Meet the Staff
Matt Horn, Owner
Matt Horn is a 1980 graduate of Cornell University. He earned his degree in horticulture and landscape design. He is a past president of the American Nursery and Landscape Association’s (ANLA) Retail Division Board. In July 2007, he was elected to the ANLA Board of Directors. In 2005, Matt was elected to the Board of the National Association of Pond Professionals. Matt served as Northeast Director of the Perennial Plant Association from 1990-1995. He was President of the Rockland County Landscape Association from 1989-1995. Matt lectures frequently throughout the United States on topics relating to horticulture, water gardening, and landscape design. He has taught at the New York Botanical Garden and at the Cary Arboretum and frequently appears on the B. Smith With Style Show. Matt is a certified New York State Nurseryman and is certified as a Master Pond Keeper. Matterhorn Nursery, Inc. was founded in 1981 by Matt Horn and his wife, Ronnie. They have three children, three golden retrievers, and one cat. Son Matthew is a Cornell graduate. Matthew oversees the Life on the Vine Wine Shop and is a partner in Allegiance Sports Group, LLC. Jessica is pursuing a career in counseling and also teaches tennis. Alexandra is about to begin her senior year in high school. Matterhorn draws customers from a 300 to 400 mile radius, including New York City, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and New Jersey

Ronnie Horn, Owner
Ronnie Zebrowski Horn is a 1980 graduate of the State University of New York at Cortland. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Education and, with her husband Matt, founded Matterhorn in 1981. As teenagers, Matt and Ronnie fished in the ponds that today run through Matterhorn. Both thought their favorite fishing spot would make a great garden center. In 1980, Ronnie and Matt married and moved to Virginia. While reading a trade publication, Matt came across a for sale notice. The fishing spot was for sale and Matterhorn was born. Today, Ronnie has a hand in all of Matterhorn’s divisions and operations. Her education background became the impetus for Matterhorn’s school trip program. Each fall, thousands of N-5 grade students visit Matterhorn to learn about the natural environment. Ronnie remains an enthusiastic guide, introducing the beauty of nature and the importance of conservation to the next generation.

Matt Horn, Jr., Owner
Matt Horn, Jr. is a 2007 graduate of Cornell University, his father’s alma mater. Matt fell in love with the world of wine during an Agricultural Wine Tour of France organized by Cornell. He spent a summer touring three famous wine making regions in France – Alsace, Burgundy, and Bordeaux. Upon his return from France, Matt visited California and New York’s wine regions and brought his love of wine back home to Matterhorn’s Life on Vine Wine Shop. He manages Life on the Vine, where he is able to share his love for the world of wine and bring recognition to the local New York State vintners. Matt recently completed a Sommelier’s course and loves sharing his knowledge and wine appreciation with his clients. Matt is also a presence in the Perennial and Nursery Stock Division. In addition to wholesale and retail sales, Matt Jr. works closely with his dad to design Matterhorn’s retailscapes. He is also a partner in Allegiance Sport Group, LLC.

Michael Ruggiero, Horticulturist
Michael Ruggiero serves as horticulturist and all-around plant and garden expert at Matterhorn in Spring Valley. Michael came to Matterhorn after nearly forty years as senior curator in the Horticulture Department at the New York Botanical Garden. He is a renowned horticulturist and lectures extensively on a range of plant and gardening topics.

Michael continually supports horticultural learning and knowledge, sharing his expertise through workshops, seminars, and formal classes. Continuing his long-time association with the New York Botanical Garden, Michael Ruggiero serves as an instructor for The School of Horticulture. An accomplished author, Michael’s books include Perennial Gardening, Spotter’s Guide to Wild Flowers of North America, and Annuals with Style: Design Ideas from Classic to Cutting Edge.

Noah Schwartz, Head Grower and Greenhouse Manager
Noah Schwartz is the head grower, manager and buyer for Matterhorn Nursery, Inc. Noah oversees all of Matterhorn's branded plant lines and is the chief buyer for outsourced annual and tropical plants. P. Allen Smith regularly features Noah’s line of Matterhorn Grown Plants during his appearances on the NBC Today Show. In 2006, Noah was named Young Grower of the Year, a national award, by Grower Talks Magazine.

Kristen Z. Stavisky, Director of Special Events and Marketing
Kristen has been with Matterhorn since the very beginning from volunteering with initial property clean-up at age 10 to retail sales, inventory, management and just about everything in between! After a six year absence during which she worked in education managing the accreditation efforts and the day to day administration for the Graduate School at the Bank Street College of Education, Kristen returned to Matterhorn in 2005 as Director of Special Events and Marketing. Kristen oversees tour services, special event rentals, and advertising and marketing campaigns. She is happy to be back “home” with her aunt and uncle, Ronnie and Matt Horn.

Kristen is a graduate of Skidmore College (Cum Laude) with a degree in Anthropology. She received a Juris Doctor from Pace University School of Law and earned her Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration from Teachers College, Columbia University. Kristen is active in local democratic politics, serving as a committeeperson and second vice chair on the Rockland County Democratic Committee and pledging to uphold her father’s, the late Assemblyman Kenneth P. Zebrowski, legacy of community service. She is a Vice President of the Board of Trustees of the Holocaust Museum & Study Center in Spring Valley, New York. Kristen lives in West Nyack with her husband, Evan, and their Golden Retrievers, Jack and Grady.