About Us — Staff & Board

Director: Shane Smith, shane@​botanic.​org
Assistant Director: Claus Johnson, claus@​botanic.​org
Development Director: Riana Perez, riana@​botanic.​org
Education Director: Aaron Sommers, aaron@​botanic.​org
Head of Horticulture: Steve Scott, steve@​botanic.​org
Executive Secretary: Trudy Fox, trudy@​botanic.​org
Assistant Education Director: Jessica Friis, Jessica@​botanic.​org

Part time staff:
Educational Assistant:  Martha Mullikin, martha@​botanic.​org
Horticultural Assistant: John Whiting

Why such a small staff?

Most public gardens this size and scope would have an average of 18 full time staff. The Cheyenne Botanic Gardens operates with a minimal staff, thanks in-​​part to its extensive use of community volunteers (primarily seniors, youth and handicapped individuals).

We do have internship opportunities each summer for individuals studying botany, horticulture, agriculture, horticultural therapy, or therapeutic sciences. Please contact Claus Johnson above.

Friends of the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens Foundation Board

• Lynn Simons – Chairman
• Barbara Stafford – Vice-​​chairman
• Cindy Pomeroy – Treasurer
• Judy Weickum – Secretary
• Billie Addleman
• Joe Bonds
• Judy Dray
• Salli Halpern (Volunteer Representative)
• Mary Keating-​​Scott
• Steve Kline (emeritus)
• Wendy Madsen
• Ray Martin
• Ruthann Norris
• Rick Parish (City of Cheyenne Parks and Recreation Director)
• Dr. Mark Rinne (Mayor/​City Council Representative)
• Collette Stadel

Governance and Management

The Cheyenne Botanic Gardens is a division of the City of Cheyenne Parks and Recreation Department. It is under the supervision of Director, Rick Parish.

The non-​​​​profit Friends of the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens Foundation provides major funding for landscape planning and construction, staff education and volunteer support along with advocacy. It works to form a public/​private partnership to enable the Gardens to do more with less and functions as an advocate for the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens. In addition, it operates this web site.

Click here to view mission and statistics of the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens.