American Hydroponics Team

The latest company photo

Front Row (L to R): Erik Asness, Devin Galdeiri, Travis Collins, Jane Schwalbe

Middle Row (L to R): Ward Estelle, Kevin Hulcy, Rudy Clark-Luera, Carrie Grant, Donna Eitel, Alan Diaz, Donvieve Udell, Michael Christian

Back Row (L to R): Kelley Nicholson, Eric Christian, Scott Kornberg, Cody Gingerich, Will Gerhard, Brian Prigmore, John Machado

Not pictured:  Leota Day, Jenny Harris 

Michael Christian

President and Chief Executive Officer

Michael Christian is the President and Chief Executive Officer. As a Co-Founder, he has led the company since its inception in 1984.

Michael co-founded American Hydroponics after discovering a need to further develop soilless horticulture in the hobby marketplace.  The company soon introduced products and technologies that set the standards for years to come.  More than a decade after establishing the company as an industry leader, Michael traveled to Australia and New Zealand to learn about the Nutrient Film Technique of soilless growing for large-scale commercial applications. He learned under the tutelage of Grenville Stocker, who is one of New Zealand’s top agricultural chemists/horticulturists.  Michael then became one of the key players responsible for bringing NFT to North America and establishing it as one of the foremost techniques-of-choice in the commercial horticulture industry.

Michael has written numerous articles for trade journals to promote the use of hydroponic technology, as well as documenting his travels abroad, including Practical Hydroponics & Greenhouses, Growing Edge, Urban Garden, among others.  He was featured in a 2007 episode of the television show California Heartland, a program that chronicles interesting and newsworthy stories in the state's agricultural arenas. In 2004, Michael was awarded the prestigious Green Entrepreneur of the Year Award from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, recognizing his significant contributions to the industry and their positive effect on our ecology.

Michael studied plant physiology, biology and botany at Humboldt State University in California, and has continuously attended many symposiums and industry seminars worldwide.

He is a member of numerous ecological and horticultural organizations, including the Progressive Gardening Trade Association, Hydroponic Society of America, Union of Concerned Scientists, Natural Resource Defense Council, NorthCoast Environmental Center, as well as Cal Trout and Trout Unlimited.  Additionally, Michael serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of Sky Vegetables. Michael was also a founding director of the Hydroponic Merchants Association.

Outside of work, Michael’s passions include fly-fishing with his sons and friends, adventures with his grandchildren, practicing yoga, traveling with his wife, skiing, dahlias, writing, and growing food.

Co-Founders Donvieve & Michael Christian

Jane Schwalbe

GM & Chief Operations Officer

Jane Schwalbe is General Manager and Chief Operations Officer at American Hydroponics, bringing over 30 years of global business management experience. 

Jane has been with Amhydro since 2004 and she is responsible for the company's operations and core corporate functions that support all areas of the business worldwide, including financials, strategic planning, business development, marketing, business infrastructure, performance analysis, sales channels and technical services.

Prior to this role, Ms. Schwalbe worked at a number of corporations and has been involved with many disciplines within corporations and turnaround management.  She most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Emerson Kennedy, an international software consulting firm.  She was responsible for returning the company to profitability by selling the first globalization project and deploying eighteen new branch offices throughout Europe, Asia and Mexico. She previously held several Director-level positions with the Fixed Wireless start-up division of AT&T Inc., including Director of Business Development.  With AT&T, Jane successfully led her team to define, implement and support core engineering design tools and processes. Prior to that, Jane worked at Mentor Graphics and started up the Northwest Area Consulting Practice, being responsible for the profit and loss center, hitting sales targets and delivery of consulting service. Jane started her career at Amdahl as a software engineer and worked there for twelve years in various management positions.

Jane is a graduate of University of Wisconsin in LaCrosse, where she earned her Bachelor’s of Computer Science degree.  She also earned her certification in Sustainable Business Practices from University of California at San Diego.

Her passions include traveling, gardening, reading, hiking, tuning up businesses, and spending time with friends and family, especially her children and grandchildren.

Scott Kornberg

Chief Technology Officer

Scott Kornberg is Chief Technology Officer, primarily responsible for all Commercial operations. He brings more than 30 years of horticultural management experience to Amhydro, growing and scaling greenhouse and warehouse operations, both large and small.

At Amhydro, Scott is responsible for engineering, product development, manufacturing, distribution, sales channels and technical services to effectively manage and grow business on a global basis, as well as nurturing the relationships with our growers.

Kornberg joined Amhydro from Sun Valley Floral Farms where he had two distinct stints, most recently serving as Director of Operations. His prior role at Sun Valley was Greenhouse Manager, where he managed several hundred thousand square feet of greenhouses and warehouses. Kornberg was then recruited to launch B&H Flowers, a new hydroponic flower facility with over 600,000 square feet of greenhouses. There, he was responsible for new construction, staff management and overall operations. After seven years, he then returned to Sun Valley Floral Farms as Director of Operations, where he was responsible for intensive growth and the implementation of a continuous improvement program. This led Sun Valley to unprecedented efficiency and savings, all while blossoming greenhouse operations to over one million square feet.

A graduate of the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Scott earned his degree in Horticultural and Agricultural Science. He also studied botany and agriculture at Humboldt State University.

Eric Christian

System Design & Special Projects

Eric Christian began working for the company in the mid-90’s, even before graduating from high school.

In his role as System Design Specialist, Eric is responsible for configuring custom, commercial growing systems, and supporting the needs of growers and systems that have been installed. He continues to design systems, drawing from his years of working at virtually every position within the company, rightfully giving him the title “jack of all trades”.

In 1996, Eric constructed, operated and managed the first NFT lettuce farm of its kind in the United States, learning first-hand the skills and practices necessary in a successful farming business.

Eric is a true Humboldt County local and graduated from Arcata High School. He is an accomplished pianist, and attended Falconers School of Piano Technology in Lakeport, California.

Eric and his wife Emily love to salsa dance and they teach classes locally. He enjoys fly-fishing with his father and brothers, learning new technologies, and playing music. More than anything else, being married to Emily and enjoying their daughter is what Eric relishes the most.

Kelley Nicholson

Director of Wholesale Sales

Kelley Nicholson is the Director of Wholesale Sales and has been with the company for over twelve years.

In her role as Director of Wholesale Sales, Kelley is responsible for bringing together and servicing all aspects of the dealer network. She travels frequently to support the dealers’ needs and appears at most industry trade shows and conferences. Kelley is also responsible for directing the fulfillment of automation-related electronics within the Hobby product line. In order to become an expert in their operations and further solidify their foundation among the top grower automation tools in the U.S., Kelley trained directly under the creators of IntelliDose and IntelliClimate in New Zealand.

Kelley studied Communications at Humboldt State University in California, and graduated Cum Laude in 1999. She has attended many symposiums and industry seminars related to business and horticulture. She frequently works with schools and students to introduce hydroponics into the classroom and has become known as the “Strawberry Lady”, as well as working with senior centers and juvenile halls. Working with Science Alive, Kelley conducts classes for junior and senior high school students.

Kelley is a member of the Progressive Gardening Trade Association and Hydroponic Society of America. Additionally, she was elected to the Board of Directors of the Hydroponic Merchants Association. During her role with the HMA, she served as s key representative of west coast retail stores, helping to organize and plan the annual board meeting and trade show.

Kelley is enjoying her role as aunt for the first time and is devoted to her two dogs, Bacchus and Eros.

Donvieve Udell

Vice President, Greenhouse Manager, Artist Educator

Donvieve Udell is Vice President and has sat continuously on the Board of Directors as a founding member since the company’s inception in 1984.

Donvieve is responsible for greenhouse operations in our experimental greenhouses. In 1995, she trained alongside her husband Michael Christian in Australia and New Zealand to learn the Nutrient Film Technique. Her need to express her artistic side is unquenchable, as she continues to teach others and travel worldwide. Concurrent with her work at Amhydro, Donvieve also enjoyed nine years as Education Director for the Ink People Center for the Arts in Eureka, California.

Donvieve studied Sculpture & Fibers while earning her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from the University of Idaho, as well as studying Design at the New York School of Design in New York City. She earned a Master’s of Fine Arts degree in Theater Arts from Humboldt State University, California, where she continues to serve as an Instructor and Guest Artist. She also instructs art students in several other schools in California and Oregon.

She writes, "Art is the breath that keeps me inspired and excited about life. Growing up on the eastern beaches, I developed an intense relationship with nature. As I grew and traveled, so did my curiosity about faraway places and different people. I formed a great appreciation for the art of primitive and exotic cultures.

Art is an expression of many cultures and their connection to nature, from which our world is now being disconnected in many ways. Disassociation from our primordial being, and attempted dominance over nature, are global challenges. Yet beyond the sadness of this thought, there is hope through nature's constant beauty and mystical environments.

In honoring our environment, my utmost concern is to be committed and conscious of how I impact it by what I create. I have taken the opportunity to work in the Amhydro greenhouses to fulfill my commitment to nature by growing food that is healthy and nourishing."