Meghan Rains

Lallemand Plant Care

Field solutions manager

What 3 to 4 professional and/or personal accomplishments are you most proud of?

• Completion of my doctorate
• Development and implementation of LPC’s global product compatibility testing program
•  The six years spent teaching chemistry at Algoma University and the continued development of its biology program

 What led you to work in the horticulture industry?

• Serendipity. I actually started my scientific career in the field of chemistry, but as I progressed through graduate school I became more and more interested in biological sciences. A chance encounter with my would-be Ph.D. supervisor led to a year-long internship studying genetic regulation in plants, followed by a Ph.D. program and a career working with plants.

What’s the best thing about your job? (Please select one)

• Co-workers

Describe to a 6-year-old what you do in life?

• I help people grow plants and food sustainably, with fewer chemicals.

What are your favorite hobbies?

• Hockey
• Reading 
• Knitting

When you’re not working, what are 2 to 3 things we could find you doing?

• Playing sports
• Reading 
• Enjoying the outdoors

Do you have any unusual talents, or can you tell us something interesting about yourself that other people may be surprised to find out?

• I am pretty much an open book, so I don’t think much surprises people. Typically, people are surprised to learn that I knit and crochet in my spare time and sell it locally during the winter months. I take pride in gifting all of my friends with a handknit or crocheted item for their baby showers.

One thing you can’t live without?

• Coffee

What are you (un)secretly good at?

• Cooking

What are your top three bucket list items?

• Visit all seven continents
• Go on an African safari
• Visit the Great Barrier Reef

What’s your favorite plant variety and why?

• Peonies. They remind me of my Baba.

You’re buying a vacation package to anywhere in the world without a budget, where are you going?

• Galapagos Islands