Board Members
Michael Cowan
Board Chair
“Native plants are important because they are the foundation of every healthy ecosystem. Humans, whether realized or not, depend on this foundation for our own quality of life. Georgia and the SE US are home to incredible natural bio-diversity and it is worth protecting so future generations can enjoy it too!”
Favorite native plant: Eastern white oak (Quercus alba) and ghost pipe (Monotropa uniflora)
Fun fact: Native Georgian – Was captain of the Newton County 4-H Forestry Field Day team in high school
Susan Malone
Vice Chair
“Native plants play a critical role in creating the biodiverse, healthy ecosystems that we all – insects, birds, wildlife, and humans – need to survive.”
Favorite native plant: Narrowleaf Blue-Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium)
Fun fact: When she’s not playing with her granddaughter or working in her native plant garden, you’ll find her reading fantasy and science fiction.
Jackie Miller
Treasurer
“I value native plants both for their own beauty and uniqueness and also, as a lifelong birdwatcher, for the role they play in supporting wildlife.”
Favorite native plant: Kidney-leaf rosinweed (Silphium compositum)
Fun fact: Prior to her retirement in 2018, she was VP of Product Development for a firm that publishes training manuals and online learning programs for medical coding and compliance professionals.
Lea Millet
Secretary
“Native plants are important to support healthy ecosystems, that in turn support healthier communities.”
Favorite native plant: Hearts-a-burstin (Euonymus americanus)
Fun fact: She likes learning about the local native plants when she visits other countries
Melanie DeVore
Director
Favorite native plant:
Fun fact:
Heather Kirk-Ballard
Director
“Native plants are nature’s all-stars, providing food and shelter for pollinators and wildlife. Because they’re made for local conditions, they often thrive with less water, maintenance, and fuss!”
Favorite native plant: Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)
Fun fact: She studied medicinal plants and their applications in biomedical research.
Joe Lamp’l
Director
Favorite native plant
Fun fact:
Charlie Monroe
Director
Favorite native plant:
Fun fact:
Jim Ozier
Director
“Native plants are critical components of Earth’s balanced and interdependent living systems. They are adapted to local conditions and have mutually beneficial relationships with other plants and animals in these systems.”
Favorite native plant: Eastern Anglepod (Gonolobus suberosus)
Fun fact: His career as a wildlife biologist focuses on native animals, particularly those of greatest conservation concern. More recently, he’s appreciated involvement in the conservation of native plants and communities.
Sally Phipps
Director
Favorite native plant:
Fun fact:
Karan Rawlins
Director
Favorite native plant:
Fun fact:
Chadd Reynolds
Director
“Native plants are important because they uniquely connect us to our natural surroundings and best support our native wildlife that we are all dependent upon.”
Favorite native plant: Hollow Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium fistulosum)
Fun fact: He goes to a lot of metal concerts.
Amy Schuler
Director
“Native plants are not only beautiful, but are vital to pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. When you garden with native plants, you help provide habitat essentials for all organisms such as food, shelter, and places to raise young. Go native!”
Favorite native plant: Mountain mint (Pycanthemum sp.)
Fun fact: She’s a bit of a gym rat and works out most days of the week. She really enjoys the strength training and HIIT classes at her local gym. However, she also loves being outdoors, walking her dog, hiking, kayaking, and boating with her family.
Jamie Vidich
Director
“I love seeing all the wildlife that interacts with native plants. Native plants are the foundation to a healthy ecosystem and they contribute to making places we live special and unique.”
Favorite native plant: Redring Milkweed (Asclepias variegata)
Fun fact: Once upon a time he operated a vegetable market garden, and sold produce at farmers markets. He loves to eat plants!
Staff
Position to be filled!
Executive Director
Favorite native plant:
Fun fact:
Eden Landwermeyer
Membership & Communications Coordinator
“If my yard can be used as a habitat for critters & pollinators that have lost their homes to overdevelopment, then I will fill it up with native plants.”
Favorite native plant: Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans)
Fun fact: Bilingual (English & French) but a hopeful trilingual one day
Kelley Hanada
Community Supported Propagation Manager
“Native plants make the world naturally a beautiful place. They create connections between various organisms and enrich the lives of others.”
Favorite native plant: Changes each season/depends on the habitat. Currently: Elephant’s foot (Elephantopus tomentosa)
Fun fact: Volunteering with the university extension service is what started his native plant journey. Previously, he worked in the logistics field and managed a warehouse. He finds a nursery is kind of like warehousing plants.
Kenny Grieshop
Boyscout Road Nursery Site Manager
“Native plants support the living world and help enrich our lives. They are the pieces of the puzzle that mesh together our natural communities.”
Favorite native plant: The last native plant I looked at :)
Fun fact: He can walk on his hands and play billiard’s when he’s not busy playing outside.
Committees
Governance
Chadd Reynolds, Chair
Finance
Jackie Miller, Chair
Audit
Joe Lamp’l, Chair
Conservation
Amy Heidt, Chair
Education
Susan Malone, Chair
Advocacy
Michael Cowan, Chair
Symposium
Ellen Honeycutt & Jamie Vidich
