Meet the team
Kurt Straudt: Business Owner
Kurt started Southeast Succulents in the fall of 2009 with the goal of building a new career from two things that brought him joy: gardening and art. He had just returned from 16 years of living abroad in Eastern Europe and decided to take advantage of the opportunity to recycle, reuse and re-purpose his life. Having grown up west of Atlanta, Kurt moved back to Georgia, as it offered both the comfort of familiarity and the intrigue of the undiscovered. His exposure to art and subsequent appreciation for art came from the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, GA where he graduated in 1995 with a Bachelor's degree in Photography and Art History. Kurt owes his passion for watching things grow to his grandmother, Ruby, who showed him how to be part of the miracle of nature.
Cole Purcell: Head Potter
Cole first began to take an interest in horticulture at a young age. He took inspiration from his mother, an avid gardener and plant enthusiast, and took up gardening himself, doing everything from sowing seeds to cultivating a wide array of plants to starting a successful vegetable garden in his own backyard. In addition, he educated himself on the process of composting and has continued to practice the method both at home and at work. Cole was hired by Southeast Succulents in 2020 and has proven himself to be a natural in his profession and a dedicated assistant in the greenhouse.
Caitlyn Purcell: IT Specialist & Social Media Strategist
Caitlyn is currently working towards her Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology at Georgia Southern University and has transferred the skills she’s learned into her current position at Southeast Succulents. She is presently applying her knowledge by creating a fresh, new website for the business, and by establishing a more substantial online presence through diligent social media planning and consistent posting. She has recently started to educate herself on botany and plant care in general and has even adopted a few plants of her own.
Morgan Mitchell: Greenhouse Assistant
Our newest and youngest employee thus far is currently a junior in high school and is already looking towards the horizon, dreaming of attending Troy University in Alabama to study American Sign Language. Morgan was hired by Southeast Succulents in 2021, and has already established herself as a tenacious and hardworking addition to the tight-knit staff. When she's not busy diligently working away in the greenhouse, Morgan's hobbies include baking, sewing, singing, and painting.