Julia Rundberg, Executive Director
julia@idahobotanicalgarden.org

Idaho Botanical Garden Executive Director, Julia Rundberg assures us that the Garden provides a full garden experience for all ages that enhances the quality of life through plant collections, education programs, and entertainment, cultural and community events.

An active volunteer, Rundberg served as President of the National Association of Recreation Resource Planners, Chairperson of the Minnesota Bicycle Advisory Committee, is a volunteer First Aid and CPR instructor for the American Red Cross and was active in the Minnesota Chorale. She is currently happy to be a soprano in the Boise Philharmonic Master Chorale, as well as on the Chorale’s board of directors.

Janice Black, Garden Teacher
info@idahobotanicalgarden.org

Rod BurkeProject Outreach Coordinator
rod@idahobotanicalgarden.org 

Rod joined us in 1996, making him one of IBG’s longest working employees! As Project Outreach coordinator, his tasks include communicating with sponsors and partners and planning new projects. Rod’s favorite part about working at the IBG is having a role in its operations and watching it expand and mature in the community. He most enjoys meeting visiting guests and witnessing the generosity of volunteers, individuals and companies that help bring life to the IBG mission.

Though born in Idaho, Rod has also lived many years out east where he met his wife, Gretchen, before moving back to the Treasure Valley and finding a part time job at the Garden in 1996. In his free time, Rod enjoys taking advantage of Boise’s many cultural events, enjoying those perfect weather days outside and connecting with friends.

Karen Christeson, Office, Volunteer and Site Rental Coordinator
karen@idahobotanicalgarden.org 

In the fall of 2007, the Garden welcomed Karen to our staff. As our Volunteer and Site Rental Coordinator, she recruits and schedules volunteers, and manages our facility rental all while extending a warm welcome to Garden visitors. Karen loves coming to work every day because a large part of her job involves interacting with energetic and positive people who are dedicated to nature and our community. Her favorite part about the Garden is being a part of a team of staff and volunteers who uplift and inspire her daily. She is also delighted to step out of the office, meet new people, and take them on a Garden tour while planning their special day. In her spare time, Karen can be found gardening, shopping for seasonal produce at the Farmer’s Market, experimenting with new recipes, bird watching, walking Mocha (her seven year old Lab mix), reading, and spending time with friends and family.

Ann DeBolt, Botanist
 ann@idahobotanicalgarden.org

Ann has worked as a Botanist for the IBG since April 2007. Her work at the Garden includes maintenance of the native and waterwise gardens at IBG such as the Lewis & Clark Native Plant Garden, Western Waterwise Garden, Water Conservation Landscape, Idaho Native Plant Garden, and Steve Love Demonstration Plots. She is deeply involved in our conservation programs, including native and rare species seed collection, and foothills restoration projects. Ann teaches classes and gives presentations both here and around the valley.

Ann grew up in northern Florida before earning botany degrees at the University of Montana and Oregon State University. She has worked as a Botanist in southern Idaho since 1987. Her favorite part about working at the Garden is the staff camaraderie of a non-profit organization, seeing something new at work everyday (including many different wildlife visitors), meeting interesting people, and working with fabulous volunteers. In her free time, Ann enjoys growing her own food, hiking, photography, birding, canoeing, and traveling.

Elizabeth Dickey, Education Director
elizabeth@idahobotanicalgarden.org

Elizabeth began working with the Garden in the spring of 1996. As Education Director, she develops and leads Youth Education programs and manages the Continuing Education program. Elizabeth has also taken on the task of writing grant proposals to support IBG activities. When asked what she enjoys most about working here in the Garden, she mentions the great variety of plants and wildlife found on the grounds, being outdoors, working with great people and sharing with others the subjects she loves. Outside of the Garden, Elizabeth enjoys cooking, working in her own garden, reading science fiction and fantasy books and testing new restaurants around the Treasure Valley.

Jennifer Dunmire, Membership Director, Website Manager
jennifer@idahobotanicalgarden.org

Joining the Garden as the office receptionist in the spring of 2007, Jennifer has since taken on website and membership operations. Her tasks include database entry, processing memberships and donations, updating the website and creating the bi-monthly e-newsletter. Spending her week days in a friendly, upbeat and beautiful environment makes coming to work fun and exciting for Jennifer. She enjoys meeting members and guests visiting the Garden and being a part of such a significant community resource. In her free time, Jennifer enjoys reading, baking, playing with her dog, Phoebe, sewing and creating jewelry for her handcrafted jewelry business, Dear Friday.

Chelsee Kucera, Office Coordinator
chelsee@idahobotanicalgarden.org

Chelsee is the first to greet guests at the Garden’s front desk and Garden Store. Chelsee is a graduate of Boise State University with a degree in Political Science. Her customer service and administrative experience includes Capital City Development Corporation and the Ada County Highway District office. On weekends Chelsee enjoys all the Idaho Outdoors has to offer.

Toby Mancini,Horticulture Manager
toby@idahobotanicalgarden.org

Toby’s passion and experience in horticulture make him ideally suited to take on the role of Horticulture Manager. Toby received his Bachelor of Science, Ornamental Horticulture from California State Polytechnic University. His work experience includes branch manager of Senske, production manager of Old Valley Farm and grower / department manager at Monrovia Growers. If Toby’s is not working in his own, or family gardens, you can find him coaching youth soccer or enjoying a good baseball game.

Megan McCarthy, Vegetable Garden Manager & Garden Teacher
meg@idahobotanicalgarden.org

Megan’s love for edible gardening makes her the perfect fit as our Vegetable Garden Manager. She also leads educational tours and develops education materials such as our educational carts which will debut summer 2012.

After high school, Megan served in the military as a combat medic. She completed her undergraduate work at University of Maryland, than headed south to the University of Arizona where she received her masters and PHD in Ecology and Evolutional Biology. While attending U of A she was a docent at Tucson Botanical Garden and did educational outreach at the Sonoran Dessert. She moved to Idaho where she worked with USGS, Nature Conservatory, and University of Idaho before coming to the Garden.

In Megan’s spare time she loves to garden. Her passion lies with edible plants and anything that will attract humming birds. Megan enjoys cooking with her produce and getting out and hiking when she isn’t gardening.

John McDade, Horticulture Technician
john@idahobotanicalgarden.org

John joined the Garden staff as a horticulture technician. John’s gardening experience is world-wide, including England, West Africa, Japan and Idaho. He holds a National Degree in Agriculture & Horticulture from Cannington College in England. John is a native of Scotland. Besides gardening, John is happiest playing bagpipes with the City of Trees Pipes and Drums. He notes: the Garden hosted their very first public performance in 2003.

Daniel Murphy, Native Plant Horticulture Technician
daniel@idahobotanicalgarden.org

Danieljoined the garden staff to nurture our native plant collection. Daniel is well equipped for that task with valuable experience from University of Idaho’s Arboretum and Tree Nursery. Daniel earned his Master’s Degree in Biology from Southern Illinois. His thesis project was green-roof technology. Naturally, he is eager to climb onto the roof of the Gathering Place in the Lewis & Clark Native Plant Garden. When Daniel is not working, he likes riding bikes, skateboarding and playing his electric guitar.

Rebecca Needles, Garden Operations Manager
rebecca@idahobotanicalgarden.org 

Rebecca has been with us since 2005. Her responsibilities include working with event staff to ensure that garden events run smoothly, working with garden volunteers, managing plant sale activities and taking care of greenhouse growing. Her involvement in helping the Garden grow, teaching and learning from volunteers, and the working the quiet mornings are all some of Rebecca’s favorite parts about working at the IBG.

Outside of work, Rebecca enjoys camping, biking, rafting the river, eating seafood, and spending time with a large family of 4 children, 19 grandchildren, 2 dogs and 35 koi.

Rickey Needles, Turf and Landscape Maintenance

Rickie is no stranger to the Garden. He started as a volunteer parking guests during Winter Garden aGlow in 2005. Since then Rickie has driven tractors for our Fall Harvest Festival, parked concert goers during Outlaw Field Summer Concerts and hung lights for Winter Garden aGlow. That is in addition to the ‘honey-do’ list of repairing and building items for the Garden. Rickey joins the staff – officially - as a turf and landscape maintenance technician. During the rare times when he is not in the Garden, Rickey enjoys working on his camping trailer and getting it up in the hills.

Rochelle Overstreet, Event Coordinator
rochelle@idahobotanicalgarden.org

Rochelle joined us in fall of 2011. As event coordinator she works year round planning and managing the IBG sponsored event. Rochelle graduated from Boise State with a degree in Communications and Public Relations in 2011. Rochelle has over five years’ experience in special event management with Boise State University, The Boise Rock School, and the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children

In her spare time she enjoys tennis, cooking, listening to local music, and sampling the many unique restaurants Boise has to offer.

Renee White, Director of Events and Marketing
renee@idahobotanicalgarden.org

Reneé White joined the Garden staff in April of 2011 as the Director of Events and Marketing. Renee holds extensive event management experience. Former positions include director of the Canyon County Fair & Festival and assistant director of the Boise State Alumni Association. She enjoys the wide range of cultural and recreational experiences that Boise offers and can be often be spotted in the crowd relishing the moment.