A L Y S S A H A R M O N P RO FIL E
WOR K EXPERI EN CE
Blending creative passion for design and place-making with a strong analytical background, I craft thoughtful, data-driven solutions that balance aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability in every project.
FOUNDER + HEAD GROWER
Sycamore Hill Nursery, LLC | March 2023 - Present Establish and manage a wholesale plant nursery business, supplying native plants to retail and conservation partners. Oversee business operations, including demand forecasting, strategic planning of growing seasons, and optimizing cultivation space to maximize productivity and efficiency.
CNS GREENHOUSE STUDENT ASSOCIATE
The University of Texas at Austin | July 2021 - May 2024 Maintained stock and cleanliness of NHB Research Greenhouse for up to seven hours per week.
ED UC AT IO N MLA, FIRST PROFESSIONAL The University of Texas at Austin 2021-2024
BBA. MARKETING
The University of Texas at Austin 2009-2012
CER T I F IC AT ION NATIVE LANDSCAPE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM / LANDSCAPING FOR BIRDS Native Plant Society of Texas 2020-Fall
NATIVE LANDSCAPE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM / LEVEL ONE Native Plant Society of Texas 2020-Fall
MICROSOFT OFFICE SPECIALIST St Philip’s College 2009-Spring
SKILLS ADOBE CREATIVE SUITE
Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Premiere
GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
The University of Texas at Austin | March - December 2023 Designed and installed vertical planting and drip irrigation systems for the Living Wall, a collaborative research initiative with The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
LANDSCAPE DESIGN INTERN
Asakura Robinson | May - September 2022 Assess performance metrics and develop planting plans for Houston and Austin communities. • Analyzed community survey feedback to create park user typologies used in The Woodlands Township park master plan. • Drafted planting plans for hospital gardens, retention ponds and public street corridors. • Compiled documentation for SITES certification of Blanton Museum.
GRANT ADMINISTRATOR
Bayou Preservation Association | June – Oct 2021 Write progress reports and submit compliance data for grants with the General Land Office and Houston-Galveston Area Council for invasive species removal at Challenger Seven Park.
NATIVE HORTICULTURE CREW LEADER
Memorial Park Conservancy | Oct 2020 – June 2021 Lead a team of 9 employees to maintain 5.8 acres of garden throughout the park. • Forecasted workload schedule for the Native Horticulture team based on Operation & Maintenance guidelines and priorities set by the management team • Lead and engaged with volunteer groups to perform tasks such as seed cleaning and invasive species removal • Partnered with contractors and various MPC departments to create company-wide procedures and solve complex irrigation system issues
NATIVE HORTICULTURE TECHNICIAN I Memorial Park Conservancy | May – Oct 2020
Maintain native landscape in Eastern Glades through sustainable practices and preventive care.
MICROSOFT OFFICE
Excel, PowerPoint, Word
COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN AutoCAD, Civil 3D
3D MODELING & RENDERING
Rhinoceros, SketchUp, 3DS Max
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS ArcMap, CloudCompare, ReCap, QGIS
HAND DRAFTING & MODELING
Botanical illustration, grading, sketch models
R EC OGNIT ION 2023-2024 DESIGN EXCELLENCE WINNER ‘Natural Neighbors’ Team Project UT Austin School of Architecture
EQUIPMENT COST ENGINEER
Texas Sterling Construction Co. | Mar 2016—May 2020 Monitor and forecast equipment cost, maintain asset records, and automate billing/invoicing functions for a fleet of 850+ units including vehicles and equipment. • Created solutions and standardized processes to resolve issues in accounts payable, equipment billing and data integrity as well as determine economical methods of equipment turnover. • Designed company documents including bid proposals and an employee-driver safety handbook with collaboration from human resources, legal and executive leadership teams • Scheduled equipment resources based on requests from projects across Texas and communicated with equipment team for repair timelines • Worked independently and prioritized tasks on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis including processing documentation, reviewing financial data, and following up on outstanding issues or pending inquiries
EQUIPMENT BUSINESS MANAGER
Zachry Odebrecht Parkway Builders | 2013—2016 Developed procedures for acquiring, maintaining, and disposing over 1,000 equipment units needed for the Grand Parkway project.