The GardenWorks Project’s vision and mission is driven by its leadership and staff. Our leadership team of board and committee members provide us expertise and strategic direction to improve our community, one garden at a time.
Please connect with us if you are interested in committee and/or board membership or would like to meet with a board member to learn more!
Matt Tansley
Matt Tansley is a Land Use Planner with the Kane County Development and Community Services Department. He provides staff support for the implementation of various county long range and strategic plans, including the Kane County 2040 Plan, Growing for Kane Report, and the Kane County Food Hub Feasibility Study. He also coordinates the activities of the […]
Nancy Bell
Nancy became a gardener by accident over 20 years ago when her sister encouraged her to start a container garden on her apartment balcony. Initially intrigued but not enthused, she followed her sister’s suggestion and a deep love of growing things was sparked. Volunteering as a University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners for over 15 […]
Jesse Laseman
Jesse currently works at Sikich as a Senior Internal Audit Consultant. In this role, Jesse works to improve client’s, of various industries, daily processes by decreasing risk and increasing operational efficiencies. Outside of his career, he enjoys giving back to the community as the Assistant Cross Country Coach at Waubonsee Community College and serves as […]
Joy Rosenberg
Joy’s experience in gardening began in her parents’ large plot, where her summer tasks included everything from tending the plants to prepping produce for canning and freezing. A retired human resources professional who divided her career evenly between corporate and nonprofit organizations, she relocated often, primarily in the Midwest and East coast. During that time, […]
Bill Waters
Bill has participated in a Master Gardener program, written a gardening column for a local newspaper, and taught gardening classes at his local park district. He was introduced to The GardenWorks Project through an online course in Urban Sustainable Agriculture at College of Dupage, where he learned about the realities of national and local food […]
Teri Wood
Teri is an avid gardener and annually starts seeds in the spring for her bungalow kitchen and cutting gardens. She first learned of the GardenWorks Project while wandering at a local garden center and attending a volunteer event. Teri was immediately drawn to the mission of the GWP and the commitment of the board, staff, […]
Amanda Bryant
Amanda Bryant has been gardening with her Mom since before she can remember. Now, she loves sharing her love of gardening with her husband, son and anyone who will listen. Amanda began volunteering with The Gardenworks Project in 2017 and became a lead during the 2018 season, shortly before joining the board. She earned her […]
Jackie Pierucci
Jackie’s earliest memories of gardening begin on the south side of Chicago with her father in the backyard of her parent’s home. While she grew up witnessing neighborhoods turn into food deserts, she did not know of the term or how widespread it was until college where she earned her BS in Nutrition & Dietetics. […]