The work of the Michigan Master Gardener Association is provided by an all-volunteer board and volunteer committees that help guide the organization's communications, membership development and finances.   For more on the structure of the board and the bylaws of the organization, please click here.

To learn more about the organization and opportunities for you to volunteer please contact one of the board members or email us at info@michiganmastergardener.org.

Executive Board Members

NAME AND MMGA POSITIONS: Liam D. Britton, President

HOMETOWN:  Lansing, Michigan area

LOCAL GARDENING ASSOCIATION: Capital Area Master Gardeners

PETS: a Blue Point Siamese named "Bleu"

PROFESSION/OCCUPATION:  Project Manager and Student (Program: Horticulture and Business Management)

HOBBIES:  Gardening, Specialty Crop Production, Mycology, and research/analysis

FAVORITE TRAVEL LOCATION:  State Parks, National Forests, and Gourmet Restaurants

WHAT I LIKE TO GROW:  Mushrooms, Saffron, Wasabi, Bonsai, and Native Plants

WHY I GARDEN:  I enjoy the process of growing my own food and the positive impact gardening has on both the environment and our local communities. Beyond this, I love learning about different plants, their growth habits, and how we can grow unique or out-of-zone crops in our Michigan climate. 

NAME AND MMGA POSITIONS: Stephanie Bahorski, Secretary, Communications Committee, and Membership Renewal Committee

HOMETOWN: Sterling Heights, MI

LOCAL GARDENING ASSOCIATION: Macomb County Master Gardener Association

PETS: Twinkie (cat) and Gremlin (cat)

PROFESSION: Project manager in tobacco regulatory research

HOBBIES: Beekeeping, volunteering with a local cat rescue, fostering kittens, and gardening

FAVORITE TRAVEL LOCATION: Anywhere in the UP!

WHAT I LIKE TO GROW: Any native flowers, shrubs, and trees, but I’m a forever goldenrod girl. I also love to grow tomatoes and fruits like raspberries, blueberries, and aronia berries. I’m adding to my perennial fruit garden every year!

WHY I GARDEN: It’s a therapeutic and creative outlet for me. Being a Master Gardener also allows me to connect with and give back to my community. I’m passionate about increasing biodiversity in our yards, gardening to create quality habitat for insects, birds, and pollinators, and addressing invasive plants in our landscapes. Even adding one or two native plants to our yards can make a difference, and that’s something I want to encourage others to do.

NAME AND MMGA POSITIONS:  Lisa Lane, Volunteer Coordinator, Communications Committee, Instagram Admin

HOMETOWN:  From Detroit, currently residing in Sterling Heights, MI for over 40 years 

LOCAL GARDENING ASSOCIATION: Macomb County Master Gardener Association 

PETS: 1 dog and 2 cats

PROFESSION/OCCUPATION:  Front End Manager at Menards

HOBBIES:  Gardening, scrapbooking and paper-crafting, reading, and journaling 

FAVORITE TRAVEL LOCATION:  I haven’t traveled much, but I love Mackinaw Island, Chicago, and Atlanta

WHAT I LIKE TO GROW:  I love growing flowers, specifically native plants and everything to do with seeds. 

WHY I GARDEN:  I love that something comes from something so small it amazes me. I love providing habitat for wildlife and sharing that knowledge with others and watching them learn new things. My love of gardening started as a child, but the Master Gardener program has allowed me to learn so much and the added benefit of all the friends and experiences I have had is priceless. 

NAME AND MMGA POSITIONS: Luann Mabarak, Board Director, Event Coordination Lead

HOMETOWN:  Reed City, Michigan; currently residing in Northern Lower Michigan

LOCAL GARDENING ASSOCIATION: Independent member

PETS: Zuma (dog); Tana and Littlefoot (horses)

PROFESSION/OCCUPATION:  College Academic Advisor

HOBBIES:  Gardening, kayaking, snowshoeing, weaving, reading, genealogy, riding motorcycles, and studying herbalism.

FAVORITE TRAVEL LOCATION:  Alaska, Prince Edward Island, British Columbia and the most favorite is yet to be discovered!

WHAT I LIKE TO GROW:  After house sitting for someone years ago and nearly killing their beloved violets, I’m happy to report that I became a master of them with many thriving in my house!  Outside, I love watching my perennial friends pop up through the soil each spring.  Since I have a lot of shade, my current beloved perennials include a variety of Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra), Turtlehead (Chelone), Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla), Columbine (Aquilegia), Lungwort (Pulmonaria), Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia), Snakeroot (Cimicifuga) and hosta. 

WHY I GARDEN:  I am a farmer’s daughter, so it's in my blood! I’ve always enjoyed their beauty and the delicious bounty that plants produce.  

Committee Volunteers

Communications Committee

• Ruth Steele-Walker

• Melville Kennedy (Facebook Admin)

• Ilse Schweitzer

Grants Committee

• Frances Paris

• Arlene Marcetti

• Sigrid Streit

Membership Engagement Committee

• Claudia Egan (Event Coordinator)

Partners at MSU Extension

Liaison to the Board:  
Dr. Sarah Rautio, State Coordinator
Michigan State University Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program