Since 1988, B.B. Barns has been rooted in the Asheville, NC community!

Meet Our Team

When you visit us, you’ll find beautiful plants, exceptional garden products, delightful home goods, and gifts. But more importantly, you’ll find passionate, knowledgeable, experienced people genuinely excited to help you bring your garden and landscape to life. That’s true for every person on our Retail and Landscape teams. This is what truly makes us Asheville’s favorite garden center and landscape service provider.

Jon Merrill

Director of Retail Operations

Jon has been with B.B. Barns for 15 years and currently leads the overall management of our Retail division. With an Associate’s Degree in Horticulture and a lifelong love for plants, Jon thrives in a role that lets him be outdoors, work with his hands, and grow both plants and people.

Born and raised in Brevard, North Carolina, Jon’s deep roots in the region have only strengthened his passion for horticulture. Ask him his favorite plant, and you’ll quickly find it’s impossible for him to choose just one. As a true plant geek, he has a favorite in every category: deciduous trees, evergreens, shrubs, perennials, and beyond.

What keeps him inspired at B.B. Barns? The incredible team and the passionate customer base that shares his enthusiasm for all things green.

Jon lives with his wife, Laura, and their three kids: Ryan, Riley, and Renley. Outside of work, he’s a longtime musician who plays guitar and sings, and has led worship in various churches for over 20 years.

Haley Martin

Tree, Shrub, & Perennial Buyer, Retail Division

Haley has been part of the B.B. Barns family since 2016 and, a decade in, she’s still just as passionate about plants as ever. As the Tree, Shrub, and Perennial Buyer for our Retail division, she manages nursery inventory and builds strong relationships with growers across the country to bring in high-quality, beautiful plant material season after season. Her keen eye for detail and deep plant knowledge recently earned her a spot as a finalist for the 2025 Young Retailer Award. Go, Haley!

Her favorite plant? Japanese maples. With so much variety in form, foliage, and color, Haley finds them endlessly collectable and always unique. When she’s not curating the nursery, you’ll find Haley out in nature or chasing good music. She loves rafting, kayaking, camping, cooking, and going to concerts.

On her bucket list… Raft the Grand Canyon and see a live show at Red Rocks!

Jenna Mace

Green Goods Buyer, Retail Division

Jenna has been with B.B. Barns for over seven years, managing the selection and buying of green goods for our Retail division, which includes annuals, houseplants, herbs and veggies, seeds, bulbs, and seasonal plants. Her deep love for plants and gardening shines through in everything she does.

Originally from Montana, Jenna first moved to Western North Carolina in 2010 to attend Warren Wilson College. After spending time back out west to finish her degree at the University of Montana, she returned to the area in 2018 and now calls it home with her husband, a Black Mountain native.

Her favorite plant is the bald cypress, a deciduous conifer native to the Southeast. She’s fascinated by its unique qualities, long lifespan, and deep roots in North Carolina’s natural history.

Jenna’s favorite part of working at B.B. Barns is the constant opportunity to learn, as well as the chance to share that learning with others.

Marie Elliott

Inside Sales Manager & Hardgoods Buyer, Retail Division

Marie has been part of the B.B. Barns Retail team for two and a half years, where she focuses on customer satisfaction, as well as training her team to deliver the best possible experience. With a background in psychology, she combines people skills with a love of plants to create a welcoming and supportive environment for both staff and customers.

Originally from Augusta, Georgia, Marie has called Asheville home since 2010. She was drawn to this line of work because being outdoors brings her peace and mental freedom, a connection she’s eager to share with others.

Her favorite plant at the moment is the passionflower, admired for its intricate and unique form. What she loves most about B.B. Barns? The staff, the customers and, of course, the plants.

Marie is married into a wonderful family and shares life with her fantastic dog, Petey. Outside of work, she enjoys painting abstract art and gardening.

On Marie’s bucket list… International travel.

Travis Murray

Director of Services, Landscape Division

As Director of Services, Travis leads the Landscape Services Division at B.B. Barns, where his focus is on people, performance, and purpose. He drives results, fosters growth, champions teamwork, and works hard to build a strong, positive culture. A licensed North Carolina Landscape Contractor (L.3705), he brings both technical expertise and a deep love of the land to his role.

Born and raised in the mountains of Western North Carolina, Travis grew up digging in the dirt—literally. His family tended a large vegetable garden, grew burley tobacco, grafted fruit trees, and foraged for everything from wild leeks to mushrooms. Time spent with his father and grandfather sparked a lifelong passion for plants, soil, and the wild richness of the Appalachian landscape.

His favorite plant is Quercus alba, the white oak, a tree symbolic of strength, heritage, and endurance. What he loves most about B.B. Barns is the legacy it represents, and the opportunity to help carry it forward.

Travis lives in WNC with his wife, Jenny, and their two daughters, Betha and Lila. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, hunting, fishing, foraging, and camping… Anything that brings him closer to the wild. He also enjoys writing and art, and one day hopes to write a book.

On his bucket list.. Write a book inspired by the land and life he loves!

Tom Haworth

Landscape Consultant, Landscape Division

Tom has been a Landscape Consultant with B.B. Barns since 2020, helping clients create thoughtful, beautiful outdoor spaces that work in harmony with nature. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Landscape Architecture and was drawn to this field by a passion for designing with the natural world.

Tom moved to Asheville five years ago and quickly found his place both in the region and on the B.B. Barns team. His favorite part of the job? The people he works with, and the flexibility that allows him to do his best work.

Outside of work, you’ll most likely find him out on the trail, hiking and enjoying the landscape he loves to design with.

Anna Beard

Landscape Consultant, Landscape Division

Anna joined the B.B. Barns Landscape team in early 2024, bringing a decade of horticulture experience and a passion for connecting people to their outdoor spaces. Her role involves in-depth consultations to understand each client’s goals, followed by tailored landscape designs that blend creativity with practicality. From concept to installation, Anna oversees each step to ensure a smooth and thoughtful process.

Originally from northern New Jersey, Anna spent eight years designing landscapes in Charleston, South Carolina, before finally making the move to Asheville, a place she’d visited and loved for years.

Her favorite plant is agastache (hummingbird mint), a reliable, native perennial that pollinators adore and that fills the summertime air with its super sweet, licorice-like scent.

What she loves most about B.B. Barns? The people. “The atmosphere is lighthearted, and there’s a real spirit of teamwork here. Everyone’s genuinely passionate about what they do.”

Anna lives with her husband and their rescue pup, Elloree. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, gardening and traveling, and she’s hoping one day to see the Northern Lights in Alaska.

Andrew Stepp

Landscape Maintenance & Design

Andrew joined the B.B. Barns Landscape team at the beginning of 2025, and brings hands-on expertise and a love for the outdoors to his role. He oversees maintenance accounts and contributes to design work, drawing from his experience as a licensed Landscape Contractor and licensed pesticide applicator.

A proud Asheville native, Andrew values the tight-knit, family-like culture at B.B. Barns. Speaking of family, he lives with his wife, two boys and a full house of pets, including two Frenchies, two cats, and several reptiles.

Outside of work, Andrew enjoys welding, metal fabrication, and building and driving his rock crawler.

On Andrew’s bucket list… Visit Moab, Utah.

Alisha Conde

Plant Purchasing Specialist, Landscape Division

Alisha joined B.B. Barns in 2025 and brings a passion for plants and purpose to her role. With a B.A. in Applied Plant Biology, she sources and purchases plant material for our installation, enhancement, warranty, and maintenance projects. She also manages deliveries and pickups, ensuring plants in our holding yard stay healthy and ready for their new homes.

Originally from Ohio, Alisha moved to Asheville in 2018 and has loved putting down roots here. What she enjoys most about B.B. Barns is working with smart, driven people, and being part of something that feels meaningful. “The world can always use more plants,” she says.

On her bucket list…Traveling to Germany!

Thomas Howell

Retail Services Manager, Facility / Fleet Manager

Thomas has been with B.B. Barns for five and a half years and plays a vital role in keeping both our Retail Services and Landscape operations running smoothly. He manages and maintains our Landscape facility and fleet of 35 vehicles, while also overseeing all aspects of Retail Services, including installations and deliveries. Thomas brings a strong work ethic, a love of the outdoors, and a steady, dependable presence to everything he does.

He earned a B.S. in Exercise Science and a B.S.N. in Nursing from the University of Florida. While those degrees are not directly tied to his current role, they are certainly part of his story and his long history of serving WNC as a trauma nurse, flight nurse, and current part-time Nursing Supervisor at Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community. Thomas was drawn to B.B. Barns through his love of growing trees and being outside, a passion rooted in his family’s Fraser fir Christmas tree production farm in the 1980s and Norway spruce farm in the 1990s.

Originally from Waynesville, North Carolina, and Nashville, Tennessee, Thomas has lived and worked in the Waynesville and Asheville area throughout his adult life. His favorite plant is the weeping Norway spruce, which he loves for the way it can create a striking anchor point in a beautiful landscape. What he appreciates most about B.B. Barns is our reputation and the people he works with who uphold it every day.

Thomas is the father of four adult children, and the running partner of a Rhodesian Ridgeback. Outside of work, he enjoys running, swimming, CrossFit Asheville, beach time, lake time, water skiing, and snow skiing.

Chas Fitzgerald

Garden Coach

As a Garden Coach, Chas helps clients make smart, beautiful choices for their landscapes, drawing from his background as a registered Landscape Architect with a Master of Landscape Architecture and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture. He’s passionate about educating others on the rich biodiversity of Western North Carolina, a big part of what drew him to this work in the first place.

Chas has lived all over the world, but Asheville has been part of his story for 24 years. He became a full-time resident in 2019 and has been with B.B. Barns for five years. His favorite part of the job? The team he gets to work with every day.

His go-to plant is Fothergilla, a native standout with spring blooms, blue-green summer foliage, and fiery fall color. Outside of work, Chas enjoys gardening, hiking, cultural and architectural history, fitness, live music, and wine tasting.

On Chas’ bucket list… More travel! (Although it’s hard for him to leave a place like WNC.)

Teresa Macaluso

Container Garden Manager

Teresa has been with B.B. Barns for three years and brings creativity, warmth, and a true love of plants to her role as Container Garden Manager. She is responsible for container garden design and installation, creating beautiful seasonal combinations that add color, texture, and personality to homes and outdoor spaces throughout our community. As a master of gardening, Teresa loves sharing her passion for plants and people, and she was drawn to B.B. Barns because it gave her the opportunity to do both every day.

Born in Chicago and raised in San Diego, Teresa moved to Asheville in 2004 and has made this community home. Her favorite plant is cucuzza, a Sicilian squash, which her family has grown for centuries in Porticello, Sicily. The leaves, known in her family as tenerumi, are used to make her favorite soup, and the squash itself is both delicious and nutritious. Teresa’s deep family connection to this plant reflects her love of gardening, heritage, and sharing meaningful traditions through food and plants.

What Teresa loves most about B.B. Barns is being part of a compassionate team dedicated to horticultural excellence, serving our amazing community, and enriching our customers’ lives. She is the proud mother of two daughters, and while there may not be a full house of pets, her daughter is the proud parent of a rescued leopard gecko, and her neighbor’s cat, Ingrid, has happily adopted Teresa as well.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family, cooking, hiking, volunteering on the floral guild at church, teaching gardening, and sharing horticultural therapy. She also has a fun secret talent: nature photography. On her bucket list…Traveling to Sicily in the fall and fully immersing herself in the culture.

Rhonda Hallman

Hospitality Manager, Retail Division

It says something about Rhonda that the reason pansies and violas are her favorite flowers is because they smile when little else is blooming! She has provided “front of the house” coordination and management at B.B. Barns for the past 11 years, enjoying the fact that “it’s a happy place, even on difficult days.” Her blended family includes her husband, their six children, three grandchildren and a dog, and her passions include her family, reading and hiking.

On her to-do list… Visit natural landmarks!

Brittany Leisey

Finance Operations Specialist

Brittany keeps the numbers running smoothly for our Landscape Services division. She manages invoicing, payments, and accounts receivable for both Landscape and Retail sides of the house, all while making the financial process seamless for our clients and team. A natural at organization and follow-through, she found her niche in finance after starting at B.B. Barns as a customer liaison, and she’s been hooked ever since.

An Asheville local since she was six months old (with a brief adventure in Colorado), Brittany lives in Oakley with her partner, Thomas, and their lovable dog, Eleanor. Her favorite plant is goldenrod, a bright marker of her favorite season: fall. Outside of work, she loves reading, baking, cycling, hiking, and all things Taylor Swift.

On her bucket list… Cycle the world!

Danny Crompton

Inventory Control Manager, Retail Division

Danny has been with B.B. Barns for 18 years, managing inventory systems, receiving processes, and the VMX platform that helps keep things running smoothly behind the scenes. With nearly three decades of experience in IT, finance, and inventory control—and numerous certifications to match—he plays a vital role in keeping operations efficient and organized.

Originally from Asheville, Danny values the small, family-owned feel of B.B. Barns and the strong sense of community that comes with it. When it comes to plants, he can’t pick just one favorite—there are too many good ones.

Outside of work, Danny enjoys life with his wife and their two cats, and spends his free time around hot rods, racing, and anything fast.

Mary Lansden “ML” Rees-Jones

Chief Financial Officer / Integrator

ML is the CFO and Integrator at B.B. Barns, where she safeguards the company’s financial health, leads cross-team communication, and heads up special projects that support long-term growth. With an MBA from Columbia Business School and a love for both numbers and people, she brings clarity, focus, and heart to everything she does.

Originally from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, ML moved to Black Mountain in 2020 and has called WNC home ever since. Her favorite thing about B.B. Barns? Hands down—the people.

ML’s favorite plant is the hellebore for its early blooms, wide variety, and the hopeful signal that spring is on the way. At home, she shares life with her husband Huw, their two daughters, Skye and Ffion, and their two big pups, Huck and Alfie. Outside of work, ML loves baking, running, biking, hiking, and painting oil portraits, a secret talent she still finds time for.

On her bucket list… Becoming a grandma one day because it just looks like so much fun!

Nicolette Davis

Director of Finance

Nicolette has been with B.B. Barns since 2019, leading the Finance team with a focus on accuracy, accountability, and clear communication. She manages daily transactions, payroll and benefits, insurance and risk, and ensures timely financial closes across all divisions. Her attention to detail and love for reconciling down to the penny make her a steady hand in a world that’s often gray, because for Nicolette, numbers are black and white.

Originally from Raleigh, she moved to Hendersonville in 2019 with her family. Her favorite part of B.B. Barns is the people… From dedicated team members to loyal customers, it’s the community that makes it special.

Outside of work, Nicolette enjoys spending time with family and friends. She also finds joy in tending to her houseplants, watching them flourish with a little care and conversation. She lives with her husband, Zane, their two children, Alena and Gabe, plus their dog, Chloe, and cat, Ocean.

Her secret talent? She can solve a Rubik’s Cube!

B.B. Barns began as a unique idea planted by Barney Bryant in 1988: a place that could bring together gardeners and outdoor enthusiasts under one roof. With the help of a loan from his friend Ned Gibson, the first store opened that September in Asheville’s Oakley neighborhood. By the following spring, Ned had joined Barney as a business partner, and their blend of a garden center and outdoor outfitter quickly became one of Asheville’s favorite destinations, appealing to two of America’s most beloved pastimes.

From the beginning, our success has grown from one core philosophy: relationships matter. We believe in connecting with each customer, one interaction at a time, and helping them succeed in their garden and landscape journey. It’s not just about selling a plant, it’s about sharing knowledge, offering support, and creating a positive experience from start to finish.

Today, B.B. Barns is led by a dedicated leadership team and an incredible staff. With deep roots in Western North Carolina, we’re proud to continue growing with our community… Still passionate about plants, still committed to people, and still inspired every day by the beauty of the land we call home.