Bill Calkins is the Retail Business Manager for Ball Horticultural Company and Product Marketing Manager at Ball Seed Company. Ball Seed is a fourth generation-owned independent company headquartered in West Chicago, IL for more than 110 years. He is also the host of the podcast STEM: Insider Tips for Greenhouse Pros.
Bill is part of the team behind Ball Seed combines extensive experience and innovative thinking to make sure greenhouse growers always have the best products, the most efficient tools and the dynamic solutions to build winning businesses. Ball Seed sources world-class breeding and product development that drive new sales, delight the consumer and generate demand.

Bill has been editor of Today’s Garden Center and Field Editor of Greenhouse Grower for Meister Media Worldwide and Green Profit for Ball Publishing, trade magazines serving the commercial horticulture market. These roles helped him develop a holistic view of the horticulture industry and allowed him the opportunity to visit leading businesses around the world.

He lives in Cleveland, OH with his wife and best friend, Jennifer, and has two wonderful girls, Emma and Paige. His hobbies include running, swimming, biking, gardening and collecting as many random antiques as his office can hold.

Bill joined KidsGardening.org because he is passionate about both the benefits this healthy, natural activity brings to children’s development, as well as his desire to share the mission with other industry professionals.