Jill Trischman-Marks is a landscape architect with nearly 30 years of experience in Central Virginia and the Executive Director of the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont. After several years on the Garden’s Board of Directors, she retired her private practice to lead the organization, bringing deep design expertise and a strong commitment to accessibility, community partnership, and environmental stewardship.

During her tenure, Jill has worked to make the Garden more welcoming and to engage residents across the region in shaping its future. This year, the Garden reaches a transformational milestone as Phase I construction begins — including a pedestrian bridge, a Parking Plaza with a central Rain Garden, a Garden Pavilion, and a Discovery Garden. Donor support, volunteer efforts, and an amazing staff have been essential in bringing this long-held community vision to life.

Jill holds a Master’s Degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Virginia. Her earlier work includes projects at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, the Thomas Jefferson Parkway, and Poplar Forest.

Contact Jill: j.trischman.marks@piedmontgarden.org

Danielle is a fundraising professional with over a decade of museum and development experience. In her role as Capital Campaign Director, she leads the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont’s major donor efforts, securing vital support for the future of the Garden. She guides campaign strategy and major donor engagement, working closely with volunteer and organizational leadership to translate the Garden’s vision into philanthropic investment. She previously held fundraising positions at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello (Charlottesville, VA), the National Park Foundation (Washington, DC) and the National Building Museum (Washington, DC).

Danielle earned her master’s degree from The George Washington University and her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan. You can often find her, her double Hoo husband, and two young kids at University of Virginia baseball games and cheering on the Michigan Wolverines and Washington Nationals!

Contact Danielle: d.grieser@piedmontgarden.org

Shannon relocated from Wisconsin to Virginia in 2005. Since that time, she has worked in service to the local community through volunteering, running youth programs, and teaching in the greater Charlottesville area. For the last 12 years, her focus has been supporting local non-profits with their fundraising efforts as a volunteer, community board member, and fundraising professional. With a love for the outdoors and the beautiful landscape that the Blue Ridge Mountains provide, Shannon enjoys walking and hiking in the area, practicing yoga, and teaching dance in her spare time.

Contact Shannon: s.higginbotham@piedmontgarden.org

Abby Cable has worked in fundraising for the past three years, supporting the Development team in launching a membership program and growing major donor giving societies. Prior to that, she taught in the Greene County school district. She graduated from George Mason University with a B.A. in English, concentrating in writing and rhetoric.

Born in the rural farmlands of Pennsylvania, Abby brings a deep love of green spaces and a desire to help others become good stewards of the environment. Her passion for teaching and nature extends beyond her career; alongside her family, she volunteers in support of local Scouting America troops.

Contact Abby: a.cable@piedmontgarden.org

Bridget Curran is an enthusiastic ecological gardener with a passion for native plants and cultivating spaces for wildlife.  Bridget has previous experience in public gardens where she has worked as both a horticulturist and a plant records curator. Most recently, she worked as a gardener at Monticello where she cared for historic flower and vegetable gardens with attention to detail and historical integrity. Bridget earned her M.S. in Biology from Plymouth State University, where she conducted research on buzz-pollinated plants across New England, deepening her understanding of plant-pollinator relationships and ecological resilience. She also holds a B.S. in Biology from Vermont State University.

Bridget is excited to steward spaces that are not only beautiful but also welcoming to pollinators, birds, and people alike. She believes public gardens are places where communities can connect with nature, and she looks forward to helping that connection grow. Aside from gardening, Bridget enjoys exploring in nature, hiking, camping, and spending time with her two dogs Roscoe and Winter.

Contact Bridget: b.curran@piedmontgarden.org

Bruce is a former classroom teacher with a special affinity for fostering connections. In his work at the Ivy Creek Foundation and the Virginia Museum of Natural History, Bruce created and led programs to connect children to nature.  At Ivy Creek, he established training programs to educate volunteer guides to continue these interactive programs. Bruce’s interest in discovering more ways to connect with visitors inspired him to become a Certified Interpretive Guide and Trainer for the National Association of Interpretation as well as a Toastmaster.  Bruce’s innate passion for learning and the environment makes him a natural connector of young minds and the wonders that nature has to offer.

Contact Bruce: programs@piedmontgarden.org

Whitney grew up in the Midwest tending potted plant gardens in the summer, but exploring the woods behind her house in all seasons. She loves wildlife, their natural habitats, and constant learning, including taking a found skull from the woods to her local zoo to learn its origin at seven years old (a red fox). A nonprofit professional in public libraries since 2015, Whitney worked in the Bay area before moving to Charlottesville, where she promptly fell in love with the local environment, community, and wildlife. Whitney once again lives among the trees and affectionately watches over her neighborhood’s band of “hoofigans” (deer.) Whitney began work at the Botanical Garden in late 2021 and enjoys bringing her experience in education, research, and outreach to the organization.

Contact Whitney: w.zhang@piedmontgarden.org