Phoebe joined the GBC in 2022. She is a 20-year Greenwich resident with a professional background in natural resources, agriculture and conservation and has been a member and chair of local non-profit volunteer boards. She has a B.S. from Colorado State University and an M.S. in Agricultural Economics from Pennsylvania State University where her research focused on farm labor economics. In addition to plants, Phoebe enjoys life with her husband, Stewart, and three children and spends her free time riding horses, playing squash and walking in the woods with her dogs.
Tiana Santasiere is an experienced horticulturist with a passion for developing the plant and people connection. As a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a degree in environmental horticulture, she has spent her career working in different parts of the green industry, including retail management, purchasing, and as a landscape gardener and horticulture educator. The former youth camp gardening instructor enjoys sharing her passion and knowledge of gardening with people of all ages as much as learning about new plants and advances in horticulture science. Tiana lives in Rockland County, New York, with her husband and son, and she enjoys attending sporting events with her family, fishing, and, of course, gardening.
Allison manages marketing, programming and events for Greenwich Botanical Center. With over 20 years of experience in marketing and branding, Allison has helped build some of the most iconic brands in the hospitality industry and loves applying her knowledge to all things botanical. As a partner at restaurant group Quality Branded, she led all aspects of the marketing function, including programming, PR/communications, and strategic partnerships for the corporate group and its award-winning restaurants, driving brand growth and earning cultural relevance. Prior to that, Allison honed her expertise at top PR firms, including global powerhouse Ketchum and boutique hospitality agency Baltz & Co. She brings a unique blend of big-agency thinking and deep industry insight to help Greenwich Botanical Center stand out and thrive. When not working, Allison loves spending time in nature, hiking in the woods or at the beach with her two gigantic rescue dogs, Penny and Bosun.
Angie believes that if we want children to grow up to be stewards of our earth, they need to have positive experiences with nature as children. She graduated from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry with a BS in Environmental Studies and a concentration in biology. Angie has worked for the DEC in NYC developing environmental education programs for inner city children and has her Forest School Teacher and Director Certificates from the Forest School Teacher Institute. Angie has taught many after-school classes at ISD, as well as volunteering at the Greenwich Audubon as a TN. Angie became an ADK 46er when she was 16 years old and thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail after graduating college. She lives in Greenwich with her husband and three sons.
Kate Murphy is a Westchester native who has been teaching environmental education programs for over a decade. Kate is a native plant enthusiast and has 24 years of experience in horticulture, working as a floral designer. She believes it’s never too early for children to explore nature as it helps them learn to appreciate it as they grow older. Kate is a federally permitted and New York State licensed wildlife rehabilitator and is knowledgeable on native wildlife and wildlife conflict resolution. She has an AAS in Business Administration from SUNY Westchester and is completing her BS in Environmental Studies minoring in Wildlife Ecology, Marine Biology, and GIS Technology. In her free time, Kate enjoys photography, boating on Long Island Sound, and nature walks with her nephews.
Alana Kontos is a lifelong Greenwich resident and grew up exploring the vast natural landscape that the town has to offer. From local parks and trails to the beach at Tod’s Point, Alana enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and two young children. Alana has a BA in International Studies from Trinity College and has spent her career working as a marketing and special events professional with clients in the non-profit, lifestyle, and tech sectors. She is thrilled to join the team at GBC which has been a long-time favorite destination for her family.
Beth Pierson has spent more than 20 years in the education and non-profit fields in a variety of roles including coach, educator, camp counselor, program coordinator, external evaluator, and deputy director, to name a few! She has a BA in Environmental Studies from Vassar College and an MA in International Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Beth co-facilitates a very popular after school garden club program at New Lebanon Elementary School in the fall and spring, and is helping to strengthen and institutionalize the school garden program there. Since moving from NYC over 10 years ago Beth, her husband, and two kids love exploring all of the amazing outdoor spaces that Greenwich has to offer. Beth's favorite family tradition is to close out the summer by camping on Great Captain's Island and watching the sun rise and set over the Sound.
Liz has returned to teaching at Greenwich Botanical Center after a 10 year hiatus and greatly enjoys exploring the grounds, critters and seasons with her Forest Days students. She appreciates the wonderful intersection of nature, science and art at GBC. Liz came to teaching after 4 years of sports marketing in Manhattan. She has a BA in History, with a minor in Studio Art, from Hamilton College and an MA in Elementary Education and Curriculum Design from Teachers College, Columbia University. She taught 3rd grade boys at St. David’s in NYC. Liz has enjoyed Greenwich’s green spaces for the past 29 years with her husband and 3 children. In her free time she enjoys painting, hiking and sailing.
Karen practices as a family medicine physician at a community health center in Port Chester, NY. She has lived in Greenwich with her husband and two children for several years, and enjoys the breadth of family friendly activities the town has to offer. Her love for flower gardening started as a child, determined to dig holes for fall bulbs in the rocky soil of Massachusetts. She is delighted to be able to assist with continuing the wonderful programming at the Greenwich Botanical Center as a board member and helping with continued success for future generations. She enjoys connecting volunteers and families to become actively involved in organizations she works with, and is also an active board member of the Greenwich Riding & Trails Association and serves on the Parent Association of Whitby School. Besides gardening, she enjoys horseback riding on the mid-and-backcountry trail network of Greenwich.
Caitlin O'Hara has two decades of professional experience in event planning, design and production. For the past fifteen years, her boutique event firm has impressed NYC luminaries with its design and production of high-profile events in the entertainment, tech, fashion, art, and design industries. Caitlin's client list includes many of New York's renowned organizations such as the New York City Ballet, the Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, the Museum of Arts and Design and Dia Art Foundation. Flowers and plants are integral to the work Caitlin does. As such, both her knowledge of and lifelong passion for the same has grown throughout the years. Since her move from New York City to Greenwich, Caitlin has enjoyed exploring and observing the GBC and Pinetum grounds across all four seasons, through nature walks and fondly with her two daughters as part of the GBC Forest Days program.
Elizabeth Peyton has over fifteen years of experience in strategic management and fundraising in the nonprofit sector. She most recently served as the Director of Annual Giving at Christ Church Greenwich, and has worked at Mothers for Others, the Port Chester Carver Center, and the Breast Cancer Alliance throughout her career. In addition to her professional and volunteer work in the nonprofit sector, Elizabeth developed expertise in strategy, business development, and client relations during her time at Bridgewater Associates and Greenwich Associates.
Elizabeth earned her bachelor’s degree in history from Boston College, where she graduated from the College of Arts & Sciences Honors Program. She is a member of the Junior League of Greenwich and served as its President from 2018-2019. Additionally, she is a member and active volunteer at First Presbyterian Church of Greenwich and past Parent’s Association Executive Board member at Sacred Heart Greenwich. She lives in Cos Cob and enjoys tending to her small backyard garden with her husband and daughter.
Emmi brings a creative, community-minded perspective to the Greenwich Botanical Center’s Board of Directors, grounded in a deep commitment to outdoor access and environmental preservation. A former interior designer, she now focuses on raising her four children with her husband, nurturing a family life centered on nature and time spent outdoors.
Emmi is an active advocate for protecting and expanding local green spaces. She champions trail preservation through the Greenwich Riding and Trails Association and supports the Greenwich Tree Conservancy in its mission to safeguard the town’s natural landscapes. A strong believer in the importance of unstructured outdoor play for children, she promotes programs such as Little Rangers and Forest Days. An avid equestrian, Emmi also enjoys hiking and playing tennis with her husband. Her thoughtful ideas, collaborative spirit, and passion for nature will be a meaningful asset to the GBC Board.
Amber Boissonneault benefits from a complex history of sales, fine art, and gardening, making her skilled in cultivation and persuasion. Before stepping aside from her career to raise her son, Amber worked for over a decade at a major pharmaceutical company. She then received her degree in Art Business and moved into sales for a boutique modern art gallery in New York City. Amber now lives in Greenwich with her husband and her son, Charlie. When she's not keeping them in line, she dedicates her time to several local charities…and, of course, her garden!
Jennifer Butler grew up in Greenwich and is an attorney turned stay-at-home mom to three young girls. Her dream to help bring a forest-based program for preschool aged children to Greenwich began during the countless hours that she spent outdoors with her toddlers. After researching and discovering the vast benefits of outdoor play, she took her idea to the Greenwich Botanical Center where she sits on the Board and previously served as the co-founder and Director of Forest Days. Jennifer earned her J.D. from Pace University School of Law and B.A. from St. Joseph’s University. In addition to sitting on the Board of Greenwich Botanical Center, Jennifer is an active volunteer at Christ Church Greenwich and Greenwich Academy. She lives in central Greenwich with her husband Barron, their three daughters where she enjoys cooking, gardening and playing tennis.
AnneMarie came to the GBC as a volunteer in 2018 for the Grandiflora Garden Tour and has been one of the co-chairs of the committee for the past 6 years. After 35 years in the fashion industry, designing for fashion companies such as Oleg Cassini, Athleta, Jill, Sundance, and Kiko as well as her own collection Fusco Alta Moda, AnnMarie is currently the owner of Royal Perla, LLC. She imports Italian patio stone to the US markets for the landscape and garden industry. In addition, AnnMarie works with her husband Louis Fusco owner of Louis Fusco Landscape Architects acting as the project director in charge of site furnishings, manages day to day operations and client relations. Living in Pound Ridge NY and being married 43 years to a Landscape Architect she has embraced a love of the environment and the botanical diversity we are blessed with in the northeast. AnnMarie is fortunate that her 4 grandchildren live nearby, and they take every opportunity to adventure outdoors together.
Allie joined the board in 2022, eager to contribute to the community-driven mission of the GBC. Allie is a financial sales executive at Google, managing the American Express global portfolio, and is also a trained facilitator and active advocate for Google’s Diversity Equity & Inclusion IAR program. Prior to joining Google, she managed a sales team at a data tech firm after starting her sales career at Martha Stewart in Chicago. Allie graduated with honors from Miami University and is enrolled in the CME Executive program at Harvard Business School. Her professional experience extends into the nonprofit sector as well, having helped launch & manage the Make-A-Wish Chicago Classic Foundation. Allie lives in Greenwich with her husband and two sons (future GBC Little Rangers!). In addition to her love of flowers and horticulture, Allie loves traveling, reading, running, and spending time with her family exploring the beautiful Greenwich outdoors, the Pinetum especially! One of her favorite aspects of the GBC is the educational and enriching programming that her whole family enjoys- ranging from youth-oriented outdoor sensory classes to gardening, designing and even composting workshops!
Sandra considers herself lucky to be a nearly lifelong resident of Greenwich. She has been on the board of GBC since 2021 and currently serves on the Executive Committee as VP of Governance. The bulk of her professional career has been developing and leading Human Resources departments in the financial services sector. After leaving the corporate sector, Sandra runs her own HR consulting and Executive Coaching business. She is passionate about her work in which she helps to coach and develop teams and emerging leaders at all levels in publicly and privately held businesses as well as non-profit organizations. Sandra earned her MS in Organizational Management and Human Resource Development at Manhattanville College, and her Coaching Certification from Columbia University. She is also an active member of St. Catherine of Siena and St. Agnes Parish, serving on several committees. She happily enjoys free time with her husband, two married sons and four young grandsons and loves gardening, golf, cooking, lifelong learning and spending quality time with family and friends.
Kathy McCormack has her BA in History from the College of the Holy Cross and her MA in International Finance and East Asian Studies from Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs. She began her career in International Economic Research at Morgan Stanley and is the co-author of 101 Trends Every Investor Should Know About the Global Economy. She moved to Riverside in 2000 and began focusing on her strong interest in sustainability and public libraries. She was both a long-time member and Co-Chair of the Greenwich Public Schools Green Schools Committee and is currently Board President of Perrot Memorial Library in Old Greenwich. She is also a member of the Greenwich Reads Together Committee, Greenwich Library’s town-wide reading initiative that engages the community around a single book. Kathy is the Co-Founder of Anna’s Hummingbird, a handmade table linens business that sells in markets and shops in both CT & NJ. She has 4 children and lives in Riverside with her husband.
Moira Napolitano has been a long-time resident of Greenwich CT and has called the Glenville section of town home for over 25 years. Always a dedicated volunteer in town, Moira’s community involvement spans to being on local school boards specializing in marketing/PR and event planning to District Leader for the Republican Town Committee (RTC) to volunteering at Neighbor to Neighbor and with the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Moira started her career in New York City and spent many years managing events for Fortune 100 companies like Pfizer and IBM. Transitioning to work locally, she took a position in the private equity division of a family office before being promoted to managing the office operationally. She has also worked alongside her husband in his local law practice that specialized in land use and zoning, which led her to create her own real estate consulting practice helping clients with land use research and town hall processing of permits. Moira attended the University of Arizona and SUNY Oneonta and has a background in Business Economics and Nutrition. She enjoys life with her husband Frank and their daughter Claire. Besides being an avid gardener, she loves to cook and entertain family and friends and she enjoys all things nature, whether it being hiking in the woods or time at the beach.
Alex is a product manager at PagerDuty, a software company that helps organizations manage their digital infrastructure and provide real-time alerts when incidents arise. Alex has been in product for 15 years across travel, banking, education and other consumer tech sectors; he got his start on the Citibank online banking team and has worked at travel companies including Priceline, Expedia and Hipmunk in the New York area as well as San Francisco and Seattle. Alex has led work in conversational artificial intelligence, subscription monetization strategies and now growth and customer engagement. Alex grew up in Greenwich where his mother and grandmother instilled in him a love of plants and garden design. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and now lives in Cos Cob with his wife and two kids (ages 6 and 3). He loves getting outside to run, hike, bike and sail.
Dennis Reilly is an attorney for the New York State Unified Court System, Division of Policy and Planning where he supports the development of clinical interventions for justice-involved populations that suffer from mental health and substance use disorders. Dennis is the Vice President of the NY Association of Treatment Court Professionals, Chair of the National Council of State Treatment Court Coordinators and Advisory Board member of the New England Association of Recovery Court Professionals. Dennis is a graduate of the UConn School of Business Administration and Management, the University of Denver School of Law, and the University of Amsterdam School for Executive Development in International Relations. Dennis has a deep love of gardening, developed in his grandfather’s vegetable garden, nurtured by his mother’s love of perennials, and expressed in his advocation for raising unusual fruits and berries. Dennis has served in leadership in local Boy Scout Troop 35 and has enjoyed over a decade of growth in the Greenwich Community Gardens.
