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
Jay Longbottom, Chairman
Amy Eckhoff, Vice Chair
Tom Isenberg, Treasurer
Lynne Brown, Secretary
Perry Atha
Gary Barnes
Corey Casey
Kristopher Dabner
Ellen Fairchild
Wes Fehsenfeld
George Guastello
Jim Houx
Mark Killen
Ann Mesle
Mary O’Connor
Anne Riker Powell
Nicholas Powell
Justin White
Julie Wilson
Susan Mertz, Director of Horticulture
Children’s Garden
Eric Perrette, Lead Horticulturist
Casey McNeel, Gardener
Core Gardens
Iris Connolly, Horticulturist
Matt Hockaday, Horticulturist
Julie Copley, Senior Gardener
Marissa Adams, Gardener
Evan Mills, Gardener
Molly Shepherd, Gardener
Daniel Wicks, Gardener
James Finely, Seasonal Gardener
Heartland Harvest Garden
Haley Drake, Lead Horticulturist
Anna Ball, Gardener
Kauffman Gardens
Duane Hoover, Lead Horticulturist
Lori Arri, Seasonal Gardener
Natural Resources
Dave Chastain, Senior Gardener
Naomi Chastain, Gardener
Production Greenhouse
Donna Covell, Lead Horticulturist
Katie Smith, Senior Gardener
Tommy Loggins, Gardener
Visitor Center Gardens
Brent Tucker, Lead Horticulturist
Cassie Callahan, Gardener
Cheyenne Lee, Gardener
Accessions Office
Avery Mangiameli, Plant Record Registrar
Molly Maddox, Director of Development & Communications
Emma Robertson, Annual Fund Manager
Sadie Pederson, Marketing Manager
Laina Gunsallus, Marketing Coordinator
Hali Mieser, Events Specialist
Caitlin Eckard
Manager, Education
Jenny Hayes, Visitor Experience Manager
Elizabeth Hanson, Festival Coordinator
Roland Thibault, Visitor Services Representative
Jennifer Love, Visitor Services Representative
Custodial
Dale Dolash, Custodial Supervisor
Dina Brumitt, Custodial Assistant
Ron Gartman, Custodial Assistant
Wayne Nevils, Special Events Assistant
Mark DeBrot, Maintenance Manager
Troy Young, Lead Maintenance
Dave Wilson, Maintenance Assistant
Tyler Young, Maintenance Assistant
Kaitlin O’Malley
Julie Bishop, Manager, Rentals & Special Events