Board of Directors and Grass Roots Advisory Committee

SANDY LIVERMORE , Founder of Bookworm Gardens. Sandy is multitalented and no stranger to multitasking. Both her B.A. in History and her M.B.A. are from UW Madison. She also has a Landscape Horticulture degree. After working for five years for Magnavox as a product manager and having three children, she worked as a landscape designer before starting her own design company, Perennial Design. She originated the Green Gang group at Pigeon River School and has served the community in leading positions for the JMKAC Arts Festival and the Sheboygan Blue Line Association. For the past several years Sandy has been working full time on Bookworm Gardens.

MELINDA MYERS    You may have seen Melinda on TV as host of “Great Lakes Gardner” on PBS stations across the nation or on network television starring in “Melinda’s Garden Moments”. For 20 years Melinda hosted the radio show “The plant Doctor”.  She is also a prolific writer authoring many books, writing regularly for the newspaper, and serving as an editor and contributing columnist for Birds and Blooms and Backyard Living. She has a master’s degree in horticulture, is a certified arborist, started the Master Gardener program in Milwaukee, and was a horticulture instructor with tenure at Milwaukee Area Technical College. Melinda is known for her friendly and practical approach to gardening and we welcome her expertise, guidance and support.

DEBRA DENZER   Deb has made a career of education in the realm of the environment. For thirteen years Deb had been an environmental spokesperson for the Kohler Company combining public speaking engagements with conducting nature and bird hikes and garden tours. She has worked at Camp Evelyn and the Outdoor Skills Center educating children about the environment by offering hands on experiences and volunteered at Maywood as a naturalist. Recently, Deb attained certification as an interpretive guide through the National Association for Interpretation. She is actively involved in a leadership capacity at the Kohler Experiential Learning Center and as an employee of Restoration Gardens.

KATHIE NORMAN Kathy has taken a distinctive place on our board offering legal counsel. She holds a BA from Northwestern University and a JD from the University of Michigan. Practicing law for over thirteen years, Kathie served as legal counsel for the Kohler Company, then practiced with Hopp, Powell, Raftery & Bauer in Sheboygan. Volunteer work is a large part of her life. Kathie was honored by Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin having served as their board chair 2004-2006. Currently she serves as the board chair of Big Brothers - Big Sisters of Sheboygan County, having a third grade "little sister". Kathie is the vice-chair of the Sheboygan Arts Foundation board and also teaches Junior Achievement to seventh graders. As the busy mom of two teenagers, we are grateful to have some of Kathie's time, enthusiasm and advice.

SHER QUASIUS Not surprisingly, Sher is the chairperson of the art committee for Bookworm Gardens. She is an artist and sculptor with keen vision, wit and skill. After earning her B.FA. degree from the University of Wisconsin, she then received her M.F.A. from the University of Oklahoma. Sher also serves as the fundraising chairperson on the Board of Directors for the Sheboygan County Humane Society. In working with the gardens, Sher has an outlet for her leadership and creative abilities.

ERIK JENSEN, AIA Erik is an architect and owner of LJM Architects in Sheboygan. LJM has been involved with the design of a wide variety of building projects in the Sheboygan area and throughout the state. Erik has a B.S. degree in architecture from UW Milwaukee. In addition to his 29-year career as a registered architect, he has experience in city planning and construction as a carpenter. He brings practical and creative ideas to the project.

SUSAN BUESING Susan has built her career in the education field. After receiving her elementary education degree in Fort Hays, Kansas, she received a master's degree in Reading, Leadership and Curriculum Coordination from Cardinal Stritch University. Some of the positions she has held include teacher, reading specialist and director of instruction. Currently Susan is the Principal of Pigeon River School, a position she's had for 12 years.

TINA BARTH Tina, a CPA, is an audit manager for Schenck Business Solutions in Sheboygan. As our newest board member, she serves as Treasurer. As the organization grows, her expertise in the financial world is extremely valuable. She and her husband Pete have lived in Sheboygan for 12 years. They have 2 children. Tina sums up her connection to Bookworm Gardens by stating; "I love to read, I love creativity, and I love the outdoors - so I feel incredibly lucky to be a part of Bookworm Gardens and see all the great ideas coming to life."

JENNY POTHAST Jenny is serving as the committee head for primary educational programs. She has a B.A.A. in English from the University of Minnesota with an emphasis in linguistics. She also holds a master's degree in Principles of Education from Mankato State University. Jenny taught eighth grade English, ran an after-school program for at-risk students and was director of a developmental daycare center in Akron, Ohio. The mother of three young children, she volunteers for Meals on Wheels and the Festival of Trees and is a member of the Sheboygan Area School Board.

DAVE QUASIUS Dave is a contractor and the leader behind Quasius Construction, Inc. of Sheboygan. He has shared in the vision of the project with both his skills as a builder and his abilities as an artist. Dave is an extraordinary asset to the group, describing himself as a husband, father, friend, volunteer, artist and contractor.

CHARLOTTE ZIEVE  Charlotte is an amazing woman with so many honors, publications, state positions and community leadership roles that it is impossible to list them all. Basically, she is an environmentalist  with a Ph.D. from the Institute for Environmental Studies, UW Madison. She is currently serving on the Governor’s Commission for the state of Wisconsin’s council on recycling. After retiring from UW Madison as an instructor of environmental studies, Charlotte has continued her active committee work serving as President of the Milwaukee Audubon Society,  a member of the UW Madison’s Women’s Philanthropy Council, and Vice president of the UW Sheboygan Foundation Board – to highlight just a few. Charlotte has an infectious enthusiasm for Bookworm Gardens – we are grateful for her wisdom and devotion.

CATHY BRITTON Cathy has a B.S. degree in Pharmacy from UW Madison and has worked as a pharmacist in North Carolina. Virginia and Wisconsin. The mother of two teenagers, she served as PTA president and continues to volunteer at Pigeon River Elementary School. Cathy has served as the President of the First United Lutheran Church Council and is involved in many highschool booster activities. Cathy has been active with Bookworm Gardens in setting up organizational structure and maintaining a database system as well as helping to create print materials used to promote the garden.

 

Honorary Board of Director

Pam Einhauser

Bill Jacob

R. Bruce and Carol Grover

Loretta Schmitt

Joe Sheehan

Peter and Linda Swanson

John and Deb Wente

Grass Roots

Advisory

Committee

Leslie Abitz

Tippy Jung

Nancy Moudry

Jeanine Battaglia

Nancy Kissel

Darren Opel

Kathy Baus

Dave Klefstad

Elise Opel

Mike Ballweg

Jane Klettke

Lynn Phillips

Dave Clauff

Randi Larson

Maeve Quinn

Sheryl Dyksterhouse

Juli Leet

Tricia Reiss

Kris Esch

Joanne Lensink

Deb Sabol-Williams

Vicki Gassner

Vicki Lindstrom

Pat Schutt

Bonnie Grossenbach

Lulu Lubbers

Kathy Sixel

Ryan Hornickel

Karin Menzer

Harlan Weber

Jinny Jacob

Betsy Michael

Sandy Zagozen