Board & Staff

Get to know our amazing team

Staff Members

Virginia Brandabur

Visitor Services Manager

Email Virginia

Kit Cummins

Rental Coordinator

971-832-9081
Email Kit

Adam Hart

Horticulture Manager

503-208-5577
Email Adam

Scott Hoelscher

Head Gardener

503-823-1670
Email Scott

Joanne Shintani

Assistant Director

503-389-5371
Email Jo

Courtney Vengarick

Gardener and Curator

503-823-1670
Email Courtney

JoAnn Vrilakas

Education Manager

503-823-9504
Email JoAnn

Annie Winn

Manager, Volunteer Services

503-823-9508
Email Annie

Melissa Manuel

Propagation and Design Horticulturist

503-823-1671
Email Melissa

Michael Cummins

Facilities Maintenance

503-823-1671
Email Michael

Board Members

Irene Bowers

President

A retired landscape architect who has worked in both the private and public sectors for over 25 years managing complex projects ranging from waterfront development to establishment of the Oregon Convention Center Hotel. Her passion and commitment to the Garden has spanned over 10 years. She also has served on the city of Gresham Design Review Commission and Oregon Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects.

Michael McKeel

Vice President

A practicing dentist and real estate developer, Mike is active in the Gresham community and in 1996 was honored as Gresham Area Citizen of the Year. He has served as a member of the Gresham School Board, is past-president of the Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce and currently serves on a number of boards including ODS and Portland State University Foundation.

Gay Greger

Retired from Portland Parks & Recreation and a career in community relations, public involvement, and volunteer coordination. Was involved with the Garden in that capacity in the early 1980s and is pleased to be back now as a volunteer.

Sue O'Halloran

Past President

Co-owner and President of Kohler Meyers O’Halloran, Inc., a real estate company, Sue worked with the City of Portland acquiring properties in the Johnson Creek Watershed for restoration. Involvement in Leach Botanical Garden continues this important work of connecting nature and quality of life. Sue was Gresham Citizen of the year in 1995 and Outstanding Volunteer in 2006 and 2008. She is President of Gresham’s Center for the Arts Foundation, past president of East Metro Economic Alliance, and Mt. Hood Community College Foundation board member.

Thomas Bland

Treasurer

Tom Bland, Certified Public Accountant, was chief operating officer of several start-up companies and non-profit organizations. He has extensive knowledge of business operations, and assists companies in building and establishing financial operations, governance, human resources, risk management and facilities operation. He owns Sequoia Financial Consulting, a tax and financial management company. He sits on the boards of a number of environmental organizations and was past president of the local North American Rock Garden society chapter. He has a BS and MS in Genetics.

Mary L. K. Davis

Secretary

Since moving into Portland in 1994, Mary LK Davis has served on the Mid-County Sewer Project Citizens Advisory Committee for Portland’s Bureau of Development Services, the Lents Urban Renewal Citizens Advisory Committee for the Portland Development Commission, the Brentwood-Darlington Neighborhood Association Board, and the Rose Community Development Board of Directors, to name a few activities. She joined the LGF board of directors in October, 2014, volunteers in the gift shop, serves on the gift shop committee, and has been a member/donor since 2003. In January 2021, Mary takes on the duties of Board Secretary.

Lina Ma

Lina Ma is a Geologist-in-Training (GIT), a Geographic Information Systems Professional (GISP), and self- employed business owner who is learning how to help people build and protect wealth through financial education. Lina is volunteering to assist with developing an educational geology program for the Leach Botanical Garden in Portland. Prior to becoming self-employed, Lina served as a Geologist and Natural Resource Specialist for the State of Oregon for 15 years. Lina has been a member of Oregon’s Historical Marker Committee, a Framework Lead of Oregon’s Geospatial Enterprise Office, and on the Board of Directors to the Association for Women Geoscientists. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Geological Sciences from the University of Oregon. With time away from the digital world, Lina loves to travel and enjoy the outdoors.

Linda Morrow

Earned a BA in English and an MBA. Worked over a decade in marketing and strategic planning. A Garden Club of America Horticulture judge. Currently serving on board of Directors of The Portland Garden Club. Specific endeavors include encouraging interest in Horticulture through education, conservation and involvement with Botanical Gardens.

CiCi Polson

CiCi Polson is a self-described science nerd. She has a bachelor’s degrees in neuroscience and nursing and a master’s degree in nursing. She is a retired nurse-midwife. In 2010, she became an OSU Master Gardener and is a garden tour guide and work crew member at Pittock Mansion. She has designed and created school gardens and taught many children and adults about science and botany. Her special interests include native plants, herbal medicine and the healing properties of gardening and nature.

Dale Shetler

Dale has an Associate of Arts Degree from Clark College, a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Western Washington State University, a Master’s Degree in Music Education – Choral Conducting from Eastern Washington University, a Doctor of Musical Arts (ABD) in Choral Conducting from the University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory of Music, and is currently Adjunct Professor at Park University, Parkville, Missouri. He has forty years’ teaching experience, and his lifelong desire to promote education at all levels is expressed through his service on the Pleasant Valley Neighborhood Association, the Leach Garden Friends’ Board, and the Leach Education Committee.

Bob Hyland

Bob Hyland is a Portland-based horticultural consultant and garden designer. He owns Hyland Garden Design and Contained Exuberance, a garden pottery shop and design studio. During his 40-year career, Bob has managed horticulture, operations, and education programs at leading public gardens on both coasts – Longwood Gardens, San Francisco Botanical Garden & Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Before moving to Portland in 2011, he built, co-owned, and operated a connoisseur plant nursery in New York’s Hudson Valley. Rooted firmly in the Pacific Northwest for 8 years, Bob has served on the boards of several public gardens and horticultural organizations.

Francheska Snyder

Originally from Philadelphia, Francheska Snyder is the current owner/operator of Niwa Method LLC, a landscape contracting business specializing in Japanese gardens in the Portland area. She has previously worked in public non-profit gardens at Portland Japanese Garden, Shofuso Japanese House and Garden, and Wyck Historic House and Garden. She is a member of various garden and horticulture societies, and a recognized Chanticleer Scholar. Francheska earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Rochester Institute of Technology in 2009. She holds a certificate in Garden Design from Cornell Cooperative Extension, a certificate in Ornamental Horticulture from Longwood Gardens, and a 4th Term Master Level certificate from the Ohara School of Ikebana. She also uses her time and talent to volunteer with Friends of Trees and the Oregon Garden.