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

Hailing from a cotton farm in zone 7a, Braun has lived in Traverse City for the past 7 years and loves calling northern Michigan home.

She and her husband, John (a native Michigander), raised their now three adult children in Arkansas. Prior to relocating here, Braun was a Master Gardener in Craighead County and served on the boards of CASA, Craighead County Community Foundation, and the Jonesboro YMCA.

Formerly a practitioner in public and environmental affairs and communications representing agricultural firms, she now enjoys volunteering, reading, swimming, walking with her well-behaved Standard Poodle, and gardening.

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 National 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 six years. 

Barbara is a certified Shoreland  Steward, her property has a Monarch Butterfly Waystation and is a certified National Wildlife habitat.  She finds serenity and much joy spending time with her 10 grandchildren and one great granddaughter. 

Director

Ruth has been involved with gardening and farming since early childhood following her mother into the garden and her father into the orchard. 

Today she dabbles in houseplants, grows a few herbs and tomatoes on the deck and spends most of her time in the perennial garden with a front yard full of native and adaptable plants. 

She also helps her husband in their small vineyard that they are converting from vinifera grapes to cold hardy varieties bred in Minnesota. 

Professionally she’s a marketing copywriter and consultant working with small businesses to enhance their online presence as well as help them develop traditional media.