Employee Appreciation: Rebecca O’Connell

By Greta Engel

Phipps is well-known for our beautiful gardens, seasonal flower shows, pioneering sustainability initiative, informative educational programs and community outreach. None of our work would be possible without the knowledge and dedication of our employees. There is a wide array of departments at Phipps, each playing an integral role in creating a wonderful experience for our guests. In this series of profiles, we meet some of our employees and get a glimpse into what they do to make Phipps possible. 

As a longtime Phipps guest with many fond memories of visiting over the years, Rebecca O’Connell began working in Guest Services in September of 2019. She was also inspired to apply by a friend who also worked at Phipps in the Guest Services department!

Her typical day involves greeting guests and meeting new people as she scans their tickets. She also spends a lot of her time giving directions to visitors and answering any questions they might ask upon entry to the Conservatory. She often engages guests in conversation about the current show and their experience visiting Phipps.

When asked about her favorite memory while working at Phipps, Rebecca had a hard time choosing just one! She has really enjoyed the variety of plant life she’s encountered on the job stating, “I’ve seen some amazing plants over the years – blue Himalayan poppies; bananas, papayas and pomelos; cycad cones; water lilies – they’re all my favorites.” Two of her favorite exhibits have been the Billy Porter show, Flowers Meet Fashion, and The Hidden Life of Trolls show. She particularly loved the rainbow gown that was on display in the Welcome Center during the Billy Porter show. When reflecting on the Trolls Exhibit, Rebecca says, “It was great to see the guests’ delighted reactions to the moving, talking Fen and Ivy figures.”

In her spare time, Rebecca enjoys completing the daily New York Times puzzles, including Wordle and Spelling Bee. She is also fond of reading and gardening. Just recently she began tending to some of the community gardens in her neighborhood of Lawrenceville! Rebecca’s passion for plants and continuous care for Phipps’ guests make her a valuable member of the Guest Services team.