GDNA is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors — neighbors serving neighbors in Milwaukee's 13th Aldermanic District.
The Milwaukee Garden District Neighborhood Association (GDNA) Mission Statement:
To serve and improve the quality of life for those in Milwaukee's 13th Aldermanic District.
The GDNA is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors — neighbors serving neighbors in Milwaukee's 13th Aldermanic District.
Officers
Jason Haas — Chairperson
Jason Haas serves on the GDNA Board of Directors after representing the Garden District for 11 years on the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors. He holds a Master of Public Administration degree from UW-Milwaukee. When not thinking about ideal operation of public organizations, Jason enjoys gardening, hockey, and fostering his newfound interest in the English Football League and Milwaukee soccer.
Mike Garvey — Vice Chairperson & GDNA Historical Committee
Mike is a former Milwaukee Public Schools teacher. He enjoys volunteering with the Urban Ecology Center doing outdoor restoration and Garden District activities. Mike lives near Lowell Elementary. He and his wife Judy have two sons and two grandchildren. Mike currently serves as Vice Chairperson of the GDNA Board of Directors.
Dawn Riegel — Treasurer, Community Garden Rental Plot Coordinator & Events Coordinator
Dawn Riegel has been a member of the Garden District Board since 2010. She has been coordinating the community garden since 2013 and was a member of the Garden Committee in 2010 when the dream of a community garden was brought to life. Among the many events we hold, she coordinates the Movies in the Garden, Stories in the Garden, Rummage, Tree Lighting, Craft Classes and the newly added Ghostly Garden Walk and Christmas Tree Mulching. Dawn has been a south-side resident since 1990 and lived in the Town of Lake since 2005. She enjoys the outdoors and talking to everyone she meets.
Board Members
Joel Ondercin
Joel serves on the Board of Directors for the Milwaukee Garden District Neighborhood Association (GDNA), focusing on technology, communication, and outreach. Driven by a belief that a strong community is built on pride and connectedness, Joel is dedicated to fostering a sense of belonging for all residents of the 13th Aldermanic District. Professionally, Joel is a Private Wealth Management Marketing Technology Consultant at Baird. Outside of his board duties, Joel is a professional photographer and FAA Part 107 drone pilot, often capturing the unique beauty of Milwaukee from the sky.
Amber Gallun
Amber joined the board on a mission to serve the community she has called home for the past twelve years. By day Amber works as an account manager. By night she wrangles her kids, tends to her summer garden, and tries to keep up with seasonal costumes for her porch goose.
Manuel Torres
Manuel Torres is a Web Developer and a Consultant. He currently serves on the board to help in technology related items and freelances. He loves to garden and volunteer in the community.
Vicki Gutowski
I volunteer for many of the Garden District events. It is a great way to meet other neighbors and become friends. I have lived in the Garden District for most of my life. The safety, vibrancy and strength of our neighborhood is important to me. In my free time you will find me planting flowers, doing yard work or enjoying time with family, friends and my cat Cali.
Bennet Rucka
Bennet Rucka is the President of the St. Vincent De Paul Blessed Sacraments conference.
Sherry Duffy
Sherry Duffy is retired from Allen-Bradley after 37 years. She loves being involved in the community, landscaping and flowers.
Gregg Nowak
Gregg is a relatively new board member to the Garden District Neighborhood Association. This is his second year as a board member and he is proud of the work and progress that has been done by so many people in the last year. Gregg is a recently retired chiropractor, practicing on the south side of Milwaukee for 35 years. He has been a resident of the Saveland Park area for 34 years. Gregg is a former Master Gardener and still a prolific home gardener. It is an honor serving on the Garden District board.
Laura Kopacki
Hello! I'm Laura and have been a Milwaukeean since the fall of 2019. My husband and I absolutely adore living on the South Side — it really speaks to our love for community. I enjoy gardening (and weeding!), even though I'm still new at it. I enjoy learning new ways to attract bees and rabbits into my backyard. We love riding our bikes to various destinations in the area when the weather is nice.
Steve Djuric
Steve Djuric has been a resident of the Garden District for the past 35 years. He has been quite involved in community organization, being instrumental in efforts to save the Tippecanoe Library, starting Crime Watches, and the establishment of the Town of Lake and Airport Gardens Neighborhood Associations. His motto has always been "Take care of your neighborhood because someone else will come along and not treat it as nice."
Mike Albers
Mike Albers is a life-long resident of Bay View and recently moved to the Burdick School neighborhood. Mike has a passion for creating connections with his neighbors and building a stronger community. Mike is a fastidious lawnkeeper and was drawn to the Garden District project to make sure the corridor stays beautiful. He is recently retired from the specialty printing industry. He enjoys early morning walks at the lakefront, Milwaukee's summer festivals, and spending time with his partner Stacy and their cat, Greta James Van Wonderpants.