Find your path to success with a diverse range of more than 120 degree, certificate, and continuing education programs.
Bergen Community College alumnus Charles Grieco, ‘77, was one of the first students to enter and graduate from Bergen’s Horticulture Program.
“The program assisted me in transforming my knowledge from my studies at Bergen to operate our family business efficiently on a daily basis,” said Grieco.
Grieco’s grandfather, Tom Grieco, founded “Tom’s Florist” in Garfield, New Jersey in 1942. Growing up around his grandfather’s family business, Grieco felt like he was born into the horticulture field. To support the business he would later take over, he enrolled in Bergen’s Horticulture Program in 1975, the same year the program was founded by the late Dr. Jacob Fisher.
“For two years he was not only my instructor but a friend,” he said. The program was new to Fisher, and to the students, according to Grieco. Their learning together was what made that first class a family.
“Being alongside Professor Fisher made it more rewarding than anyone can imagine,” said Grieco. “He included everyone of us in everything, from planting trees to building the first ever greenhouse at Bergen, and everything else that needed to be done to start up the program.”
The first class took trips to various tree and turf farms to observe and test the plants around them, transforming the students into better horticulturists.
After graduating from Bergen in 1977, Grieco enrolled into Rutgers University’s Plant Science degree program. Once his educational journey was over, he began taking up leadership opportunities within his career.
Not only did Grieco take over his grandfather’s business in 2000, he also became the Zoning Board Chairperson for the City of Garfield for 12 years. Currently, Grieco is a consultant for “Garfield Wholesale Flowers.”
“I knew when we graduated that the following graduating classes were going to have the same rewarding experiences that we had the pleasure of partaking in,” said Grieco. “Still as of this day I can say thanks to Professor Fisher for teaching me some of the things he taught me years ago that I still use in the floral side of the program in my present career.”
Based in Paramus, Bergen Community College (www.bergen.edu), a public two-year coeducational college, enrolls more than 24,000 students at locations in Paramus, the Philip Ciarco Jr. Learning Center in Hackensack and Bergen Community College at the Meadowlands in Lyndhurst. The College offers associate degree, certificate and continuing education programs in a variety of fields. More students graduate from Bergen than any other community college in the state.
# # #