Leadership & Staff

Powell Gardens employs a diverse staff to maintain, grow, promote and evolve the Gardens and the organizational vision and mission.

Senior Executives

Cody Jolliff, CEO
Donna Young, COO

Board of Directors

Amy Eckhoff, Vice-Chair
Justin White, Vice-Chair
Ellen Fairchild, Chair
Gary Barnes, Secretary
Scott Burnett
Kristopher Dabner
Mary O’Connor
Nicholas Powell
Ruthie Rinehart
Guy Swanson, Treasurer
Tom Isenberg
Susan Spencer
Doug Nelson

Administration

Rikki Hays Clawson, Director, Human Resources
Tacey Beard, Specialist, Administration

Campus Services

Debora Williams, Campus Superintendent
Christopher Heller, Lead, Campus Services
Heather Lawrence, Assistant, Campus Services
Nikol Talley, Assistant, Campus Services
Victoria Runyon, Assistant, Campus Services

Development & Communications

Amanda Tempel, Specialist, Development
Sharon Ramsey, Director of Development & Communication
Emma Robertson, Assistant Director, Development & Communication
Laina Burdette, Specialist, Marketing

Education

Julie Wise, Coordinator, Education

Horticulture

Lyza Cooper, Gardener
Keith Kratz, Turf Technician
Christian Van Matre, Gardener, Visitor Center
Heather Clenin, Plant Records Registrar
Brent Tucker, Lead Horticulturist
Dakota Lepker, Senior Gardener, Production
Donna Covell, Lead Horticulturist
Naomi Chastain, Gardener
Ryan Joseph, Technician
Susan Mertz, Director, Horticulture
Zoe Aber, Senior Gardener
Matt Hockaday, Horticulturist
Chenoah Reeder, Gardener
Jadalyn Crozier, Gardener
Jasmine Blakely, Gardener
Eric Perrette, Lead Horticulturist
Philip Bishop, Assistant Director, Horticulture

Private Events

Paula Elledge, Manager, Private Events
Destiny Valluzzi, Coordinator, Private Events
Shelley May, Special Events Assistant
Wayne Nevils, Special Events Assistant

Property & Facilities

Mark DeBrot, Manager, Property & Facilities
Troy Young, Lead, Maintenance
Fletcher Carlile, Assistant, Property & Facilities
Dave Chastain, Assistant, Maintenance

Public Programs

Caitlin Eckard, Assistant Director, Public Programs and Visitor Experience
Kelli Votypka, Director, Public Programs & Visitor Experience

Security

Bobby Cox
Dale Dolash
Dennis McVey
Wayne Nevils
Wayne Smith

Visitor Experience

Robyn Weber, Specialist, Visitor Experience
Heather Clenin, Coordinator, Retail
Rhonda Schulte, Visitor Experience
Roland Thibault, Visitor Experience
Gary Miller, Tram Driver
Don Prieve, Tram Driver
Steve Wance, Tram Driver
Ken Marcotte, Tram Driver
Elise Kratz, Specialist, Retail
Bethany Vermillion, Coordinator, Food & Beverage
@americanpublicgardens is celebrating Go Public Garden Days May 10-19, 2024! This week encourages individuals to visit, value, and volunteer at gardens across the country. 💜 
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We welcome you to Kansas City’s botanical garden! Learn more about Powell Gardens at the link in bio. 
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#powellgardens #botanicalgarden #nonprofit #garden #gopublicgardendays
Elevate your company gatherings with a touch of nature! 🌿 
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Powell Gardens offers the perfect private event space for your next corporate party, awards ceremony, training day, retirement celebration, or staff retreat. Immerse your team in lush surroundings and create unforgettable memories. 
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Book your date now for a unique experience! Click the Private Events link in bio to learn more and submit an online inquiry. 🥂👔 
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#corporateevents #powellgardens #outdoorevent #eventvenue #retreat #staffretreat #staffappreciation #kansascityvenue #kceventspace
You heard Zoe— a dwarf conifer comes from a witches broom. Gardening magic! ✨🧹🧙‍♀️ 
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Kind of! 😂 A witches broom is a plant mutation, often presenting as a different looking clump of needles on conifers. The witches broom can be grafted, making new dwarf conifers. These dwarf plants grow slowly and more compactly compared to traditional conifer plants. 
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#powellgardens #conifer #plants #plantsofinstagram #witchesbroom #garden #dwarfconifers #gardening #trees #botanicalgarden
Do you know how Powell Gardens’ Conifer Garden got its start?🌲 
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Almost all hardy genera of conifers from around the world are represented in this garden, including firs, plum-yews, false cypress, gingko, junipers, spruce, pines, arborvitae, Doug-firs, bald cypress, yews, and hemlocks. 
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Marvin Snyder, past president of the @americanconifersociety, donated a unique assortment of specialty and dwarf conifers to establish the collection. 
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#powellgardens #conifer #evergreen #garden #plants #plantsoftiktok #botanical #botanicalgarden
Powell Gardens will highlight its conifer collection during Conifer Tips (May 8-19)! Conifers, or Coniferae, are a group of woody plants, made up mostly of evergreen trees and shrubs with leaves that are needle-like, though some are scaled. Perhaps their most well-known features are their cones, or pinecones. 
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Make sure to visit Powell Gardens’ Conifer Garden, a certified American Conifer Society reference garden, during Conifer Tips at Powell Gardens. A digital tour is available via Garden Explorer (link in bio).

Follow us on Instagram @PowellGardens