Join Our BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Are you passionate about connecting people to nature and community? The Kruckeberg Botanic Garden Foundation is looking for dedicated board members who want to make a difference. No plant knowledge required! We welcome individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and strengths to help guide the Foundation’s growth and sustainability.
What We Ask of Board Members:
- Serve a 3-year term, with the option to renew.
- Attend four quarterly board meetings per year, typically held in the evening on every other third Tuesdays.
- Participate in one committee or special project team, based on your skills and interests.
- Be an ambassador for the garden in your community—helping grow the Foundation’s visibility and financial support.
- Make a personally meaningful annual contribution and support fundraising efforts through outreach, invitations, or connections.
- Support our mission by bringing your unique expertise, curiosity, and care.
We understand that each board member brings a different mix of time, talent, and resources—and we’re here to support you in finding the best way to contribute.
Interested? Please complete the brief interest form below, and we’ll follow up about next steps in the recruitment process.
Questions? Reach out to info@kruckeberg.org—we’d love to hear from you!
Board Members
Heidi Loewen – President
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 Kruckeberg’s WoodWave sculpture and hidden garden areas with her children. She 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 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.
Laura Zuchlewski – Vice-President
Laura was born in Buffalo NY and moved to the Seattle area nearly 20 years ago. She currently resides in Shoreline with her husband, 2 dogs and several chickens. Laura graduated from UW with a masters degree in applied mathematics and brings a wide array of technical problem solving skills to the board, including software development and data analytics. Laura grew her love of gardening as a child, helping her grandmother grow sunflowers and tomatoes. She now has a passion for growing plants of all varieties: flowers, edible gardens and native plants, and is always looking for new plants to use as an excuse to rip up more grass. She also has a strong passion for building and engaging local communities, and is excited to be involved in supporting such a great organization.
Olga Chittenden – Treasurer
Olga moved to Shoreline in 2017 after having lived in Northern California for 15 years. Growing up she loved helping her grandparents with growing veggies and herbs, and then with canning and fermenting the harvest for the winter. Olga discovered Kruckeberg Botanic Garden after being invited to a wreath making class, then she discovered a forest bathing class, after that it was an easy decision to send her kids to a Birds Connect Seattle summer camp held at Kruckeberg. Olga brings her acumen in finance and business administration to the Garden Foundation. Olga considers this public botanic garden to be a gem in the urban environment. She is excited to work on the preservation of this unique garden, expansion of community outreach, and providing resources to the neighborhood to learn and feel more connected with nature and unique plants.
Renee Garcia – Secretary
Info coming soon
Chip Kennaugh
Chip was born and grew up in Seattle, where his experience as an Eagle Scout taught him how to be comfortable outside. He graduated from South Seattle Community College with an Associate Degree in Landscape Design and Construction. After taking a year in tree climbing, he decided that tree care was the best place for him. Chip joined the International Society of Arboriculture and studied to become Certified Arborist. He believes that there were four important people/entities that guided his career: first was working with Cass Turnbull with PlantAmnesty; working with the Center for Urban Horticulture at UW; John Hushagen with Seattle Tree Preservation who became a pillar for proper tree care in Seattle; and Alex Shigo, who is the father of arboriculture. Chip moved to Idaho for 13 year but moved back to Seattle to start his own business doing fine pruning of trees under 30′ tall and shrub pruning. He is grateful to John Hushagen for the invitation to join the Board at the Kruckeberg Garden and he’s happy to contribute anything he can to help the Foundation grow.
Noéll Bernard-Kingsley (she/her)
Noéll is a life-long Pacific Northwesterner who first discovered Kruckeberg Botanic Garden in 2016 when she moved to Shoreline and was searching for meaningful public spaces to share with her small family. Visits to the garden, events like the Solstice Stroll, and summer camp programs for her child became cornerstones in her family traditions and inspired her own gardening adventures. Noéll holds bachelors degrees in English and History as well as a Masters degree in Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Washington – Seattle. She brings to the board her 15 years experience working in higher education, cultivating community for field scientists, and fostering STEM student learning spaces as a Student Services Director for the UW’s College of the Environment. Noéll is grateful to be a part of such a beautiful place and excited to engage in this important work.
Alexa Valett
Info coming soon
