Board of Directors
The primary governing body of the Foundation is a Board of Directors (the Board) comprised of thirteen elected officers and up to three representatives selected by each chartered chapter and affiliate.
Our Board provides leadership for and coordination with our Chapters in order to promote best practices across the state. The Board is the driving force behind the funding efforts for the annual WSU Extension Master Gardener Advanced Education Conference and promotes the growth of our Endowment Funds.
President
Tana Hasart
- Pierce County Extension Master Gardener since 2017
- MGFWS Board member since 2022
Current Master Gardener Service: President, Master Gardener Foundation of Pierce County; Member, Master Gardener Foundation of Pierce County 2019-2023; Chair, MGFPC Grant Committee; Chair, MGFPC Scholarship Committee; Member, Pierce County Master Gardener Program Strategic Planning Advisory Committee; Member, WSU Puyallup Research and Extension Center 50th Anniversary Event Planning Team; Member, Washington State Master Gardener Program 50th Anniversary Advisory Committee; Member, Advanced Education Conference 2023 Planning Committee; Pierce County Master Gardener Internship Mentor; Pierce County Master Gardener Community Garden Mentor
Current Local service: Member, Child Development Center Design Team, Farm 12; Puyallup School District Senior Project Mentor; and Evaluator and Evaluation Team Chair for the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Current Profession: Retired community college president
Executive Vice President
Cathi Lamoreux
- Spokane County Extension Master Gardener since 2008
- MGFWS Board member since 2019
Current Service: MGFWS Executive Committee, MGFWS Social Media Coordinator, 50th EMG Anniversary Volunteer Committee, Spokane County EMG Promotions Team, Spokane County EMG Demonstration Gardens Committee (lead), Spokane County 2023 Cabin Fever Gardening Symposium (lead), Master Gardener Foundation of Spokane County (MGFSC) Communications Committee, MGFSC Fundraising Committee, Spokane County EMG Plant Clinic Specialist, Spokane County EMG GivePulse Team, Spokane County EMG Social Media Team (lead)
Previous Service: MGFSC Board of Directors, 2016-2021, Secretary 2017, President 2018-2021, MGFWS Historian 2021-2022
Profession: Retired Speech Language Pathologist, Currently Therapeutic Horticulture Educator for Eldergrow.
Secretary
John Strong
- Yakima County Extension Master Gardener since 2011
- MGFWS Board member since 2015
Current Service: Yakima County: West Valley Food Garden, Spring Symposium, Curriculum, Plant Clinic, State: UFW, Communications, Executive Committee
Awards: Ed LaCrosse award (2014)
Profession: Retired
Treasurer
Gilbert Plascencia
- Yakima County Extension Master Gardener since 2020
- MGFWS Board member since 2022
Current Service: Master Gardener Foundation of Yakima County Executive Committee, MGFWS Executive and Finance committees
Profession: Certified Public Accountant
2022 Conference Director
Melody Westmoreland
2023 Conference Director
Debra Benbow
2024 Conference Co-Directors
Debra Benbow & Cathi Lamoreux
Past President
Don Enstrom
Membership Director
Open position
Awards Director
Kathy Brenberger
Communications Director
Steve Spitzer
Development Director
Open position
Historian/Archivist
Kitty Lundeen-Ness
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee consists of the Officers of the Foundation’s Board (shown above), plus the WSU Extension Master Gardener Program Leader serving in a non-voting, ex officio status.
Statewide Program Leader
WSU Extension Master Gardener Program
Jennifer has been a WSU Master Gardener program leader since 2007. She accepted the statewide coordinator position in May of 2019 after serving in a county role for 12 years.
Jennifer has 20 years of experience working with non-profit organizations and volunteers to deliver on organizational missions. Her experience coupled with a BAS in Non-Profit Management and a MS in Management and Leadership, make her well skilled as the leader of the world’s first Master Gardener Program. She is known for her strategic thinking and for her ability to engage with diverse teams to create trusting and durable community partnerships that lead to mission and vision success. She is a transformational leader who seeks to elevate the WSU Extension Master Gardener program by engaging university-trained volunteers to empower and sustain diverse communities with relevant, unbiased, research-based horticulture and environmental stewardship education.