The California Garden
Board of Directors and Associates
Frances Brandon, President, served in a management capacity and as a special projects
administrator overseeing multimillion dollar statewide projects during her 30 years of service
with the State of California. She is a certified facilitator and mediator, and has earned multiple
certificates in Management and Horticulture. She is a Master Gardener certified by that
organization to train “Sustainable Landscaping” to members and the general public. Ms.
Brandon holds a business license for landscape design and consulting and has become an
historian of large public parks and gardens in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, and
South America.
Jeff Townsend, Vice President, is the Director of Planning and Landscape Architecture, and
is a Principal, at Jacobs’ Sacramento office. He has extensive experience in landscape
architecture, land planning and urban design projects with a variety of public and private
sector projects throughout the United States. He complements his design creativity with site-
sensitive planning techniques to compose unique solutions to complex project programs. He is
involved with multiple aspects of project development, including programming, public
outreach, design development, project management, construction documentation, phasing
and construction administration. He has worked with various local and state agencies
processing discretionary entitlements for land use, CEQA requirements, zoning, variances,
tentative subdivision maps, planning permits and others.
Mr. Townsend holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University in Landscape
Architecture and is a Registered Landscape Architect in California and Texas. He is Trustee
and Past President of the American Society of Landscape Architects Sierra Chapter, a Board
member of the Sacramento Tree Foundation and a member of the Urban Land Institute as well
as the American Planning Association. Mr. Townsend has also volunteered with Habitat for
Humanity, United Way, and the Sacramento Food Bank.
Michele Froyd, Secretary, has served as a project manager during the past 30 years,
implementing statewide programs as a result of changes in legislation, regulation and policy
for the State of California. As a staff manager, she has written legislative and regulatory
proposals, and worked with State Congressional offices in the process. Mrs. Froyd
represented the State of California on a North American committee comprised of high ranking
members of the public and private sectors in the U.S. and Canada to research establish and
document best business practices for identity security. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in
Journalism from California State University, Sacramento, and currently owns a floral design
business. She is a docent for the Crocker Art Museum, a life time supporter of the Sacramento
Zoological Society, and has had an interest in Sacramento and California's historic
preservation programs.
Dick Pryor, Treasurer, worked for the California Department of Transportation as an Office
Manager responsible for the preparation of plans and specifications for landscape designs and
erosion control of major highway projects. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Landscape
Architecture from Iowa State University. Mr. Pryor has actively served on various local and
state professional boards and is a past president of the California Council of Landscape
Architects.
Ron Allison, Director, , Director and past president of the Board for 6 years, is a landscape
architect specializing in custom residential landscape design. During his tenure with
California's Department of State Parks and Recreation and Department of Transportation, his
work included interpretive and master planning for historical state parks and landscape
design. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Landscape Architecture from Cal Poly,
Pomona. Mr. Allison has served on the boards of the American Society of Landscape
Architects, the California Landscape Contractors Association, and is a past member of the
Environmental Council of Sacramento and a past affiliate member of the Building Industry
Association of Northern California.
Nancy Wise-Hutton, Director and Web Site Manager, co-founded NetWorks Events, an
event promotion and fundraising business. She has vast experience in media communication,
event coordination and advertising, and has been a guest lecturer on visual design for Ashland
University and the University of Akron. She has won multiple honors in media communications
and advertising and served as Assistant Director of the Porterville Chamber of Commerce and
co-chaired their successful bid to be named All America City.
Roger Taylor, DDS, Director is co-founder/director/vice chairman of the board for the
American River Bank, American River Bankshares, and American River Bankshares
Foundation. He is also director of Community Vision Inc. in El Dorado Hills. Dr. Taylor
graduated from the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry and founded the Orchard
Dental Group in Fair Oaks, CA, from which he is now retired.
Deborah Thomas-Smith, Director, J.D. whose work includes Insurance Claim consultation.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from Connecticut College and a Juris
Doctorate in Law from the American College of Law. She has also taught Political Science at
the college level and has a strong interest in building a botanical garden that educates
children and youth.
Ms. Smith is certified in landscape design, conflict management and mediation, and writes
grant proposals. She has also worked in the insurance industry managing commercial liability
civil litigation, including construction defect and environmental claims includes consultation on
community garden design and implementing sustainable practices.
William Kemper, Director, is a CPA (Ret.) whose career began as an auditor with Price
Waterhouse followed by financial positions for a variety of small start-up high-tech companies
that include the manufacturers of medical devices and electron beam equipment. He has
served as the Chief Financial Officer for all of these companies and started his own
businesses. Additionally, he has served as on the Board of Directors for the electron beam
manufacturer and for the not-for-profit American Cut Glass Association. His education
includes San Jose State and University of Oregon.
Michael McKechnie, Associate, is the past Executive Director of the San Francisco
Botanical Garden Society. He recently spearheaded the garden’s successful branding project,
and led the Society in a $30 million dollar capitol campaign to renovate or build eight gardens,
endow increased garden maintenance, develop accessible path and way finding systems, and
construct a state-of-the-art “green” Nursery and Center for Sustainable Gardening.
Tallying 39 years of experience managing non-profits, he directed the successful growth of
four regional or national charitable organizations. Additionally, he served on the governing
boards of a number of research, fundraising and civic organizations where he provided
governance, financial and strategic oversight. Mr. McKechnie has built a number of
consortiums and partnerships among potentially competing agencies, non-profits and
corporations, funders and fund recipients. He enjoys the creative programming that brings
together the abilities of partner organizations.
Mr. McKechnie holds a BA from DePauw University, a Master of Regional Planning from
Cornell, and an MBA from Xavier University
Rick LaMantain, Associate, is currently an accounts manager for the Valley Crest Tree
Company, a division of Valley Crest Companies, where he has been employed for the past 25
years. Valley Crest, the nation’s largest integrated landscape company, is renowned for such
distinguished project successes as Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park, Duke University Gardens,
Dodger Stadium, and the world-renowned Chinese Gardens at Huntington Gardens. As a
community leader, Mr. LaMantain has served on the Board of Directors for the Sacramento
Tree Foundation, is Chairman of the Landscape and Nursery Expo, and served as a board
member of the California Landscape Contractors Association. He holds a degree in Marketing
from Fullerton College.
Ry Southard, Associate, is the Executive Director of the Ruth Bancroft Gardens. He served
as Executive Director of Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens from February 2010 to April
2011. Mr. Southard’s experience includes serving for four years as Executive Director of Betty
Ford Alpine Gardens, the world’s highest botanic garden. Additionally, he co-founded, was
General Manager and Chief Compliance Officer of Rocky Mountain Planning Group,
Inc.(RMPG). In 2001 and 2002, RMPG was selected as one of the top 100 financial planning
firms in the U.S. by Mutual Funds magazine. Mr. Southard has a BFA from San Francisco Art
Institute.
Joe Coomes, Associate, is of counsel in the Municipal and Redevelopment Law practice
group of Best Best & Krieger LLP . He was formerly a senior shareholder in the Sacramento
law firm of McDonough Holland & Allen PC, with a statewide practice representing private
developers and public agencies in land use, downtown redevelopment, and reuse planning,
acquisition and development of closed military bases He has been recognized by his peers by
being listed in "Best Lawyers of America," and in March 2008 he received a "Lifetime
Achievement Award" from the California Redevelopment Association.
In a civic capacity, he has served as President of the Metro Chamber of Commerce, the
Sacramento Commerce and Trade Organization, Valley Vision, and founder and chairman of
the Capitol Area Development Authority, among others. He is a past Metro Chamber
"Sacramentan of the Year," Sacramento County Bar "Lawyer of the Year," and recipient from
the Sacramento Chapter of Lambda Alpha International of its "Samuel J. Cullers Outstanding
Achievement Award" in recognition of his civic activities. His strong support of the California
Garden is part of his vision for the Sacramento region to grow with first class amenities for its
citizens and visitors.
Amy Lapin, Associate, is Vice President of Economic & Planning Systems, Inc., (EPS). She
has assisted public and private entities in evaluating financial and market feasibility,
measuring the fiscal and economic impacts of new development, and identifying funding
mechanisms to finance public infrastructure and urban services.
Ms. Lapin’s recent projects include assisting the City of Sacramento in preparing analyses to
finance public facilities and ongoing municipal services and evaluating the construction and
ongoing economic impacts of the Sacramento RailYards project, a 230-acre redevelopment
project adjacent to downtown Sacramento. Ms. Lapin also recently prepared an economic and
fiscal impact analysis detailing the potential implications of a real property development
moratorium over the next seven years in the City of Seaside.
Ms. Lapin is an active member of the American Planning Association, where she serves as
Membership Director for the Sacramento Valley Section. She is also an active member of
Urban Land Institute (ULI) and ULI Young Leaders Group (YLG), where she serves as co-chair
of the Programs Committee. Ms. Lapin earned a Master of Community and Regional Planning
from the University of Oregon and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Psychology from Ohio
Wesleyan University.
William Brandon, PhD, BCBA-D, NBCT-ECE –Associate, Dr. Brandon has taught at the
university level for several years and is active in the development of course material and
content for the courses he teaches. Further he is the founder of Learning Arts, a licensed
education agency that specializes in early intervention for children with Autism and other
developmental disabilities. He holds a Doctorate in Early Education and a Masters in Special
Education. Further, he is currently working toward his second Masters in Psychology.
In addition to his previous and ongoing education and teaching experience at the graduate
level, he is a National Board Certified Teacher in Special Education (Early Education
Specialist). He is also a Board Certified Behavior Analyst - Doctorate; holds 3 teaching
credentials; Cross-cultural language, and academic development (CLAD) certification; and a
Child Development Program Director Permit. He has also developed and implemented
curriculum for numerous public and private institutions for a wide and diverse range of
learners from Pre-K to graduate level instruction.
He has been recognized for valuable service by Families for Early Autism Treatment, a parent
organization dedicated to helping families who have children with autism and related
disorders, the Eminent Educator award from the Fair Oaks Chamber of Commerce, and the
Professional Excellence award from TAC staff.
At the regional and state level, he has sat on the Superintendent’s Autism Advisory Committee
(SAAC) for the California Department of Education’s task force on autism to develop statewide
standards for working with and providing services for children with autism.
Jackie Rogers, Associate, offers more than 25 years of expertise as an accounting
manager, payroll manager, internal auditor, and analyst with such companies as Advance
Education, Verizon Wireless, Amador County, Franklin Templeton and the Mountain Lion
Foundation. Her professional writing and editing portfolio includes grants, financial statements,
brochures, annual reports and direct mail solicitations. Additionally, as a development writer,
she has helped raise more than $100 million for UC Davis.
Martha (Marcie) Larkey, Associate, currently serves as the Chairperson of the Fund
Development Committee. Her professional non-profit career spans almost 40 years in the
Sacramento Community. The majority of Ms. Larkey's experience has been in healthcare
where she held a range of positions including Coordinator, Volunteer Services, Mental Health
Educator, Director, Community/ Public Relations, Director, Marketing/Business Development,
Director, Fund Development, and Director, New Program and Fund Development
Ms. Larkey, always active in the community, has served on the Board of Directors for
The Association of Fundraising Professionals, Habitat for Humanity, People Reaching Out,
and Mental Health Associates, (an Independent Practice Association) She currently serves on
the Board of Directors for the Episcopal Foundation of Northern California and Transitional
Living and Community Support (TLCS).
Marisa Richmond, Associate, Marisa Richmond, Director, obtained a California Lifetime
Teaching Credential after completing graduate studies at the University of Santa Clara and
has taught various childhood development curriculums. She has completed Master Gardener
training and has done landscape consulting for private homes. Additionally, she managed the
Art/Design Gallery in El Dorado Hills, CA, worked for the Crocker Art Museum, and has
exhibited and sold art. Ms. Richmond has been managing a home business for the past 20
years.
The California Garden Project, a project of The California Central Valley Horticultural Foundation (CCVHF),
a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization founded in September 1997 to sponsor the development, design,
construction and operation of The California Garden.
The organization is charged with developing a broad base of support for The California Garden. A diverse
range of skills is required for The Garden to be a success and a combination of administrative and
organizational skills are needed to form a cohesive working group.
