President

Marcella is a  transplanted New Yorker who is enjoying gardening and retirement.

She volunteers at Maple Bay Community Farm, and the Boardman Nature Center where you will find her behind the desk as a docent and tending the green roof garden and native plant beds from spring to fall.

Marcella is passionate about planting native plants and trees and actively removing invasives. You can find her along the TART trail in spring pulling spotted knapweed or garlic mustard

Treasurer

Advanced Master Gardener                               

Jim is a retired senior financial executive with over 35 years of experience in the finance services industry. He has been an avid gardener for most of his adult life. After retiring in 2019 he pursued his Master Gardener certification. Over these last four years he has been actively involved in a number of Master Gardener projects in both Grand Traverse and Leelanau County. He was recognized as Master Gardener of Year for Grand Traverse, Leelanau and Benzie County in 2021.

Secretary

D.V.M. Colorado State University

Nancy is a semi-retired veterinarian and master gardener. She has worked for over 20 years at a major animal health company where she oversaw post-licensing regulatory matters. In that role, she managed a team of 30 veterinary professionals. Currently, she works part-time at a local veterinary clinic. Nancy was certified as a Michigan Master Gardener in 2018 and is particularly interested in growing and making healthy food available for everyone. She and her husband also have a hobby chestnut orchard in Leelanau County.

Director

Barbara is a retired Munson Behavioral Therapist with a background in TV news reporting, photo-journalism & professional photography. 

She has served on the Board of Directors with the Women's Resource Center, worked on the 86th District Sobriety Court for 10 years, and presented on prescription drug addiction at the Nat'l Mental Health Conference in Chicago, the Michigan Association of CMH Boards in Lansing, as well as locally at the Grand Traverse Resort. 

She does volunteer work for the Boardman Nature Center, the Botanic Gardens, and is an Advanced Master Gardener currently on the Board of Directors for over 6 years. 

Barbara is a certified Shoreland  Steward, and her property has a Monarch Butterfly Waystation and is a certified Nat'l Wildlife habitat. 

She finds serenity and much joy spending time with her 10 grandchildren and one great granddaughter. 

Director

Known professionally for creative and targeted marketing programs, Ruth took semi-retirment 20 years ago and now balances her days but focusing also on her passion for gardening. Its a passion she took to the Michigan Master Gardener program in 2007 when she earned her Master Gardener status.

She’s now an Advanced Master Gardener and has earned the coveted gold volunteer badge that recognizes 1,000 hours of volunteer service. She also blogs about gardening, attends as many educational sessions as possible and constantly fights weeds and invasive species on her home parcel, part of the family farm.

She brings to volunteer organizations the skills she honed during more than 25 years with Foremost Corporation of America, the nation's leading insurer of manufactured housing and recreational vehicles. She developed an expertise in crisis communications was a vital part of Foremost's exemplary customer service in the wake of hurricanes, floods and earthquakes.