Our Staff:
Meet the dedicated and loyal crew that makes visiting Valley View Farms a unique experience. Most of our management staff has been here for over 30 years, and continue to make Valley View Farms a consistently friendly, warm and knowledgeable place to shop. Valley View Farms employs about 80 full-time employees, with twice as many during our busy seasons. Family owned and operated, Valley View Farms projects that family-like atmosphere through its employees.
Andy Foard, Owner and CEO
Andy grew up in the area, attending Dulaney High School. He began his college career at North Carolina State University, transferring to the University of Maryland and graduating with honors with a degree in Business Administration. Starting at age 14, Andy grew up in the business, working on the farm and in all of the various departments. Andy enjoys carpentry and woodworking and is the designer/builder of many of the buildings and displays at Valley View. Andy shared ownership of the business for several years with his father, Billy, before becoming sole owner in 2015. Andy credits both founders as his mentors in business. Just as he has followed his father into business, Andy’s two sons may someday do the same.
Brian Brannan, Garden Shop Manager
Brian Brannan started in 1988, while still a student in high school. Brian works closely with all of our vendors to provide solutions to gardeners in our area and is key in cooperating with many of them in our advertising program. Brian also works to keep all systems going, including phones, computers and other utilities. Brian lives in Harford County with his family. He is an avid angler and boater.
Scott Carbone, Nursery Manager
Scott Carbone joined us in 2009 while pursuing his degree in Landscape Management from the University of Maryland. Promoted to Nursery Manager in 2016, Scott works with many regional tree and shrub growers to provide high quality plants for our customers. Scott’s waterfront home enables him to enjoy gardening and kayaking from his backyard.
Carrie Engel, Greenhouse Manager
Carrie Engel began working here in 1972, and is well known in our area. Carrie appears with meteorologists Tony Pann and Ava Marie, weekly on the WBAL TV's Sunday Gardener. She enjoys writing, speaking about gardening, photography, the Orioles, and spending time with her extended family. Carrie also enjoys traveling, especially road trips, where she looks for what is new in plants and gardening everywhere she goes.
Kathy Foard, Christmas Shop Manager
Kathy Foard began in 1975, picking tomatoes at the farm. Kathy is a graduate of Goucher College, with a degree in English and Secondary Education. She has managed many areas including our International Gift Shop, and three of our former satellite locations. Kathy honors Punkey’s legacy in our Christmas Shop by creating a wonderland fueled by her own love of Christmas. Kathy’s other love is our baseball team, the Baltimore Orioles.
John Hessler, Patio Manager
John Hessler joined us in 1975. His keen eye and creativity led him to managing our casual furniture department. John enjoys buying the accessories as well. In late summer, John’s talents are put to good use when he begins building the 80 foot Department 56 Village Display. His work has garnered the Platinum Dealer designation from D56. John enjoys DIY projects in his home, collecting sports memorabilia and conversing about sports to friends and family.
Tim McQuaid, Store Manager and Water Gardens manager
Tim McQuaid began in 1978. He has worked everywhere, learning all that he can about the company. Tim harvested corn on the farm, worked in our nursery for years and became our Water Garden Manager soon after we started the department. Tim’s loyalty and dedication are second to none. He is Andy’s go-to person, as he is to everyone. Tim is an avid outdoorsman. He loves spending time with his family and teaching young people to be responsible in their outdoor sporting pursuits.
John Miller, Head Grower, Farm and Greenhouses
John Miller, a 1990 Penn State graduate, began growing at our farm location in Hydes, MD, the very next year. John grows vegetable transplants, hanging baskets, annuals, mums, pansies, poinsettias with his assistant Vernon Smith, for our retail store. John enjoys time with his family. He is a long distance trail runner once our busy spring season slows.
Doug Schurman, Pottery Manager
Doug Schurman joined Valley View Farms full-time in 2001. He is a graduate of Penn College with a degree in Horticulture. Doug started with us just as we were expanding our pottery department, which he now manages. In the fall, Doug helps set-up and run our Christmas Shop. In his off-time, he enjoys golf, rooting for the Orioles and Ravens, and time with his family.
Our Founders
John "Punkey" Foard (1935-2010)
Punkey grew up on the family farm in Hydes, MD, attending Carroll Manor School as a boy. He attended Staunton Military Academy in Virginia, then Rutgers University, majoring in Agriculture. As an ROTC member, Punkey enlisted into the U S Army where he would rise to the rank of Lieutenant as an Army Ranger. Returning home, Punkey went into business with his brother, opening Valley View Farms on York Rd. in 1962. Responsibilities were divided; Punkey worked with personnel, training them in the many aspects of running a successful seasonal business. He was the driving force behind our Christmas Shop and our Water Garden departments. Punkey married Kathy, our Christmas Shop manager. Both enjoyed their annual trips to Trinidad and Tobago.
William "Billy" Foard (1938-2017)
Billy also grew up on his family’s farm. He attended school locally and followed his brother to Staunton Military Academy. Billy attended Cornell University, majoring in agriculture, specifically horticulture. He married Kay while still in college, and the couple, with a new baby daughter, moved back to the farm after graduating. Billy wanted to sell the family’s vegetables directly to the public, and, with his father and uncle’s blessing, opened up Valley View Farms in its present location. Billy and Kay’s growing family would soon include two boys. Billy worked at both the store and the farm. Eventually, Valley View stopped growing vegetables and focused the farm’s resources on growing vegetable transplants, annual flowers, hanging baskets, mums and all sorts of plants in its 12 greenhouses and growing field. Billy was a proud grandparent to four beautiful grandchildren.
Pictured below are Billy Foard (L), Punkey Foard (R), and Andy Foard (in back)
