varying size and complexity. In my role, I have the privilege of working with each department at the Arboretum.