Native Flower Company Team
Meet the team behind the blooms! Following are the incredible people that make the magic happen (in alphabetical order after our fearless leader Pamela Olson).
Pamela Olson
Pamela Olson founded Native in 2012. Prior to opening this location, Pamela was an owner of TriFecTa Design, Inc. With her talented team, she strives to provide gorgeous flowers and unique shopping experience for neighbors and fans.
Anne Andrew
Anne joined Native for Mother's Day 2021 and quickly became a regular staffer. She learned design from her talented mother, who took her under her wing. "I observed her techniques as she created beautiful arrangements."
Anne has always been drawn to the outdoors and appreciated beauty around her, "so working around the sight and smell of flowers is the perfect place for me!" During the winter months, she works at Alta Ski resort, nestled at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon.
Growing up in SLC, Anne attended the University of Utah and graduated in music. After marrying, she, her husband and children lived in Washington, Oregon, and Southern California before returning to the hive.
"I'm grateful to be a wife, mother of four wonderful children, and a brand new grandmother! I have enjoyed raising my family and working a little on the side teaching piano, and working at an elementary school." In Anne's spare time, she loves to play the piano, ski, hike and gather with family and friends.
To Native, Anne brings a fabulous laugh, a constant curiosity about design, and a real kindness. She is always thinking of someone who might need cheering up with flowers so in essence, she is the embodiment of our mission.
Celeste Cambareri
Celeste wears a lot of hats outside of big holidays, such as property maintenance, recycling czarina and inventory management. She's a protector of all things, especially animals and air quality (if you idle too long in front of the shop, she'll come for ya!) She loves exploring nature, particularly Southern UT and the Northwest. Her favorite things --besides animals ❤ -- are concerts at Red Butte with her favorite people and working with talented, creative, badass women.
Favorite flower: Dahlias "both the small perfectly geometric ones and the large wild ones."
Maile Durst
Everyone meet Maile, or as she is fondly known, The Den Mother, spontaneously arriving with cakes, bagels or some other delicious treat for the whole crew. She was first a customer, then a friend, then a valued member of the team. Maile has a hands on approach to any task that comes her way, she is always eager to help her fellow workers, and is organized while still being flexible. Her favorite flower is a rose; she likes them because they are simple, classic and elegant. Maile enjoys golfing, skiing, fishing, biking, and spending time with her family, which includes her charming dog Jack@big.bark.big.heartwho is a basset hound Newfoundland mix. We’re so happy you are a member of the team@mnallan!
Rachel Gates
Rachel Gates is from Holden, UT and even though she has lived in SLC for a few years, she’s still a small-town girl at heart! A graduate from Utah State University with a Bachelors of Science in Agriculture, she also achieved an interdisciplinary degree in landscape architecture, horticulture and business. She worked at a floral shop in high school and got back into the floral scene after college. “At Native, I have been able to grow my design skills and learn new techniques while working around talented people!” Rachel is busy outside the shop, working part-time as a graphic designer and as a live-in caretaker for her great grandma. She loves horseback riding and her favorite flowers are vanda orchids!
Jamie Huesser
Last Fall, Native welcomed Jamie to the team and all have benefited from her style infusion. A florist “of all sorts” for almost 9 years, she is also a mother to two amazing kids and two dogs. “They are my entire world and reasons to continue to learn and grow in all things.” Living in downtown SLC, Jamie is driven by her desires to raise, provide for and play with her fun little family in this interesting but beautiful world. “The world around me is my inspiration for how I create, how I see flowers and design.” Jamie’s designs are nudging the perimeters of the Native brand in exciting ways and we are thrilled to watch her evolve. To know Jamie is to love her! ❤️
Payton Hutchison
Meet Payton! She's a student at the @universityofutah studying design and architecture and "that’s what most of my life consists of, that and plants," she says. Her favorite flower changes from poppies to cosmos to "whatever comes from the farms or is orange." She loves to travel and hopes to make it to all 7 continents. "My favorite foods are blackberries and sushi, which is why I have been compared to a bear at the shop." We could "bearly" do without her. 😀
Liza McDowell
Liza’s first shift at Native was during the holidays of 2020. Hired as temporary seasonal staff to decorate plants, she did such a beautiful job (with a smile, even through her mask!) we knew we wanted her back for Valentine’s Day. After navigating that crazy week with humor and positivity, she came back again for Mother’s Day and was offered a managerial position.
If you’ve called or visited the shop recently, you’ve undoubtedly met Liza. She “likes to do little bit of this and a little bit of that in her day,” which makes the ever-changing environment of a flower shop right up her alley! While new to designing, Liza loves to learn and help make things run smoothly, a perfect fit to manage operations. Her skills include always seeing the opportunity to add fun to something, including team meetings. Liza has a love for all things beautiful, and has developed an appreciation for the floral industry and the continuous wave of pretty things that come through our door.
Beyond the shop, Liza loves playing outside, spending time with good friends, and most of all dancing to live music! “I’m excited to be a part of the Native team and super honored to be learning from and creating with the best!”
Kaila Mleso
Kaila's journey to Native started six years ago when, after high school, she began working and learning as much she could from local shops near her home. Her passion for flowers only grew while living in London, making friends with local flower shop owners. "Out of all the different roads I’ve traveled thus far," Mleso says, "one thing has always been the same and that’s my love for flowers!" That similar passion for design and art guided her to spend two years in London, where she explored graphic and interior design. Within months of joining Native as a floral designer, she expressed an interest in branding and social media and became the company's first social media manager. "I have enjoyed being able to incorporate my love for imagery, art and communication to help Native Flower Company navigate their branding image." When it comes to flowers she loves all things greenery, whimsical and neutral. "Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging, is currently my favorite," while wildflowers hold a special place in her heart. Outside of floral arranging and designing, she is a mountain girl at heart! "I love the outdoors! Rock climbing, snowboarding and fishing are some of my favorite activities! Pressing flowers, dancing and traveling also bring me great joy! I have loved being apart of the Native Flower team and meeting all the amazing locals and creatives along the way!"
McKenzie Paulos
(@kenzie_paulos) has been with Native for more than two years and we couldn't be happier. She is a master of playful lines and has a keen use of textures and materials. We are lucky to have her talents on the team and to be able to share them with our customers.
A floral designer for six years, McKenzie is inspired by color, nature and animals. "I'm an outdoorsy-kinda gal who enjoys hiking and running. One of my favorite places to be is at Disneyland or at a California beach with a sprinkles cupcake in each hand."
While McKenzie says she "loves working at the best flower shop in town," we all love that she gets to bring her sweet one-year-old baby, Lily, as her "little flower girl sidekick." Everyone is Lily's best best friend and McKenzie gets to work AND be the best mom she can be. "I also love seeing all the neighborhood doggies as they walk by and visit the shop." Her favorite flowers are poppies, ranunculus and all the local farm flowers.
Gavin Pouquette
It's time to introduce another member of our team and it's LONG overdue that you meet Gavin. He's our delivery driver and if you've received flowers, it's likely this guy brought them. He's literally delivered thousands of arrangements! You may have seen him cruising around Salt Lake City (and beyond) or if you're lucky enough, through the screen of your virtual doorbell. Floral driver by day, Gavin is an automotive photographer by night (or weekend). He runs on Foo Fighters, dad-jokes, and the validation of getting your arrangements where they need to be. Also loves long walks on the beach, and getting the "perfect shot."
Allie Serr
Allie has been a professional floral designer for more than a decade, producing beautiful arrangements for Native Flower Company since day one. She is a mom of two crazy kids who are fun, sweet and adorable. Allie loves her husband and kids the most, but coming in a close second is (drumroll, please…) Disney! She MUST go to a Disney park at least once a year or she starts to go crazy! Allie also enjoys dancing, reading, baking, and thrifting fun clothes. She is currently taking ukulele lessons and can't wait till she's good enough to play and sing at the same time. She loves working with flowers and cool people. Allie's favorite flower changes every season, the current crush being purple anemones.
Sophie Stewart
Sophie Stewart has been a part of the Native family since her freshman year of high school, making her a youth veteran! “I have seen the company grow as I have grown and I have loved spending my high school years in the Native community.” Sophie is always up for any task and her skills have flourished from shop assistant to managing event setups and design. Now a sophomore at the University of Utah, Sophie is studying Criminology. “I love the outdoors and regularly go hiking and exploring in nature,” especially in the Wasatch Mountains near Alta. “I also love hanging out with friends, reading and listening to crime podcasts!” We love having Sophie on our Native team!
