Down to Earth (DTE) has launched the Female Workforce Development Initiative which is a FORWARD (FWD) thinking program focused on recognizing and developing female team members. The goal of the DTE FWD initiative is to attract, retain and develop the best female workforce in the green industry through coaching, mentorship, and training to accelerate career progression.
Created and led by DTE Regional Business Development manager Kayla Lujan, it was important to share her own career success with other females in the company. "I started my landscape career as a gardener level 1, meaning I had zero experience with any equipment or landscaping in general, but I was fortunate enough to have amazing mentors who were my account and branch managers. As strong female leaders themselves, they helped me develop my career into what it is today," said Kayla talking passionately about her 13-plus years in the industry. "It is important to me to create those same channels of opportunity for women here at Down to Earth."