Papio Valley Nursery Bios

Alan Weiss has been the owner of Papio Valley Nursery since its inception in 1999. His humble beginnings in horticulture started with vegetable gardening with his grandfather, Vernon Grimm. Alan attended the University of Nebraska and graduated with his Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture, Horticulture in 1995. Alan worked at Mulhall’s Nursery and Trees, Shrubs and More Nursery after graduation. In the spring of 1997, he accepted a sales position with Sherman Nursery in Charles City, Iowa and thus began his career in wholesale nursery supply industry. In 1999, Alan founded Papio Valley Nursery and has been supplying landscapers and garden centers with plant material ever since. Alan earned the Distinguished Nursery Professional of the Year Award from the Nebraska Nursery and Landscape Association in 2010. He is an avid fisherman and loves to go bass fishing in his spare time.

Rita Weiss is in charge of accounting at Papio Valley Nursery. She has been involved with the nursery since its beginning, but began working for the nursery exclusively in 2004. Before that, Rita spent several years working for Omaha Public Schools as an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher. She graduated from the University of Nebraska- Lincoln with a B.S. in International Business, and then went on to receive her teaching certificate in Japanese language. Rita is originally from the Ewing/Clearwater, NE area and graduated from Pope John Central Catholic in Elgin, NE. Rita is an active mother of 4! When she’s not in the office, you can find Rita attending sporting events at Gross Catholic High School or helping out at St. Columbkille Catholic School, and despite their many challenges, she is an avid Nebraska Cornhuskers sports fan.

Alex Lam joined Papio Valley in the spring of 2021. He grew up in Houston, Texas and started his career with a familyowned garden center. In 2004 he attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln for a degree in Horticulture with a focus in Nursery Management. After college he joined the Navy Reserves andworked for three years for Campbell’s Nursery in Lincoln. From 2013- 2021, he worked as a manager and landscape designer for Earl May. Whether he is hunting and fishing throughout the year, or camping with his wife, Alex is always enjoying the outdoors.

As a Nebraska Master Naturalist and someone who grew up on a family farm that's been in the family since the Homestead Act, Dee brings a deep-rooted passion for plants and nature to the office. Her journey from the farm to the corporate world, and now back to her plant roots, has equipped her with a unique blend of skills perfect for running a nursery office. Her professional background spans 24 years in various corporate roles where she mastered the art of "cat herding," excelling in managing customers, creating and streamlining processes, and driving business success across a wide range of industries. This experience has honed her organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to foster a collaborative work environment. Outside of her professional life, she’s affectionately known as the neighborhood lawn lady. Whether it's mowing or weeding, she often finds herself working beyond her own yard, much to the neighbors' entertainment. This hands-on approach reflects her dedication and love for all things green – and disdain for weeds. While her dry sense of humor may not be for everyone, those who appreciate it find that she just might "grow" on them. Dee aims to bring this blend of humor, hard work, and diverse expertise to create a thriving, welcoming environment for both plants and people.

Hannah started her Horticulture experience in the midst of raising 3 children. She got involved in several community and school garden projects while her children were young, searching for ways to involve them, then decided she liked it enough to learn more. While earning her Horticulture degree from Metropolitan Community College specifying in Plant Propagation and Landscape Design, she was also volunteering at Girls Inc, Kids Can Community Center and the Butler-Gast YMCA, helping to educate children on the benefits of Olericulture. After college, Hannah went on to work for Mulhall’s Nursery for nearly 5 years, where she got her official start in growing annuals and perennials in greenhouse settings. She has been with Papio Valley Nursery for the last 4 seasons where she is both buyer and grower; managing the production and culture of plants ranging from annuals to trees. In her ‘spare time’, Hannah likes to do anything that involves being outdoors and connecting with nature; hunting for insects, staring at trees, photographing wildlife, hiking, tending her own gardens and making nature art. When it comes to people, Hannah most likes spending time with her family, getting involved with social and environmental activism and attending live music events.