Leadership & Staff
Powell Gardens employs a diverse staff to maintain, grow, promote and evolve the Gardens and the organizational vision and mission.
Tabitha Schmidt
CEO/President
Tabitha Schmidt joined Powell Gardens in the summer of 2016 as CEO and President. She has important goals for her work at the Gardens, including growing the organization in meaningful ways that invest in a long-term, sustainable future. She has extensive background in non-profits and educational institutions, having held such positions as the Director of Cultural Arts at the Jewish Community Center, Executive Director of the Museum of Texas Tech University, Director of the School for Continuing and Professional Studies at the Kansas City Art Institute, Associate Educator of Adult Learning/Manager of Tour Programs at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Director of Instruction/Arts Partners Coordinator at Kansas City Young Audiences and Student Activities Coordinator/Adjunct Art and Art History Faculty at Maple Woods Community College. Tabitha earned a B.A. in Art from Baker University and an M.A. in Art History from UMKC.
Board of Directors
Amy Eckhoff, Chair
Justin White, Vice-Chair
Jay Longbottom, Past Chair
Ellen Fairchild, Treasurer
Gary Barnes, Secretary
Scott Burnett
Corey Casey
Kristopher Dabner
Wes Fehsenfeld
George Guastello
Jim Houx
Mark Killen
Ann Mesle
Mary O’Connor
Anne Riker Powell
Nicholas Powell
John Rufenacht
Julie Wilson
Sharon Ramsey, Director of Development & Communication
Emma Robertson, Assistant Director of Development & Communication
Laina Gunsallus, Marketing Specialist
Caitlin Eckard
Manager, Education
Cambria Floyd
Manager, Exhibitions
Mark Zimmerman
Chief Operating Officer
Susan Mertz, Director of Horticulture
Children’s Garden & Heartland Harvest Garden
Eric Perrette, Lead Horticulturist
Becky Carbonell, Senior Gardener
Casey McNeel, Senior Gardener
Haze Gaddie, Gardener
Core Gardens
Matt Hockaday, Horticulturist
Molly Shepherd, Gardener
Daniel Wicks, Gardener
Zoe Aber, Gardener
Natural Resources
Julie Copley, Conservationist
Cliff Bennett
Mowing Team
Dave Chastain, Senior Gardener
Naomi Chastain, Gardener
Production Greenhouse
Donna Covell, Lead Horticulturist
Marissa Mills, Senior Gardener
Tommy Loggins, Gardener
Visitor Center Gardens
Brent Tucker, Lead Horticulturist
Cassie Callahan, Gardener
Jasmine Rodriques, Gardener
Accessions Office
Avery Mangiameli, Plant Record Registrar
Mark DeBrot, Maintenance Manager
Troy Young, Lead Maintenance
Dave Wilson, Maintenance Assistant
Tyler Young, Maintenance Assistant
Paula Elledge, Manager, Private Events
Adisynn Foster
Jenny Hayes, Director of Visitor Experience
Elizabeth Hanson, Manager, Operations
Stacy Gratwick, Specialist, Retail
Heather Clenin, Coordinator, Retail
Roland Thibault, Visitor Services Representative
Jennifer Love, Visitor Services Representative
Custodial
Jessica Huckaby, Custodian
Christopher Heller, Custodian
Wayne Nevils, Special Events Assistant