Meet the Team
The people who lead our company, support our crews, and care for our clients’ landscapes every day.
Leadership
Mike Joseph
Chief Executive Officer
Mike leads Kitson with a focus on quality, accountability, and long-term relationships. He invests in the people and systems that help the company deliver dependable service and lasting value for clients.
More about Mike Joseph
Mike earned his Bachelor of Science from UC Irvine and his MBA from UCLA Anderson. A California native, he enjoys golf and spending time with his wife and two children.
Mike Waggoner
Director of Operations
Mike brings more than 25 years of landscape experience to daily field operations. He supports crews, coordinates resources, and works with account managers to maintain quality, safety, and clear communication across properties.
More about Mike Waggoner
Mike holds a business administration degree from Sonoma State University and is a Certified Water Manager. Outside work, he enjoys gardening and time with family and friends.
Kim Waggoner
Vice President of Business Administration
Kim leads business administration at Kitson, supporting the people and day-to-day systems behind the company’s work. She emphasizes clear communication, professional development, and a workplace culture built on safety, accountability, and respect.
More about Kim Waggoner
Kim studied at the University of Colorado Boulder. She values continued learning and investing in the people who care for Kitson’s clients and landscapes.
Client Relationships
Account Management
Cainan Iorio
Account Manager
Cainan brings a background in plant sciences, horticulture, and landscape design to his work with clients. A longtime Santa Barbara resident, he approaches each property with curiosity and a commitment to helping it thrive.
More about Cainan Iorio
Cainan’s studies included landscape contracting and nursery and greenhouse management. He is a Certified Green Gardener and enjoys surfing, the outdoors, and time with his family.
Victor Lopez
Account Manager
A Goleta native, Victor combines local knowledge with a background in horticulture and water management. He works closely with clients to care for their landscapes and build lasting relationships.
More about Victor Lopez
Victor earned his degree in environmental horticultural science from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and is a Certified Water Manager. Outside work, he enjoys family time and coaching youth baseball.
Marcela Mallo
Account Manager
Marcela brings experience in landscape design, installation, and project management. Her background in agricultural engineering and horticulture informs a thoughtful approach to plants, properties, and client needs.
More about Marcela Mallo
Originally from Argentina, Marcela earned her agricultural engineering degree from the National University of Córdoba, completed a gardening and horticulture certification at UCLA, and became a Certified Water Manager. She enjoys traveling and exploring the outdoors.
Richard Mason
Account Manager
Richard focuses on plant health and long-term landscape care. His background in forestry and arboriculture helps clients understand their trees and develop preventative care plans for their properties.
More about Richard Mason
Richard holds a Bachelor of Science in forestry and natural resources management from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He is a Board Certified Master Arborist and holds a California State Applicator’s License. Outside work, he enjoys his family ranch and gardening.
Andres Rubio
Account Manager / Training Supervisor
Andres brings more than 30 years of landscape experience to training, mentorship, and safety. His hands-on approach helps crews build their skills and take pride in the quality of their work.
More about Andres Rubio
Andres began working on a Goleta ranch as a teenager. He lives locally with his family and takes an active interest in his community.
Paul Sierra
Account Manager
Paul brings more than 16 years of leadership experience in hotel management to his work with landscape clients. His hospitality background shapes his emphasis on responsiveness, attention to detail, and proactive communication.
More about Paul Sierra
His experience includes leading daily operations, developing teams, and maintaining high service standards. He brings that same focus on the client experience to the properties he helps manage.
Dan Spratling
Account Manager
Dan brings an analytical approach and a strong focus on client relationships to landscape management. He works through challenges with care and precision, keeping dependable service at the center of his work.
More about Dan Spratling
Dan holds degrees in enology from Fresno State and chemistry from UC Santa Barbara. He lives locally with his wife and three children and enjoys family travel and new experiences.
Luke Williams
Account Manager
Luke brings hands-on experience as a landscape and nursery technician, along with an education in environmental horticulture. A Santa Barbara local, he has a keen eye for the details that help landscapes look and perform their best.
More about Luke Williams
Luke graduated with honors in environmental horticulture, with an emphasis in nursery and greenhouse technology, and also holds an honors degree in photography.
Client Executives
Weston Rowan
Client Executive
Weston brings experience in luxury hospitality and residential property management to his work with Kitson’s clients. His background at San Ysidro Ranch and in Santa Barbara real estate shapes an attentive approach to understanding each client’s priorities and following through.
More about Weston Rowan
Weston holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from UC Santa Barbara, where he competed as a Division I swimmer. He has also coached swimmers with Santa Barbara Masters, bringing a background in mentorship and teamwork.
Ish Saavedra
Client Executive
Ish brings experience in business development, account management, and real estate to his work with Kitson’s clients. He focuses on understanding each property’s needs, communicating clearly, and building relationships that continue beyond the first conversation.
More about Ish Saavedra
Ish earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of La Verne. Fluent in English and Spanish, he has worked with business customers and residential property owners in Santa Maria and San Luis Obispo.
Irrigation & Water Management
Jonathan Flores
Irrigation Systems Manager
Jonathan brings experience in irrigation design, installation, and troubleshooting across commercial landscapes, school campuses, and agricultural properties. He leads Kitson’s irrigation systems work with a focus on reliable performance, practical problem-solving, and responsible water use.
More about Jonathan Flores
Jonathan is a Certified Irrigation Technician and Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper. His earlier work includes crew supervision, irrigation upgrades at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, and new system installation at Topanga State Park.
Noah Lujan-Stone
Irrigation Specialist
Noah combines hands-on irrigation experience with a background in water-treatment systems, solar installation, and customer support. He brings mechanical and electrical troubleshooting skills to Kitson’s irrigation team, helping keep pumps, valves, and controllers working reliably.
More about Noah Lujan-Stone
Before joining Kitson, Noah cared for golf-course irrigation at Alisal Ranch and led solar installation crews. His experience also includes training field teams and helping customers resolve service issues.
Office & Administration
Lindsay Lopez
Purchasing Agent
Lindsay combines experience in plant care, inventory coordination, and shipping with a background in environmental sustainability. As Kitson’s Purchasing Agent, she helps coordinate the materials and supplies that support the team’s work in the field.
More about Lindsay Lopez
Lindsay graduated summa cum laude from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor of Science in environmental and sustainability studies. Her earlier work included native-plant research, sustainable garden design, and hands-on growing projects.
Lori Lui
Billing Specialist and Contract Coordinator
Lori brings a background in landscape-industry accounting, office management, and plant purchasing to her work at Kitson. She supports client billing and contract coordination with an understanding of the details that connect the office, field teams, and customers.
More about Lori Lui
Lori holds a Bachelor of Arts in speech communications from Bridgewater State College. Her previous work included bookkeeping, payroll, estimating, and preparing landscape contracts for residential and commercial clients.
Vivianna Santos
Office Administrator
Vivianna brings a background in office administration, scheduling, and customer service to Kitson. Her experience coordinating busy offices and university athletics programs shapes an organized, responsive approach to supporting clients and the team.
More about Vivianna Santos
Vivianna earned her Bachelor of Arts in communications from UC Santa Barbara. Fluent in Spanish, she previously supported recruitment and event operations for UCSB men’s soccer and led a team of interns.
Charlotte Tatjes
Accountant
Charlotte brings a background in financial reporting, client service, and administrative coordination to her accounting role at Kitson. Her experience managing detailed reports and deadlines supports a careful, organized approach to the work behind Kitson’s daily operations.
More about Charlotte Tatjes
Charlotte’s earlier experience includes more than a decade in client service and reporting at STW Fixed Income Management. She studied business in Sweden and earned an associate degree with a certificate in hotel, restaurant, and culinary studies from Santa Barbara City College. She speaks English and Swedish.
The Kitson Family
Since 1969, the Kitson name has represented a family’s commitment to the people and landscapes of the Central Coast. Across two generations, the founding family grew the company through lasting client relationships, a dedication to its employees, and pride in the quality of its work. Along the way, they helped build a team and a tradition of service that became as much a part of Kitson as the family name.
Today’s leadership and team carry that legacy forward. Their work builds on the knowledge, relationships, and values established over decades, continuing the family’s commitment to caring for people and helping landscapes thrive.
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