Her Story
About Eileen
Eileen Heasley serves as Landscape Division Leader, Design/Sales at River Valley Landscapes in Wrightsville, Pennsylvania. She entered the landscaping industry in 2025 as a career change, bringing prior experience in the design-build field, particularly through outdoor design-build work involving pool contracting. Her expertise centers on the design-build aspect of landscaping and team management. Eileen holds a BFA in Fine Arts and Design from Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, where she graduated summa cum laude in 2012. She also earned a certificate in Graphic Design and Digital Design from Moore College of Art and Design and a certificate in Landscape Design from Longwood Gardens. Much of her practical knowledge comes from on-the-job experience. She attributes her career success to grit and determination to persevere, along with a commitment to moving in a positive direction despite feelings of being underqualified or an outsider. In both her professional and personal life, she values family above all and the principle of doing what she says she will do. Eileen has volunteered extensively with the Boys and Girls Club of America throughout much of her career.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Eileen
01What do you attribute your success to?
My success in my career has just been a lot of grit and determination to persevere. I try to quiet all those voices of doubt and keep moving in a positive direction, and more positivity comes to you because you're trying to push forward.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I've ever received was to move in a positive direction. Because a lot of times you feel like you're underqualified or an outsider, but I just try to quiet all those voices and keep moving in a positive direction, and more positivity comes to you.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
It's a male-dominated industry but there is a presence of women. Get your foot in the door at a company and show them that you're serious about excelling and learning and wanting to grow with that company, so you'll find success through that.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Challenges: Lacking education in horticulture, moving to a new industry, keeping up with the world and being relevant as it's an old trade. Opportunities: Make a great living, make other people happy by providing a service, design-build opportunities to positively affect people's lives through their landscape.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Family is always number one. In work, doing what you say you're gonna do.
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