Our Team

Owner Traven Pelletier is the lead designer at Lotus Gardenscapes and heads up a group of creative and dedicated professionals.  Known for his creative approach and unique artistic designs, Traven brings talent and an artist’s eye to the design and build side of the company, he is a Michigan Licensed Builder, and a Certified Green Professional.

With Traven’s artistic focus, Lotus Gardenscapes has expanded its repertoire beyond planting and stone construction to include decks and wood garden structures along with environmental art and award winning designs. Traven works with a strong and passionate team that includes landscape architects, horticulturalists, artists, builders and skilled craftsmen.

Nicole has been in the landscape industry for 18 years, and designing in the Ann Arbor and surrounding areas for the last 13 years.  She is a Certified Green Industry Professional through the MNLA with specializations as a Certified Landscape Designer and Certified Landscape Contractor.  Her background includes a degree from Michigan State University in Landscape Design and Nursery Management.  In 2007, she published a book, “Perennial Reference Guide”, which is used by professionals and students as a valuable resource in choosing plant material. Nicole’s beautiful perennial garden designs reflect her expertise and years of experience! 

Lauren Yelen is a graduate of the University of Michigan’s master’s program in Landscape Architecture in the School of Natural Resources. She has a passion for native plants, ecological design and edible landscapes.  Lauren is also a certified Green Industry Professional and Master Gardener. In her spare time she volunteers as a cat and kitten foster for the Humane Society of Huron Valley and rides her horse, Neko.

Bio coming soon!

Shannon Agar went to Michigan State and has been in accounting for over 15 years. She is an excellent office manager and keeps the wheels turning! She is an avid softball player and loves to spend time on her boat with her family.

Bio coming soon!

Stacey Rayer is our Design Center Manager, and Horticultural Specialist.  Raised in suburban Detroit, educated in Ann Arbor at the University of Michigan, Stacey holds a BA in history of art with emphasis on Near East studies and a BS in agronomy. Combining her right brain scientist and her left brain artist has allowed her to work in Washtenaw county as a practicing agronomist and landscape designer. For over 20 years she has helped clients with organic food production, incorporate annuals,  perennials, trees, and shrubs into their lives, taught classes on various aspects of gardening, assisted her artist-blacksmith husband with design and muscle, and genuinely tried to make the world a more beautiful and bountiful place.

Drew Laird is our Horticultural Team Supervisor. An environmentalist at heart, Drew worked for many years as an organizer for environmental causes. He returned to the roots of his passion after studying at the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources. He has extensive experience in native plant restoration and removal of invasive species, and is an enthusiastic permaculture practitioner.

Gavin Gillepsie is our Carpentry Supervisor.  After gaining experience in transforming plantscapes as a member of our Horticulture Team, Gavin was promoted to lead the maintenance crew in cleaning up and beautifying existing landscapes. Gavin also has extensive experience in permaculture and urban farming, including keeping bees and chickens! He is a certified Green Industry professional through MNLA.

Steve Ward biography is coming soon!

John Monroe biography is coming soon!

An alum of the Humane Society of Huron Valley, Rocky is our resident office pit bull and president.  When he is not romping in the swamp behind Bloom Gardens, he is keeping a close eye on the Bloom and Lotus teams (and their lunches). Rocky believes in a philosophy of play hard, sleep hard.

Fergie is a lab/pitbull who worked her way from the mean streets of West Virginia to her position here at Lotus as office dog and CEO. Unlike her brother Rocky, who enjoys his role as the public face of the company, Fergie likes to operate behind the scene to help the business run smoothly.  When she is not brainstorming  brilliant ideas (we’ll hear one of them, one day…), she enjoys snuggling with her toys.