Meet the Team
Our staff is a team of dedicated professionals here to create your dream outdoor environment
Peter Speck
From people, equipment, plants and materials, Peter is involved in all aspects of getting the work done. Peter thinks through the logistics of each assignment, plans the activities and determines the technical aspects needed to make each landscape successful.
Peter says, “We see ourselves as problem solvers. I’m fascinated by the technical challenges involved in many of Solterra’s projects. I enjoy presenting a client with multiple solutions, then showing them why this particular solution is the best way to proceed. With my engineering background, I see solutions that others don’t always see.”
In his spare time and for fun, Peter developed a proprietary computer application for Solterra that links to GPS data through an automated interface, tracks the production of crews, and monitors efficiency. This helps every project deliver on time and on budget.
Jen Yavorsky
With a lineage of avid gardening from both her father and her grandfather, Jen Yavorsky had her hands in the dirt at a young age. While earning her BA in Biology, Jen took classes in botany and horticulture. She began working in the landscaping industry after moving to Atlanta in 1996.
Before joining Solterra as a landscape account manager, Jen ran her own garden design business and served as the horticulturist for the Heritage Green historical site in Sandy Springs. She says, “It is exciting to help clients create outdoor spaces where they can relax and entertain, while increasing the value of their property. As a member of Solterra’s team, I’m able to be part of grander and more extensive landscape projects than I could take on alone.”
Jen has donated her time and expertise as a Garden Essential Maintenance volunteer at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens and as a volunteer educator with the Georgia Master Gardener program.
She loves traveling and outdoor adventures. Some of her favorite trips have been to Thailand, Peru, and Costa Rica.
Denise Yaun
Denise has been working behind the scenes in Solterra’s main office since early 2014 and is thrilled to join the company in the position of office manager. She comments, “I love the family atmosphere at Solterra. These are people who enjoy what they do and it shows in the way they interact with one another and with clients. I’ve worked in a variety of industries, but landscaping is more creative and fun. I admire that Dixie and Peter have assembled a team with skills that compliment one another—setting the stage for great work to get accomplished.”
With over 20 years of experience in office management, Denise is in charge of many day-to-day administrative responsibilities at Solterra including answering calls and handling the bookkeeping. Clients and prospective clients rely on Denise’s expertise to connect them to the person best suited to answer their question or address their concern. In addition, Denise looks after the human resource necessities of verifying employment authorization and tracking employee information.
In her free time, Denise loves to sew and is a self-proclaimed “fabric-holic.” She finds the variety of colors and textures hard to resist when she’s within reach of beautiful fabrics.
