About Us

Our People

Mark Hayes CEO and President

A skilled farmer with an eye for opportunity, Mark Hayes is the man behind the genesis of Flowerbud.com. At a time when start-up dotcoms were everywhere, Flowerbud stood out from the crowd, thanks to its beautifully designed website, impeccable customer service, and gorgeous product. Harnessing the power of the internet and drawing upon 30 years in the floral industry, Mark created a system wherein customers would receive flowers fresh from the farms where they were grown. The flowers arrived in bud form, giving them a longer vase life, and allowing the recipient the pleasure of watching them open.

Having been a farmer himself, he knew where the best flowers were grown, and was able to recruit a wide array of growers, many specializing in only a single type of flower. Now President and CEO of Flowerbud, Mark spends most of his time cultivating Flowerbud's international grower network and tending to other Flowerbud business alongside his devoted staff. While largely retired from the activity of farming, he continues to be involved with the industry.

Mark was born and raised in the North of England, receiving his horticultural education from the National Trust for Scotland, Threave and the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, Scotland. He first came to the United States in 1975 for an educational internship, moving over permanently in 1980. Mark lives in Lake Oswego, Oregon with his two sons.

Marcy Lepine General Manager

Marcy Lepine was one of the earliest additions to the Flowerbud team, bringing extensive operational and resource management experience to her role in the company. Adept at coordinating employees, inventory, and all the demands of a growing business, Marcy maintains order in the office with aplomb and grace.

Prior to her role at Flowerbud.com, Marcy held operations positions in both the Information Technology and Financial Services Sectors. Marcy attended University in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with a major in Business Administration.

Nancy Mitchell Financial Consultant

An accomplished accountant, Nancy Mitchell brings years of vast and varied experience to her role at Flowerbud. After earning her B.S. in Accounting at San Jose State University (where she minored in Religion) in 1983, Nancy began a distinguished career in accounting, working for many highly regarded companies in a wide array of ever-expanding positions.

Nancy has instructed adult learners in English as a Second Language (ESL) and Accounting through a Bay Area adult education center. In 1993, Nancy traveled to Wushi, China where she instructed junior high school teachers in ESL in an effort to improve their written and spoken communication skills.

In 1999, Nancy began NJM Accounting Solutions, Inc providing consulting services for small businesses. She has worked with Flowerbud since 2002. Though she is only in the office for a few hours each week, her contribution to the company is immense.

Flowerbud's Board of Directors:

Mark Hayes

CEO, Flowerbud.com, Lake Oswego, OR

Andrew Miller

President, Stimson Lumber, Portland, OR

Lorrenz Schmitt

High-Tech Strategy and Marketing Consultant, Exponential Innovation, Ann Arbor, MI