2022 Board of Directors
May Arboretum Society Board of Directors are elected annually at our all-member meeting, held during the fourth quarter each year.
Frances Munoz, President, has lived in the Reno/Sparks area for the past 29 years. Her professional background is in retail banking and credit union management. Currently she is the branch manager for US Bank – a position she has held for the past nine years. Frances is an advocate for mental health and animal rights issues and her love of travel has found her in countries all over the world and throughout the US. Through her travels she has become passionate about cultural diversity as well as developing a sincere and strong love of where she has been fortunate enough to live her life – the US. Frances enjoys spending time with family, gardening, reading and visiting sports stadiums to cheer on the local teams as she works toward her goal of visiting every major league baseball park in the country.
Shannon Speak, Vice President, retired after a 25-year career as a Senior Manager in a human services agency in the San Francisco Bay Area. She was raised in South Lake Tahoe and returned home to the Sierra Nevada six years ago. As an outdoors enthusiast, she enjoys hiking, gardening, and kayaking. Her passion for travel is never ending and she is always on the lookout for the next adventure, whether close to home or in another country. Shannon has served as the Volunteer Coordinator for the May Arboretum Society for the past two years and enjoys volunteering at events when not traveling.
Gwen Bourne, Treasurer, has a background in education and finance. Gwen moved to Reno in 2001 to pursue a Masters in Business Administration at the University of Nevada, Reno, and enjoy the bright Reno skies. Gwen worked in non-profits for the next ten years in management and development, and then started Gwendolyn's Gardens in her semi-retirement. She now focuses on locally-grown, chemical-free gardening and flower arranging.
Amber Hilberg, Secretary, is a lifelong Reno/Sparks resident. Amber has worked for Washoe County School District for the past 21 years. Currently she is the Title I Fiscal Coordinator for WCSD, a position she has held since 2010. She is a passionate advocate for equitable access to academic achievement for all students. Amber has fond memories of spending time in the Arboretum with her family over the years. Walking the Arboretum has long been one of her favorite ways to spend an afternoon. Amber enjoys traveling with her husband to new places, especially discovering new gardens and used bookstores along the way. Amber finds joy in serving her community and being in service of others.
Lane Johnson, Director, grew up across the street from the current Rancho San Rafael Park. As a boy, he would cross the street, crawl through the barbed wire fence, and play in the fields of the ranch. On occasion, they would find the children playing on the property and would run them off with the sound of a shotgun. In a matter of months, Lane and his friends would find themselves back on the ranch exploring and having new adventures. Lane, who continues to lives in the same neighborhood, can be found at the May Arboretum at least once, if not two to three times each day and enjoys taking photos of the wildlife, plants, and trees. A life-long Reno resident, Lane is a middle school counselor for the Washoe County School District, working in education for more than 25 years.
Chad Morris, Director, was born and briefly raised in Arkansas before ending up on the west coast in the late 1980’s. In 1993 he moved to a small town in Sierra Valley before graduating high school in 1999. In 2000 he moved to Reno where he worked in the horticulture industry for several years before taking a lengthy detour to grow both his family and family businesses. He was happily able to return to horticulture in early 2020 when he joined the UNR Cooperative Extension as their Commercial Horticulture Program Coordinator. He’s a self-described “tree and tech nerd” with years as an ISA Certified Arborist under his belt along with holding a B.A. in Information Systems/History.
Rod Dimmitt, Director, born in Denver Colorado, and moved around a lot in his early childhood years, landing in Southern California. He graduated from Villa Park High School, in Orange County, and went to San Jose State University, where he met his lovely wife, Doris. Rod retired from a career in Retailing and Warehousing and Distribution in 2014. Rod has been a Cactus nerd for decades and has an extensive collection of cold hardy cactus that survive the Winters of Northern Nevada. Rod's goal, since becoming involved with the May Arboretum seven years ago, is to help develop a Cactus and Succulent Garden for the Botanical Garden, where he works as a part-time seasonal and volunteers his time in the off-season. Rod has taken several Eco-tourism trips to see Cactus and Succulents in their native habitats in Mexico and South Africa, not to mention the Desert Southwest.
Bryce Rader, Director, Bryce L. Rader, a partner and shareholder of the law firm Anderson Dorn and Rader, practices primarily in the areas of estate planning, special needs planning, probate, trust administration following death or disability and other disability planning matters. With a law degree and a Master of Health Administration
from the top health law program in the nation, Saint Louis University, Mr. Rader began his
career in public service with the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners. He then worked for
the Governor’s Office, Consumer Health Assistance as Deputy Chief Ombudsman. Mr. Rader
focused on his current areas of practice in 2003. He is a frequent lecturer on such topics as
Revocable Living Trusts, Special Needs Planning, Probate and Trust Administration.
from the top health law program in the nation, Saint Louis University, Mr. Rader began his
career in public service with the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners. He then worked for
the Governor’s Office, Consumer Health Assistance as Deputy Chief Ombudsman. Mr. Rader
focused on his current areas of practice in 2003. He is a frequent lecturer on such topics as
Revocable Living Trusts, Special Needs Planning, Probate and Trust Administration.
Horticulturist
Bill Carlos, has served the Wilbur D. May Arboretum and Botanical Garden as the horticulturist for close to 17 years. In 2015 and under his leadership, the Arboretum achieved Level II Accreditation though the national Morton Arboretum Arbet Program. Mr. Carlos is also responsible for establishing the Arboretum's Horticulture Volunteer Training Program and completing an assessment of the condition and value of the arboretum. Before coming to the Arboretum, Mr. Carlos served for 21 years as the Horticulture Program Coordinator for the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.
As needed, Mr. Carlos provides horticultural guidance to the May Arboretum Society to assure that our community events as well as the garden upgrades/projects are appropriate and sustainable due to the diverse weather conditions
experienced in Northern Nevada.
As needed, Mr. Carlos provides horticultural guidance to the May Arboretum Society to assure that our community events as well as the garden upgrades/projects are appropriate and sustainable due to the diverse weather conditions
experienced in Northern Nevada.
