Staff

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.

Susan VonGretzinger is the Executive Assistant to the President- svongretzinger@powellgardens.org

Board of Directors

Jay Longbottom –  Chair

Tom Isenberg – Vice Chair/Finance Chair

Lynne Brown – Secretary / Visitor Experience Co-Chair 

Tabitha Schmidt – CEO/President

Perry Atha

Gary Barnes

L. Clay Barton

Corey Casey

Kevin Childress – Co-Chair, Finance 

Kristopher Dabner

Courtney Earnest – Chair, Board Development

Amy Eckhoff – Chair, Visitor Experience

Wes Fehsenfeld

George Guastello – Co-Chair, Board Development

James (Jim) Houx

Mark Killen

Tom Lovell – Co-Chair, Facilities & Grounds

Mark McCasland – Co-Chair, Facilities & Grounds

Anne Riker Powell – Chair, Fund Development

Nick Powell – Powell Family Foundation

Tim Schaffer

Susan Mertz, Director of Horticulture

Core Gardens
McKenna Bowman, Gardener, Core Gardens
Iris Connolly, Gardener, Core Gardens
Travis Freeman, Lead Horticulturist, Core Gardens
Matt Hockaday, Senior Gardener, Core Gardens

Heartland Harvest Garden
Haley Drake, Lead Horticulturist, Heartland Harvest Garden
Eric Perrette, Horticulturist, Heartland Harvest Garden
Eric Wagner, Gardener, Heartland Harvest Garden

David Breedlove, Designer, Garden Installations & Special Events
Donna Covell, Horticulturist, Production & Greenhouse
Gabe Perry, Horticulturist, Grounds & Natural Resources
Brent Tucker, Horticulturist, Seasonal Events & Visitor Center Display Beds

Kauffman Memorial Garden
Bryan Boccard, Senior Gardener, Kauffman Memorial Garden
Duane Hoover, Horticulturist, Kauffman Memorial Garden

Jennifer Baker, Curator of Exhibitions

Mark Sharp, Coordinator, K-12 and Family Programs

Molly Maddox, Director of Development & Communications

Hali Mieser, Coordinator, Development Events

Erin Parish, Manager, Membership

Laina Gunsallus, Marketing Coordinator

Dina Brumitt, Custodial Assistant

Dale Dolash, Custodial Supervisor

Ron Gartman, Custodial Assistant

Wayne Nevils, Special Events Assistant

Roland Thibault, Visitor Services Representative

Dave Wilson, Maintenance Assistant

Mark DeBrot, Electrician

Troy Young, Supervisor, Maintenance

Tyler Young, Maintenance Assistant

Paula Cornwell, Chief Operations Officer

Dan Robeson, Interim Manager of Property & Facilities

Hannah Kloster, Rentals & Special Events