ABout Us

The Penning Family’s Lifelong Journey in Landscaping

Penning Landscapes was founded by Lou Penning, who’s passion for plants and landscapes grew while working as a gardener at Joseph Phelps Vineyard in Napa. His creativity and expertise quickly led him to independently design and create enduring landscapes, paving the way for our lifelong study of the intricate balance between plants, water, and soil.

Recognizing the unique challenges of Northern California’s environment—such as relentless heat, varying soils, and water scarcity—Lou honed his understanding of what thrives in the region’s microclimates. His holistic approach, grounded in the belief that landscapes are living entities that evolve over time, he sought to create spaces that would not only be beautiful at planting but would continue to develop and thrive for decades.

Under the leadership of his son Ben Penning, we continue to apply Lou’s holistic methodology to our services, encompassing design, build, maintenance, and plant health. Rooted in long-term expertise of Napa Valley’s and Northern California’s soil, water, and climate, we remain committed to nurturing our clients’ vision for outdoor living spaces. Our team doesn’t just build gardens; we carefully watch over them, ensuring they flourish and thrive for generations to come.

More than 50 Penning Team Members are Ready to Support You:

4 Designers & Landscape Architects

3 Irrigation Experts

1 Enhancement Crew

Vegetable Gardener

6 Maintenance Crews

4 Construction Crews

Plant Health & Resilience Experts

14 in Management, Operations & Admin

The Penning Team

Ben Penning

President

Years of Experience: 20+

Degrees & Certifications:

Bachelor of Arts, San Diego State University
Irrigation Auditor
Qualified Applicator Certificate (QAC)
Bay Friendly Certified

Most rewarding part of your job: The partnerships with clients and their families that last for years.

Wendy Carter Jordan

Office Manager & Bookkeeper

Years of Experience: 20+

Favorite plant & why: Favorite flower is the Dahlia. They are beautiful and delicate with plenty of character and come in a wide variety of flower shapes, sizes and colors.

Most rewarding part of your job: I love working with our passionate and caring team!

Katy Kabbe

Landscape Architect & Operations Manager

Years of Experience: 15

Degrees & Certifications:

Bachelor of Arts in Landscape Architecture, UC Berkeley
Licensed California State Landscape Architect

Most rewarding part of your job: Working with the talented and dedicated team at Penning Landscapes.

Sha-Khan Starks

Lead Installation Manager

Years of Experience: 15

Degrees & Certifications:

Bachelor of Arts in Landscape Architecture, UC Berkeley
Master Gardener Trained

Most rewarding part of your job: When we convert our install clients into maintenance clients. The client choosing to continue their partnership with Penning means that we’ve delivered a superior product.

Gonzalo Mannucci

Landscape Architect & Associate Install Manager

Years of Experience: 5

Degrees & Certifications:

Certificate in Landscape Architecture, UC Berkeley
MBA, University of Michigan
Bachelor of Arts, New York University
Licensed California State Landscape Architect

Favorite plant & why: The Coast Live Oak. It is a California native that provides shade and furnishes a habitat for hundreds of living organisms, and it’s very climb-able too.

Gemme Von Knopka

Vegetable Garden Manager

Years of Experience: 20+

Degrees & Certifications:

Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies

Most rewarding part of your job: I love seeing the progress of the plants grown from a seed until production – it’s pretty amazing!

Cody Thomas

Irrigation & Water Resource Manager

Years of Experience: 20+

Degrees & Certifications:

CLCA Certified Irrigation Technician
Irrigator Tech Certified Irrigation Technician
Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL)

Most rewarding part of your job: I love solving complex challenges and implementing innovative solutions to conserve water and improve the efficiency of our client’s irrigation systems.

Ali White

Maintenance Account Manager

Years of Experience: 20+

Degrees & Certifications:

Bachelor of Arts in Biology
Bachelor of Science in Plant Science
Rescape Qualified Professional
Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL)
Urban Forester Certified

Most rewarding part of your job: Bringing joy to clients and employees!

Steve Cole

Maintenance Account Manager

Years of Experience: 20+

Degrees & Certifications:

Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, California State University Fullerton
ISA Certified Arborist
Qualified Applicators License

Favorite plant & why: I love the coast tea tree (Leptospermum laevigatum) because of its twisted trunk, small leaves, and unassuming white flowers. It reminds me of trips to the arboretum with my grandmother as a child.