Our Staff
Our Board

Our Staff

Darcie Howard
Darcie HowardExecutive Director
Darcie joined the Gardens in 2017 as its first Executive Director. Throughout her 25-year career, she has made it her mission to connect people to the natural world through transformative experiences. Her passion for conservation, sustainability, and environmental education, combined with her expertise in strategic planning, donor cultivation, and developing long-lasting community partnerships, has positioned her to take the Gardens to the next stage in its development. “The Gardens will elevate the brand of Wausau, making it a true community asset and Wausau’s Happy Place.”
Patrick Murphy
Patrick MurphyFacilities & Grounds Director
Patrick shares his guidance, leadership, and foresight to progressively grow, serve, and protect the Monk Botanical Gardens facilities for generations to come. Over the past 25 years, he has overseen the successful growth and development of YMCA and non-profit camps and programs throughout the Midwest. He enjoys watching people of all ages make new discoveries and enjoy the sights and sounds of the greater outdoors.
Elise Schuler
Elise SchulerProgram Director
Elise has a degree in Wildlife Ecology and has worked in environmental education teaching and developing programming since 2015. The favorite part of her job is having her own passion for nature rekindled as she sees the excitement and wonder on students’ faces as they’re learning! Her favorite time in the Gardens is being the first to walk the trails on a quiet morning after one of the first snows in winter.
Linda Schill
Linda SchillDevelopment Manager
Linda plays a key role in connecting new visitors and current supporters with their passion for unique projects and partnerships throughout the Gardens. At the core of her work, Linda has spent the last 17 years striving to build lasting donor relationships for nonprofits in the Wisconsin Rapids area. The opportunity to connect with nature brings a fresh perspective to her day, and she feels privileged to be in a position to share what a tremendous asset we have available to residents of the Wausau region and beyond. If you’d like to discuss giving options at the Gardens, Linda would be happy to help!
Kaytie Ruesch
Kaytie RueschYouth & Family Program Manager
Kaytie started her journey with Monk Botanical Gardens as an environmental education intern in 2019. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and a Professional Science Master’s Degree in Conservation Biology. Her favorite part of her job is sparking curiosity about the natural world in the children she works with. She thinks the best time of day in the Gardens is first thing in the morning, when everything is peaceful and the day’s adventures lie ahead.
Megan Johnson
Megan JohnsonVolunteer Coordinator/Administrative Assistant
Megan has a Master’s Degree in Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems along with several years of experience leading and supporting a variety of nonprofit projects. Driven by her interest in sustainability, food systems, and healthy communities, Megan is excited to support community members’ engagement with the Gardens and help foster an appreciation for the environment. She loves to marvel at the plant varieties in the Kitchen Garden and think of ideas for her next cooking adventure.
Pat Witt
Pat WittGarden Supervisor
During her years as a horticulturist, Pat has grown everything from annuals to veggies, managed native areas to formal perennial gardens, and consulted on tree care and IPM (Integrated Pest Management). But as our “boots on the ground” Garden Supervisor, she is most excited about connecting with our volunteers and visitors. “There is always a new plant or new person I want to get to know better,” she says. She invites questions and plant talk so look for her at the Gardens!
Lydia Phillippi
Lydia PhillippiPrivate Events & Social Media Coordinator
Lydia earned her Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Communications and Agribusiness. For eight years, she has managed private events, honing her social media and marketing abilities in her previous positions. Lydia is enthusiastic about revealing the hidden treasure that is Monk Gardens and providing its members with meaningful experiences.
Kari Buck
Kari BuckBookkeeper
Kari has a Business Administration Degree and over 25 years of Financial Management and Bookkeeping experience. She started as a contractor of the Gardens and now joins its staff. Since she does not have a green thumb, she is excited to support the vision and mission of the Gardens by providing a service that she excels in – working with numbers! She enjoys weekly kayaks in the summer, hiking year-round, and anything that will allow her to be outdoors.
Rebecka Hellweg
Rebecka HellwegSprouts Garden Preschool Lead Teacher - Full Day
Rebecka has a passion for early education, and well over a decade of experience working with preschoolers in various early education environments. Rebecka loves being a co-learner with her Sprouts as they explore the Gardens and the natural world around them. Their eagerness and excitement is contagious, and the unique environment of the Gardens is a welcome challenge. Rebecka returned home to Wausau after a decade away, and is thrilled to be a part of the Sprouts program.
Amanda Valencia
Amanda ValenciaSprouts Garden Preschool Lead Teacher - Half Day
With five years of experience in education and training in School Psychology, Amanda is thrilled to be a part of the Sprouts Garden Preschool team! The best part of working with early learners in the play yard and Gardens is the opportunity to be expansive across developmental areas. “I can see the love of nature and learning growing in our students every day, in a space that allows them to flourish, and that’s amazing!” Amanda’s favorite space in the Gardens to refresh is the Shade and Hosta Garden.
Sarah Loth
Sarah LothSprouts Garden Preschool Assistant Teacher
Sarah has always enjoyed working with children and enjoying nature, and she brings these loves to her role. She discovered the Tots in the Gardens program for her sons and loves the role that the Gardens plays in the Wausau community. Sarah holds a B.A. in Interpersonal Communication and an M.A. in Public Administration.
Sadie Xiong
Sadie Xiong Sprouts Garden Preschool Assistant Teacher
Sadie is excited to share her love and curiosity of nature in her role as an Assistant Teacher for Sprouts Preschool. When Sadie discovered Sprouts she was thrilled to enroll both of her daughters into the program from the very start. Sadie worked in the Military and as a volunteer with Girl Scouts and loved the impact she made for her community within those roles. Now she is excited to be a part of a team that works so hard to serve, educate and inspire the Wausau community.
Linda Grudznske
Linda GrudznskeSprouts Garden Preschool Assistant Teacher
Linda’s background is in public education, primarily supporting students as a special education assistant. She majored in Early Childhood and Special Education, and the outdoors is where her heart and soul is the happiest. She, her husband, and daughter enjoy traveling, eating yummy food, and spending time with friends.
Beth Grefe
Beth GrefeSprouts Garden Preschool Assistant Teacher
Beth comes with 18 years of dedicated service in education, including 8 years in preschool and the remainder as a paraprofessional special education assistant. Her journey in education has been about nurturing young minds and supporting the needs of all students. Beyond working at the Gardens, Beth enjoys time with her family where they tend to their pumpkin patch and wildflower gardens. Beth is grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in our youngest learners.

Our Board

Paul David
Paul DavidPresident, Assistant General Counsel, Aspirus
Monk Botanical Gardens represents a unique community asset that affords users and guests a serene, invigorating and educational experience of a type lacking in so many other aspects of daily life. It is a meaningful and beneficial endeavor to further develop and promote the Gardens for the use and enjoyment of persons across Wisconsin and beyond. My involvement with the Board of Directors affords me the opportunity and honor to contribute to these worthy goals.
Mark Munson
Mark MunsonVice President, Attorney, Ruder Ware
The Monk Botanical Gardens is a special asset that enhances and enriches Wausau and surrounding communities with natural assets. It’s exciting to be part of something that provides economic benefits to our communities by dedicating a space that celebrates why we choose to live and work in this place we call home.
Paul Whitaker
Paul WhitakerSecretary, Professor, UWSP
As a graduate student in Madison, I was fortunate to live just a short walk away from Olbrich Gardens. I learned that botanical gardens bring so much to their community, including education, unique events, a tranquil and beautiful refuge, and economic development from out-of-town visitors. When the idea of Monk Botanical Gardens arose here in Wausau in the early 2000s, I jumped at the opportunity to help make it happen and have been serving on the board ever since.
Jon Plisch
Jon PlischTreasurer, Senior Business Unit Analyst, Greenheck Fan Corp
After a tour of the Gardens, I was so impressed by the landscaping and could immediately see the potential for it to be a staple in Wausau, like the 400 Block. I also believe that Sprouts Preschool’s philosophy of getting students to learn through exploration is unique and effective.
Susan Lang
Susan Lang Past President, COO Labyrinth Group
It is a privilege to be part of a place that significantly enhances the quality of life and health of our community. The Gardens is also a retention and attraction asset for our area’s employers and quite simply it makes me happy to go there to walk, to learn, to plant and to enjoy the Gardens’ events. I am proud to be a part of Wausau’s Happy Place.
Sheila Rossmiller
Sheila Rossmiller Board Member, Director of Annual Giving + Scholarships, NTC Foundation
One of my favorite Mary Oliver quotes is “pay attention, be astonished, tell about it.” And that sums up why I was inspired to join the Monk Botanical Gardens Board. Each visit to the Gardens fills me with a sense of wonderment as I slow down and take in the beauty of nature. Serving on the Board allows me the opportunity to tell about it and encourage others to become part of Wausau’s Happy Place.
Vickie Richmond Hawkins
Vickie Richmond HawkinsBoard Member, Retired UWSP-Wausau
When a community need and one’s personal passions align it makes sense to be engaged in meeting that community need. As a proponent of lifelong education, I view the Gardens as a place to connect people of all ages to the land. The survival of a habitable planet earth depends on it.
Tammy Stezenski
Tammy StezenskiBoard Member, Director of Marketing, Grand Theater/Performing Arts Foundation
Some places seem to define a community, that reflect its spirit and character. I saw that potential in Monk Botanical Gardens in its early years and have been an advocate ever since. Wausau has many amenities found in larger, prestigious cities… with the exception, until recently, of a destination-worthy botanical garden. Monk Botanical Gardens can check that box! Joining the board allows me to serve as a more official ambassador and steward of the Gardens’ respectfully curated nature, living art, and charismatic spaces. It’s an honor to help continue the growth of this fresh, exciting attraction in central Wisconsin. “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.
Julie Bohr
Julie BohrBoard Member, AVP Commercial Banking, Nicolet National Bank
As we live in a world that continues to operate in a fast-paced environment, the Gardens allows our community members an opportunity to slow down, relax, and truly enjoy the fundamental reasons as to why nature is a crucial part of our livelihoods. It serves as a place for people to connect through all seasons with friends, family, and nature, whether that be by strolling through the Gardens, learning something new at one of the events or simply sitting down to relax and admire a view. My hope as a Board Member is to be able to connect more community members with the benefits that the Gardens offers and that it inspires them to cultivate their own space with nature.