Staff

Becky Rice was hired as executive director in December 2007. She brings a background in fund development and finance with more than twenty years in nonprofit management positions - most recently with the Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing. Becky’s outside pursuits include gardening, camping, reading, and volunteering with her church.

Noelle has a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, and a Master’s degree in Communications. She has taught communications courses at Rasmussen College, Anoka-Hennepin Technical College, and Mounds Park Academy Middle School. Prior to her current role, Noelle worked as the Special Programs Coordinator at Mounds Park Academy. She also has worked in public relations for two different companies.

Rusty Schmidt is a wildlife biologist and landscape ecologist with 16 years of natural resource experience, having spent approximately eight years with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and eight as a private consultant. He currently is employed with the Washington Conservation District in Stillwater, Minnesota. Mr. Schmidt is very involved in designing and constructing alternative methods for managing storm water runoff in an environmentally conscious way. He has created designs for habitat restorations, raingardens, bio-infiltration swales, bio-retention basins and stormwater pond for many different sized sites and locations ranging from small backyard raingardens to a large 500-foot long raingarden for a commercial property. Mr. Schmidt helps train homeowners and design professionals on the techniques of raingardens and has taught workshops nationwide. He has assisted raingarden initiatives like the "10,000 Rain Garden Initiative" in Kansas City, Missouri and the Metro Blooms and Blue Thumb Programs in Minnesota. Mr. Schmidt and Mr. Shaw have also published two other books on plant selections for stormwater management applications entitled, "Plants for Stormwater Design" Volumes 1 and 2, in 2003 and 2007.

Aaron has been gardening since she could put a radish seed in the ground, but has been in the growing industry professionally for ten years. She has been a high-end landscaper and designer for companies in the Midwest and Manhattan but keeps her roots in community-based projects. Much of Aaron's experience has been as an urban farmer growing for restaurants, CSA and farmer's markets. She has worked with Farm In The City and Youth Farm and Market Project in the Twin Cities and at the Red Hook Community Farm in Brooklyn, New York. During the long midwestern winters she also works as a writer and illustrator on urban gardening and food systems for the likes of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the Chicago Botanic Garden, Heifer International and Anna Lappé.

Deborah has a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, and has undertaken post-graduate coursework leading to teaching licensures in special education and family education. Prior to her current role, she has worked as a full-time special education teacher in the St. Paul Public Schools as well as a home-bound instructor. Her varied roles have given her experience in meeting client needs and interpersonal communication, as well as organizational skills. Currently, she works as a substitute teacher in the St. Paul school district and as an instructor at the Temple of Aaron. She is raising two children and running a household. Her interests are in yoga, reading, learning more about gardening, and enjoying the outdoors.