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Our Team
Owner, Creative Director
MARY PAT BROWN
Welcome. I was born in Nova Scotia, grew up outside Washington D.C., and moved out West directly upon graduating from the University of Virginia in 2000 with a degree in Sociology. I worked in the mental health field for several years, during which time I met my now adult adoptive daughter. I had the privilege of teaching skiing in Telluride for many years and found landscaping a natural complement. I became fascinated with the medicinal, functional and artistic value of plants and studied under several master gardeners, learning all I could about high altitude gardening. As I learned, I slowly started taking on projects myself, building the skills that allowed me to establish Great Fortune Design. We have since become a vehicle for exceptionally hard working and talented people to create truly awesome plant art. I am constantly inspired by our staff and thankful for our clients who have allowed us to grow, both in the city and the mountains. I am especially excited to now be offering nature prints along with our organic gardening services. The prints feature pollinators, wildflowers, alpine scenes and high altitude gardens.
Owner, Logistical Consultant
David Brown
I grew up on a farm outside Seattle, WA where I developed many skills for designing and building landscape features. I have always loved the outdoors. I started landscaping as my non-winter job while living in Telluride, CO and living for winter. After Mary Pat moved to Denver to marry me, she created Great Fortune Design. I finished my second degree in May 2018, with a BS in Mechanical Engineering from University of Colorado, Denver. I joined the GFD team from 2020-2024. I greatly enjoyed the challenges and diversity of work presented by owning a company, which include both the logistics of the business and in the field installation crew supervision and labor. Great Fortune Design is a beautiful combination of art and technical design. I am proud of our team. Beginning in 2025, I ended my full-time role with GFD to pursue the design, creation and use of adaptive sports equipment. I am happy to still offer the team my insights and skills as projects arise that require them.
Denver Manager
SAM LINCOLN
I was raised in Maine and spent most of the first few decades on the East Coast. I went to Oberlin College in Ohio studying Psychology and upon graduation felt due for an urban experience. I moved to New York and began shuffling obediently down a career path. The joy of these years was inspired by the city and by my own precious youth - never for a moment did my work inspire me.
I have always kept houseplants, finding they enhanced the energy of the spaces they inhabited, as well as my own sense of well being. When I came to Colorado, I started volunteering to pull weeds in Washington Park and fell quite organically into the magical world of plants. I marveled at how time disappears in the moment and yet also feels well spent at the day's end. This was a long way from basement labs and research papers- now I'm covered in dirt and completely at peace.
I am so grateful to have found a home at Great Fortune; a team that channels my enthusiasm and supports me as I learn. I feel a new sure footedness and a confidence that more will be revealed along the way.
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