Guadalupe County Master Gardeners
Board of Directors and Members in Service
2025
President – April Rippel
Past President – Kay McElveen
President Elect – Pam Malone
Vice-President – Pam Younger
Treasurer – Frank Rippel
Secretary – Kathleen Smith
Education Director – Karen Koepp
Membership Director – David Koepp
Volunteer Director – Kathy Carroll
Publicity Director – Kat Medeiros-Oropeza
Master Gardener Class Director – Paul Carter
AgriLife Extension Agent, MG Coordinator – Travis Franke
GCMG Class Coordinators – Paul Carter (Lead), April Rippel, David Fisher
TMGA Appointed Directors
TMGA Director (2026/2027) April Rippel, Alternate: Tim Steele
TMGA Director (2026) Kathy Carroll, Alternate Pam Malone
Project Points of Contact:
Ask A Master Gardener Information Booth: Mac Mullins
Ask A Master Gardener Newsletter: Ernestine Sykes & Clara Mae Marcotte
Big Red Barn Garden: Janice Knobles
Big Red Barn Kiosk: Ernestine Sykes
Christian Cupboard Garden: Kay McElveen
Christmas Tree Decorating: Ernestine Sykes
Facebook Administrator: Kathy Adams
Grow Team Lead: Clayton Phelps
Guadalupe County Demonstration Garden: Dale & Ann Odvody
Guadalupe County Fair Booth: By Committee
Guadalupe County Fair Horticulture – April Rippel
Guadalupe County Fair Information Booth – Mac Mullins
Guadalupe County Fair Kid’s Crafts – Pam Malone
Guadalupe County Fair Plant Sales – Paul Carter
Guadalupe County Fair Pumpkin Decorating Contest Booth – Pam Younger
Guadalupe County Fair Raffle – David Fisher
Guadalupe County Independence Day Parade Float: Angela Chason
Guadalupe County MG Office, Research Library & Seed Exchange: David & Karen Koepp, Ernestine Sykes
Guadalupe County Socials Event Coordinator: Summer: April Rippel Winter: April Rippel
Gutierrez Garden Park: Maria Dykes
Irma Lewis Outdoor Learning Center Seguin ISD: Wendy Salazar
Kingsbury Fall Festival: Sharon Cooper
La Vernia Primary School Gardens: Kay Cover & Colleen Collier
LULAC Community Garden: Juan Moncada
Marion Veterans Memorial Park: Carol Suchan & Anne Ottenad
Mill Street Community Garden: Benna Hunter & Kathleen Smith
Newsletter Publisher: Melinda Lucas
Pecan Fest @ Big Red Barn: Kay McElveen
Plant Sale Leads: Paul Carter & Tim Steele
Polley Mansion Heritage Garden: Robin & Keith Muschalek
Refreshments Coordinator: Annette Padgett
Ron Pedde Memorial Community Garden: Rachel Eiland
St. Andrew’s Community Garden: Ernestine Sykes
Speakers Bureau Team: Karen Koepp, Karen Brkich
Tech Team Lead: Paul Prince
Yule Fest: April Rippel
Webmasters: Frank Rippel & David Koepp
Around August each year, we need volunteers to submit their names and/or nominations for the upcoming Director positions for the following year.
Please contact the Board Secretary who is in charge of the Nominating Committee if you would like to volunteer for or find out more information on these position openings. Nominations must be submitted before or during the October Monthly Meeting and will be formally presented and voted on during the November Monthly Meeting (a.k.a. the “Annual” meeting).
The Annual Meeting is held on the third Thursday in November. At this meeting, Officers will be elected for the next year and any other special business that may arise will be conducted. A minimum of twenty five percent (25%) of the certified membership must attend to constitute a quorum which is necessary for the election to be held.
Prior years detail of Board of Directors and Appointed Members in Service
2025
President – Kay McElveen
Past President – Sarah Puckett – Resigned
President Elect – April Rippel
Vice-President – Pam Younger
Treasurer – Frank Rippel
Secretary – Kathleen Smith
Education Director – Bill Nodine – Resigned
Education Director – Brenda Smith – Resigned
Education Director – Karen Koepp
Membership Director – Bjorn Johnson – Resigned
Membership Director – David Koepp
Volunteer Director – Beth Smith – Resigned
Volunteer Director – Pam Malone
Communication Director – Ingrid Wilgen
Publicity Director – Janice Jadwin
Master Gardener Class Director – Paul Carter
AgriLife Extension Agent, MG Coordinator – Travis Franke
GCMG Class Coordinators – Paul Carter (Lead), April Rippel, David Fisher, Karen Carrell, Dominique Harmon
TMGA Appointed Directors
TMGA Director (2024/2025) April Rippel, Alternate: Tim Steele
TMGA Director (2025) David Koepp, Alternate Robin Rieder
Project Points of Contact:
Ask A Master Gardener Information Booth: Mac Mullins
Ask A Master Gardener Office/Newsletter: Ernestine Sykes & Clara Mae Marcotte
Big Red Barn Garden: Janice Knobles
Big Red Barn Kiosk: Ernestine Sykes
Christian Cupboard Garden: Kay McElveen
Christmas Tree Decorating: Kayla Murray & Ernestine Sykes
Facebook Administrator: Kathy Adams
Grow Team Lead: Pam Malone
Guadalupe County Demonstration Garden: Dale & Ann Odvody
Guadalupe County Fair Booth: Kathleen Smith & April Rippel
Guadalupe County Independence Day Parade Float: Angela Chason
Guadalupe County Pumpkin Decorating Contest Booth: Pam Younger
Guadalupe County Research Library & Seed Exchange: David & Karen Koepp, Ernestine Sykes
Guadalupe County Socials Event Coordinator: Summer: April Rippel Winter: April Rippel
Gutierrez Garden Park: Maria Dykes
Irma Lewis Outdoor Learning Center Seguin ISD: Wendy Salazar
Kingsbury Fall Festival: Sharon Cooper
La Vernia Primary School Gardens: Kay Cover & Colleen Collier
LULAC Community Garden: Juan Moncada
Marion Veterans Memorial Park: Carol Suchan & Anne Ottenad
Mill Street Community Garden: Benna Hunter & Kathleen Smith
Newsletter Publisher: Melinda Lucas
Pecan Fest @ Big Red Barn: Kay McElveen
Plant Sale Leads: Paul Carter & Tim Steele
Polley Mansion Heritage Garden: Robin & Keith Muschalek
Refreshments Coordinator: Karen Carrell
Ron Pedde Memorial Community Garden: Rachel Eiland
St. Andrew’s Community Garden: Ernestine Sykes
Speakers Bureau Team: Karen Koepp, Karen Brkich
Tech Team Lead: Paul Prince
Yule Fest: April Rippel
Webmasters: Frank Rippel & David Koepp
2024
GCMG Officers & Board of Directors
President – Sarah Puckett
Past President – Mark “Bo” Bollinger
President Elect – Beth Smith – Resigned
President Elect – Kay McElveen
Vice-President – Wendy Salazar
Treasurer – Claire Huebinger
Secretary – Benna Hunter
Education Director – William Nodine
Membership Director – Denise Leverich
Volunteer Director – Maria Dykes
Publicity Director – David Koepp – Resigned
Communication Director – Ingrid Wilgen
AgriLife Extension Agent, MG Coordinator – Travis Franke
GCMG Class Coordinators – Paul Carter, Tim Steele, & April Rippel
Webmasters – Frank Rippel & David Koepp
Newsletter Publisher: Melinda Lucas
Ask a MG: Ernestine Sykes and Clara Mae Marcotte
Facebook Editor: Kathy Adams
Refreshments Coordinator: Kathleen Smith
TMGA Appointed Directors
TMGA Director (2024/2025) April Rippel, Alternate: Tim Steele
TMGA Director (2024) Karen Koepp, Alternate David Koepp
2023
GCMG Officers & Board of Directors
Mark “Bo” Bollinger – President
April Rippel – Past President
Sarah Puckett – President Elect
Pam Younger – Vice President
Sharon Cooper – Secretary
Robert M. Mullen – Treasurer
Janice Jadwin – Publicity Director
Denise Leverich – Membership Director
William Nodine – Education Director
Diana Hard – Volunteer Director
Travis Franke – AgriLife Agent MG Coordinator
GCMG Class Coordinators – Paul Carter, Tim Steele, & April Rippel
Webmasters – Frank Rippel & David Koepp
TMGA Appointed Directors
Two Year Term (2022-2023) Mark Mullen, Alternate – Rachel Cavazos
One Year Term (2023) Barry Jackson, Alternate – Valerie Bartonek
2022
GCMG Officers & Board of Directors
April D. Rippel – President
Barry A. Jackson – Past President
Mark “Bo” Bollinger – President Elect
Pam Younger – Vice President
Valerie Bartonek – Secretary
Robert M. Mullen – Treasurer
Janice Jadwin – Publicity Director
Denise Leverich – Membership Director
Keith E. Muschalek – Education Director
Robin D. Muschalek – Volunteer Director
Travis Franke -AgriLife Agent Master Gardener Coordinator
TMGA Appointed Directors
Two Year Term (2022-2023) Mark Mullen, Alternate – Rachel Cavazos
One Year Term (2022) April Rippel, Alternate – Jerry McNulty
2021
GCMG Officers & Board of Directors
Barry A. Jackson – President
Jerry McNulty – Past President
April Rippel – President Elect
Gregory Haag – Vice President
Valerie Bartonek – Secretary
Rachel Cavazos – Treasurer
Janice Jadwin – Publicity Director
Kim Darrough – Membership Director
Kay McElveen – Education Director
Carol Calentine – Volunteer Director
Travis Franke -AgriLife Agent Master Gardener Coordinator
TMGA Appointed Directors
Two Year Term (2020/2021) Mark Mullen, Alternate – Rachel Cavazos
One Year Term (2021) Jerry McNulty, Alternate – Vacant
Speakers Bureau –
Guadalupe Co. Community Garden – Dale & Ann Odvody
Master Gardener Office/Library – Carol McMullen
Refreshment Coordinator – Kathleen Smith
Big Red Barn – Janice Knobles
Gutierrez Xeriscape Park – Judy Stanley
2021 County Fair – Kathleen Smith
Facebook Administrator – Kathy Adams
Christmas Tree Decorating – Ernestine Sykes
Newsletter Editor – Melinda Lucas
Web Master – Carol Calentine
Spring 2021/Seguin Class Coordinator – Kay McElveen