Staff

Becky Rice was hired as executive director in December 2007. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Finance and significant work toward the completion of a Masters in Business Administration from the Carlson School of Management. She brings a background in fund development and finance with more than twenty years in nonprofit management positions - most recently working with community organizers at MICAH. Becky built her first raingarden after a neighbor shared the information he'd received at a Metro Blooms Raingarden Workshop. Contact becky@metroblooms.org

Corrie Zoll comes to Metro Blooms as a founder and board member of the Minnesota Green Roofs Council. Corrie was also a founder of GardenWorks, now incorporated as Gardening Matters. Corrie spent six years directing The Green Institute's GreenSpace Partners program, overseeing the installation of the green rooftop at the Phillips Eco-Enterprise Center and working with Hennepin County to develop the Eco-Yard Midtown. Corrie spent three years as a board member of the American Community Gardening Association. Contact corrie@metroblooms.org

Michael has a B.S. in Environmental Design and is currently working on his Masters of Landscape Architecture. In 2008, Michael was one of Metro Blooms most sought out landscapers at the Rain Garden Workshops (Part B) and for onsite consultations. In 2009, Michael will lead the Raingarden Workshops Part B.

Julie joined Metro Blooms in February 2009 to coordinate our Garden Evaluation and Recognition Program and annual Blooms Day event. Julie has a Bachelors degree in Paralegal and brings a background in event planning, marketing, and grant writing to this position. Julie has also taken landscape design and gardening classes and has extensive experience as a gardener. Contact julie@metroblooms.org

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. Contact deborah@metroblooms.org

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.