DCA Outdoor announces two hires

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - DCA Outdoor has announced that Keith Hurst has joined the Planning Team at DCA Outdoor in a newly created position of director of planning.  In this role, he will lead the company in building a strong supply chain flow between internal brands and external vendors.

With over 20 years of experience in the nursery industry, Hurst has a proven successful track record in managing inventory, quality, forecasting, vendor contract rate negotiations, licensing, and asset management. His most recent role was the vice president of production planning, purchasing and logistics at Gardens Alive, based in Lawrenceburg, Indiana.  

“Very few people have the kind of experience Keith has with nursery planning and production facilities in different climates and different states,” says Tory Schwope, CEO and founder of DCA Outdoor.  “That’s what we’re doing now with DCA. Those skills put him in a position to hit the ground running.”

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Working his way up from customer service to sales and supply chain logistics in the industry, Hurst also possesses a unique blend of analytical, operational, financial, and sales background. He said the timing was right to take the position with DCA.

“Developing a 90-day production schedule for the company’s newly acquired Rio Verde Plantas as well as West Coast Schwope Brothers will be among my first responsibilities," Hurst says.

DCA Outdoor also announced that Daniel Livingston has joined the Production Team at Schwope Brothers Tree Farms in the role of production manager. Livingston is a Certified Nursery Professional and his responsibilities will include managing the quality and consistency of the product lines at the Schwope Brothers Tree Farm located outside of Independence, Mo.

Livingston is a second-generation nurseryman who, following in his father’s footsteps, worked and managed Fox Ridge Nursery of Harvard, Illinois. He brings an abundance of knowledge about wholesale production of field grown, deciduous and flowering shrubs, fruit, shade, and ornamental trees and evergreens. His robust background in field production and nursery management perfectly aligns with the vision of Schwope Brothers.

DCA Outdoor was founded in 2016 by Tory Schwope, and the company serves a family of brands including Anna Evergreen, Brehob Nurseries, Colonial Gardens, KAT Wholesale Outdoor, PlantRight, PlantRight Supply, Schwope Brothers Tree Farms, Utopian Plants, and Utopian Transport. For more information about DCA Outdoor, visit www.dcaoutdoor.com.