MEET OUR BOARD CANDIDATES!

Meet Chip Kennaugh and Heidi Loewen, our prospective board candidates for 2023!

We also want to wish a fond farewell to our leaving members Pam Cope, Kate Schmiett, and Lydia Tymon. Thank you for all your support!

Chip Kennaugh

Born in Seattle, Chip’s experiences as an Eagle scout taught him how to be comfortable outside.

Chip graduated from South Seattle Community College with an Associate Degree in Landscape Design and Construction and, after learning how to climb trees, decided tree care was his calling. Chip joined the International Society of Arboriculture and became a certified arborist.

Chip identified four events that guided his career:

• His participation in Plant Amnesty, an organization dedicated to responsible and sustainable management of urban ecology.
• The development of the University of Washington’s Center for Urban Horticulture.
• His work with John Hushagen and Seattle Tree Preservation.
• His time studying under Alex Shigo, a renowned biologist, and arboriculturist.

Chip specializes in shrub and small tree care. As he describes it “arborists typically don’t prune shrubs and gardeners don’t work beyond 10’ from the ground. I found my niche!”

Through his pruning business, Chip helps people create spaces in their gardens to find rest and enjoyment. Learn more about Chip’s services on his website.

Heidi Loewen

Heidi was born in Seattle and has lived in the PNW her entire life. Her first experience with public and botanic gardens was visiting the nearby Kubota Gardens, and her love of Kruckeberg was kindled while exploring the Wave sculpture and hidden garden areas with her children.

Heidi graduated from UW in 1997 with a BS in Oceanography and has since added an ATA in Landscape Design and Horticulture from Edmonds Community College, and a certificate in Permaculture Design from Toby Hemenway. Heidi has worked variously in accounting, IT, office management, and landscape design and management.

In recent years Heidi’s extensive volunteer commitments to her kids’ PTSA used all of those skills and allowed her to develop outdoor education areas on the campus. Her current work includes garden consulting and creating landscape designs and permitting applications using SketchUp.

Serving on the Kruckeberg Botanic Garden Foundation Board allows her to use her background in native plants and gardens while making a difference by supporting educational outreach and beauty in the Shoreline community.