MARIANNE SIMON left her cushy job with MGM in 1999 to start her own landscape business, but her love of nature goes way back. In fact, while most kids were making mud pies, Marianne was eating them. Since then, her choice of dining venues has changed, but not her affinity to the earth.  Marianne founded her landscape design company, Poetic Plantings, with the vision of creating gardens that would nurture the spirit and nourish the earth. Her newest project, Speak Your Passion, is a company dedicated to the vision of claiming our voice and speaking for those who have none.  She helps speakers create passionate presentations that attract clients, inspire action and change the world.  In a fun, safe environment, she guides her clients to step out onto the stage with more confidence and authenticity. Prior to design, Marianne was a working actress and director. Marianne has a Graduate Certificate in Landscape Architecture from UCLA and a B.A. in Theater from San Francisco State University. Marianne co-developed the curriculum for the G3 Qualified Trainer program and has developed the Voice of Watersheds Project for G3. She also is the Program Manager for many of G3’s regional programs including Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, and coordinates the Watershed Wise Landscape Professional Certification Program.