Evans Chigounis is a horticulture professional, community leader, and creative entrepreneur whose success comes from consistency, adaptability, and hands-on work. Raised in Clifton, New Jersey on a one-acre property filled with organic fruit trees, grapevines, vegetables, and herbs, he learned early that growth requires patience and care. Those lessons shaped both his mindset and his career.
His professional journey began with a high school job at a local garden centre. From there, Evans built decades of experience working in nurseries, landscaping, and gardening. He later expanded his skills into carpentry and graphic arts, spending 13 years in pre-press as a Mac retoucher. Each role strengthened his ability to focus, solve problems, and deliver reliable results.
Education played a practical role in his success. Evans studied art and illustration at Bergen Community College and took coursework in horticulture and biology at Birmingham Community College. While he did not pursue a formal degree, he focused on learning skills he could apply immediately.
In 2017, Evans worked in the horticulture department at the Kansas City Zoo, supporting plant environments tied directly to animal care and public education. Alongside his professional work, he became a respected percussionist and drum circle facilitator, leading community sessions and volunteering as the facilitator of the Asbury Drum & Dance community.
Evans defines success as steady progress, meaningful work, and the ability to contribute to others through skills built over a lifetime.
How do you personally define success?
Success, to me, means stability and purpose. It means waking up knowing your skills are useful. I’ve never chased titles. I’ve focused on being dependable and good at what I do. If I can support myself, help others, and keep learning, I consider that success.
Did your childhood influence how you think about success?
Absolutely. Growing up on land where you had to maintain gardens teaches responsibility early. If you don’t water plants, they fail. That lesson sticks. Success isn’t magic. It’s showing up regularly and doing the work.
What role did your first job play in shaping your career path?
My first job at a garden centre showed me that work can feel natural when it matches your interests. I learned customer service, plant care, and discipline. That job set the foundation for everything that followed.
You’ve worked across several industries. How did that contribute to your success?
Working in horticulture, carpentry, graphic arts, and music made me adaptable. When one industry slowed down, I had other skills to rely on. Spending 13 years in graphic arts taught me precision. Carpentry taught me structure. Gardening taught me patience.
How did your education factor into your journey?
I used education as a tool, not a destination. I took classes in art, illustration, horticulture, and biology because I needed the knowledge. I didn’t focus on degrees. I focused on skill-building.
What did you learn from working at the Kansas City Zoo?
That environment matters. Every plant supported something larger. That experience reinforced how small details affect big systems. It also showed me how public-facing work requires consistency and accountability.
What does success look like in your community work and music?
Success there is connection. When people leave a drum circle calmer than they arrived, that’s success. It’s not measured in money. It’s measured in impact.
Was there a moment when you questioned your path?
Yes. My organic basil business in the early ’80s didn’t work because the market wasn’t ready. That failure taught me timing is just as important as effort. I didn’t stop trying. I adjusted.
What habits helped you build a stable career?
Showing up early. Taking care of tools. Staying organised. Keeping things simple. I don’t overcomplicate systems. I focus on repeatable habits.
Do you think success is misunderstood today?
I do. People think success is fast or visible. Real success is quiet. It’s built over years, not posts.
What advice would you give someone trying to build their own version of success?
Learn skills that transfer. Be patient. Work with your hands. And don’t ignore small opportunities. They compound.
Looking back, what are you most proud of?
That I built a life where my skills support me and allow me to give back. That balance is success to me.