Women in Horticulture Interview Series
Cat Blaney, President Ball FloraPlant
Our Guest
Cat Blaney
President Ball FloraPlant
Cat Blaney likes to say she’s not sure whether she found horticulture — or horticulture found her.
She discovered plants in the fifth grade, after her family moved to a new home in the Chicago suburbs. Armed with a red wagon and full of curiosity, she’d make trips down the street to a generous neighbor’s garden, gathering plants to transform her own backyard. What began as a childhood project quietly planted the seeds for a lifelong career.
Cat received her Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University where she started as a horticulture science major but detoured into Dietetics. Despite the change in major, the unmistakable pull towards plants remained and led her to working at Hinsdale Nursery during and after college. She discovered she loved not only growing plants but also growing a business. Wearing various hats in retail, wholesale and as a buyer sparked a new ambition: to understand the business side as deeply as the botanical side. While working full-time, she earned her MBA from Loyola University Quinlan School of Business, equipping herself to further her career.
When Ball expanded its perennial business and acquired Darwin Colombia, Cat became a frequent traveler to Colombia, helping strengthen and grow the operation. Those years deepened her global perspective and sharpened her operational expertise.
Today, as President of Ball FloraPlant, Cat is known for her grit, humility, and unwavering work ethic. She believes in showing up, doing the hard work, and earning trust over time. A former member of the Purdue Crew team, she brings that athlete’s discipline and team mindset to leadership.
Cat and her husband have two young and active daughters, four and seven years old. Outside of work, Cat channels her competitive spirit into coaching her daughter’s basketball team and funnels her creative energy into cooking, baking, and gardening at home in the Chicago suburbs. When she is not at work, she also enjoys volunteering at her daughters’ school. She has been blessed with strong mentors her entire life, starting with her mother and grandmother.
From a young girl with a passion for gardening to leading one of the industry’s most respected breeding companies, Cat’s journey is rooted in curiosity, resilience, and a deep love for growing things — people and plants alike.