For nearly 40 years, John Peters has helped Texans grow gardens. Along the way, he also grew something else: Calloway’s Nursery’s next generation of leaders.
At the end of June, Peters—the last active founder of the Texas-based garden center chain—will retire from the company he co-founded in 1986. But unlike many founders stepping away from a business, Peters leaves behind a leadership team shaped from within the organization.
President and CEO Marce Ward, who has served in the role for the last 11 years, was one of Peters’ earliest hires. In 1987, Ward joined the original Calloway’s team, loading plants into customers’ cars at the company’s first location on Greenville Avenue…