“Skills Work!® for Women” – Kristi Montovani, Landscape Designer

Creativity is the name of the game for Kristi Montovani.  She uses it to create beautiful living spaces for her clients, to learn the newest trends and technologies of her trade, and even to deal with everyday challenges as they arise.

A graduate of both the Landscape Technician and Arts and Design Fundamentals programs at Niagara College, Kristi is the General Manager of Snips Landscape & Nursery.  Her work has multiple faces:  designing landscapes, installation and field work, staff management, marketing and client relations.  “The project I am probably most proud of was designing and installing the outer and interior landscape for the Niagara Catholic District Board Office in Welland.”  Kristi gets to approach this ongoing project with some fresh ideas every year, and it opened the door to other projects with the school board.

Now that she is the General Manager at Snips Landscape & Nursery, Kristi has a big vision.  Green roofs are becoming a significant trend in many Ontario cities, and Kristi is hoping to capitalize on that.  “I would like to expand on our green roofing department and to broaden our use of other ‘green’ technologies. I want to be known as a pioneer in the ‘green’ landscaping industry!”

Kristi’s success didn’t come easily.  There were barriers to overcome along the way, and many of them are ongoing obstacles.  Being a woman in the industry was tricky to navigate, and her youth adds another element of challenge.  “I have a lot of experience and training under my belt but it’s sometimes harder to be taken seriously.  I have to stay confident and constantly prove myself.”  Kristi also had to adjust to the fast pace, using that to develop excellent multi-tasking skills. 

But it’s not like Kristi’s work is lacking fun.  She thrives on that challenge to prove herself, she enjoys working with people, and her work offers a great deal of flexibility and variety.  And at the end of the day, it all comes back to creativity, which Kristi ultimately gets to use so that her clients are surrounded by their dream living spaces.  “Seeing the joy on a client’s face as their project comes to fruition is so rewarding.”

Kristi mentored students at the Niagara Networking Dinner on Thursday, November 18^th.