Our Leadership, Reports and Financials

Heather Pruiksma, Executive Director

Before joining our team in early 2022 as our second chief executive, Heather spent two decades at Earthwatch Institute, most recently as Director of Program Delivery. She understands the importance of connecting science to citizen action, and is passionate about the value of individual and volunteer engagement in addressing environmental challenges. Her personal love of community theater and fun spirit infuses her approach to leadership.

Ani Sarkisian, Program Manager

A firm believer that we all must take action to improve the health of our planet and there's no better place to start than the biodiversity of our own backyards, Ani joined the Grow Native staff in 2024.  She has worked in environmental advocacy and land conservation as a campaign manager, social media manager, and communications and outreach coordinator, and native plants have been a priority in all of her projects. As program manager, Ani loves to follow her own curiosity to book unique and engaging events.  Ask her about her chickens!

Meredith Gallogly, Operations Manager

Meredith joined Grow Native in 2014 as our very first paid staff person. She runs our Plant Sale, teaches numerous workshops, manages this website, and is our database system administrator. She received her BA from Smith College in Biological Sciences. An avid plant observer, she has been exploring the flora of metro Boston's region for much of the past decade. You definitely want to go on one of her plant walks!

Helene Sroat, Membership & Development Associate

A long-time volunteer at our plant sale, Helene joined our staff in 2021. She enjoys her coordinating role— interacting with members and the public while taking care of behind-the-scenes details for programs and operations. With a PhD. in Art History, she brings a passion for architectural and landscape design, and, like many of us, continually attempts to squeeze ever more native plants into her garden.

Renée Scott, Coordinator, Massachusetts Pollinator Network

Renée joined our staff when MAPN became a program of Grow Native in 2025. As MAPN coordinator, Renée organizes people across the state working on pollinator health and habitat creation, and advocates for pesticide regulation. She is also co-founder of Green & Open Somerville, where she led the campaign for the city's first-of-its-kind Native Planting Ordinance, as well as community projects like native pollinator garden plantings. She earned her Master of Public Policy degree from Tufts in 2022.

Mark D. Smith, President

Mark is retired from the law firm Goodwin Procter, where he was a partner specializing in technology start-up financing. A passionate advocate for native plants, he can often be found pulling invasives or planting natives in our Demonstration Garden or at his home. Mark brings valuable nonprofit experience, having served on multiple nonprofit boards. And we especially love his energy at our annual Plant Sale!

Hilary Shields, Vice-President

Hilary is a Global HR Business Partner at Sanofi where she works with Specialty Care leaders to attract, develop, and retain talent.  She joined Grow Native to learn how to support pollinators and quickly got engaged in a deeper appreciation of native plant ecology.  Hilary is now transforming her own backyard and helping others do the same, to support not just pollinators, but birds and all wildlife.

Candace Young, Treasurer

Candace's first career was in finance, and her second followed her deeper passion for landscape design. After studying as a master gardener and in several other programs, she ran her own design, installation, and maintenance business. She is now a community steward at Fresh Pond Reservation in Cambridge. She volunteers at Grow Native in many capacities, including her much appreciated role as Treasurer.

Ellen Menounos, Clerk

Ellen caught the native plant bug while working in landscape design and horticulture. These days she is increasingly involved in local climate planning and adaptation. Find her on the hiking trail, visiting a public garden, or shopping at the Watertown Farmer’s Market! Ellen completed a Certificate in Planting Design from Boston Architectural College, and a graduate degree in Environmental Science from Antioch-New England.

Beth Benjamin

Miles Connors

Miles is the Chief Operating Officer at Alden Laurel and a graduate of the Conway School of Landscape Design.

Suzanne Korschun

Suzanne is a freelance graphic designer, specializing in projects for non-profit organizations. She was first introduced to native plants at a Grow Native Traveling Talk at her local public library. This motivated her to start transitioning her home garden and to advocate for native plants throughout her community, including as one of the founders of Andover Pollinator Pathway. She continues to be inspired by our workshops and lectures, volunteers at our Plant Sale, and enjoys our growing community.

Ruth Loetterle

Ruth is a landscape architect who first developed a keen interest in designing landscapes as functional ecosystems after reading Sara Stein’s book Noah’s Garden in 2004, and jumped at the opportunity to get involved in Grow Native at our founding. Recently retired from IBI Placemaking, formerly Carol R. Johnson Associates, she serves on the Committee for Public Planting in Cambridge, MA.

Alex Van Praagh

Alex is an MIT-trained architect who has worked internationally on universities, schools and hospitals. Currently he has a design-build practice in Cambridge where he and his wife are raising their three children. He is gifted at working with stones in the landscape and shaping small-scale places. He has served on the board since its inception where his appreciation for native plants has grown each year.