Board of Directors
& Founding Members
Our Board of Directors and Founding Members are comprised of a group of inspiring and dedicated individuals who share a common passion...to create a Children's Storybook Garden & Museum for all children and adults of Kings County. We have members with experience in law, banking, engineering, education, agriculture, landscape construction, horticulture, business, art, and more! We work very hard and are proud of all that we have accomplished so far. We are anxious to complete this Garden & Museum, and with your continued support we will make it happen!
Judy Wait
President
Founder
Judy is a retired educator having taught for 23 years, first as an elementary teacher and later as a Library Media Teacher. She holds a BA in Education and an MA in Library Media Services. She is a wife of fifty-eight years, a mother of seven children, and a grandmother to fourteen grandchildren.
She has been an active community volunteer, 4-H Community Club Leader, member of P.E.O., 19th Century Round Table, and a member of the Hanford Garden Club where she was teaching gardening at local school gardens, then deciding that all children in the Valley deserve a beautiful, educational and magical Garden! Judy enjoys working with the Green Teens. She loves Hanford because of its historical character and believes strongly in historical preservation.
Her favorite quote is:
“In a hundred years it will not matter what you owned or how you looked. But the world may be better because you were important in the life of a child.”
- Anonymous
Linda Nielsen
Treasurer
Founding Member
Linda was born and raised in Hanford. She is a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Linda was a Patient Account Representative for a non-profit organization for 28 years. She has been the treasurer of the Hanford Garden Club for over 10 years, and the Treasurer for CSG&M for four years.
Barbara Black Tolle
Founding Member
Barbara is a graduate of Fresno State University. She is a mother, grandmother, retired teacher of 25 years and a very active member and officer in community clubs, her church group and other organizations. Barbara served as our Secretary for the Children’s Storybook Garden & Museum for many years. She now spends 1/2 her time in Oklahoma and 1/2 in Hanford. While in Hanford, she is an outstanding Board Member.
Her favorite quote is:
"One filled with joy preaches without preaching."
- Mother Teresa
Carmen Bettencourt is a mother, community leader, school volunteer, caterer, designer, executive secretary, farmer, and bookkeeper. She is a graduate of Fresno State University with a degree in public administration and recreation.
Carmen is a very active member of her community. She is the director of the Farm History Museum.
Her favorite quote is:
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
- Margaret Mead
Carmen Bettencourt
Vice President
Founding Member
Jana Dudley
Board Member
Born and raised in Hanford, Jana Dudley retired five years ago from HESD and teaching special education (K-Junior High) for 38 very inspiring years. She graduated from the University of California at Davis with a BA in Psychology and Fresno State with a double teaching credential in elementary education and learning handicapped. She has been married to Roger for 45 crazy years and they have two creative sons, a wonderful daughter-in-law, and a precious 2-year-old grandson.
Her club involvement includes the presidency of the Hanford Garden Club, secretary of California Retired Teachers, secretary of the Nineteenth Century Round Table, weekly reading to the children in HESD about gardening and related subjects, and occasionally teaching an adult Sunday School class at her church. Other than spending lots of time in the garden, she enjoys anything Star Wars and collecting PEZ dispensers.
With her love of children and gardening, she was totally drawn to the Children's Storybook Garden & Museum and the wonderful educational opportunities this venue can bring to our community.
Her favorite quotes are:
"Truly wonderful the mind of a child is."
- Yoda
"Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their produce."
- Jeremiah 29:5
Eldon Bueno
Board Member
Eldon Bueno is with the UC CalFresh team in Kings County as a Community Education Specialist. With a B.S. Degree in Health Education from San Francisco State, Eldon’s passion resides in youth development, education, and promoting health and wellness. He previously worked in After School Programs for the Stonestown Family YMCA in San Francisco and is excited to utilize his past experiences in the Bay Area to serve his hometown community. Eldon aims to provide quality instruction and enriching classes on health education to our youth and is hopeful about making a healthy change in the Central Valley to decrease health disparities that are currently affecting our community.
Lisa Conway
Board Member
I am a lover of all things home and family, gardening, decorating and entertaining
and all kids activities.
After graduating from Oregon State University I became a flight attendant for Delta Airlines and met my future husband, Rick, who had just begun his law career. We have lived in Hanford and been married 38 years where we have raised 5 children and now just became proud grandparents for the first time.
Through the years I have been actively involved and held many offices in community clubs, volunteered at our kids many school and sporting activities, including being Room Mother over 24 times!
I am happy to serve the community that our family has enjoyed for so long!
Kaitlin Sheets
Treasurer
Kaitlin has been involved in the Storybook Garden for several years.
In 2021, Kaitlin became the Director of Friends of the Garden and that means she chaired the Storybook Victorian Tea! She was born and raised in Hanford and along with her husband Scott, have a daughter, Amelia.
Kaitlin brings many talents to the Garden. She is an organizer, loves planning events, and is smart with money! She also loves gardening and is creating her own mini-farm.
Lindsey Calvillo
Board Member
Lindsey is an elementary school principal for Hanford Elementary School District. She taught 3rd, 7th, and 8th grades, all for HESD, before becoming a Learning Director and current Principal. She was born and raised in Tollhouse, CA where she developed her love for agriculture and athletics. She holds a BA in Liberal Studies with a minor in Math and English from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and an MA and Administrative Credential from California State University, Fresno.
Lindsey has happily lived in Hanford for the past 26 years with her husband, Rick (an elementary school teacher), and three daughters. Lindsey is passionate about education and providing hands-on experiences to children. She enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her family and friends.
Ginnie Herleman
Parliamentarian
Board Member
Ginnie is retired from Kings County Human Services. Ginnie worked for the county for 20 years and was an Employment and Training Supervisor when she retired. Ginnie grew up in the Bay Area and moved to Hanford with her husband Ron when he began working as an attorney in Kings County 41 years ago. She is the Parliamentarian for the Garden Board.
Ginnie has belonged to many local organizations and served as an officer many times. She raised her children and her grandchildren are being raised in the area. Ginnie has been involved in many youth organizations.
Her favorite quote is:
"God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another."
- 1 Peter 4.10.
Chris Raven
Board Secretary
Chris was born in Hanford and raised in Laton on a dairy farm & walnut ranch. After graduating from Laton High School, she studied at California State University, Fresno and earned her K-12 teaching credential. She then taught at Laton Unified for 36 years.
Chris has 2 daughters, 8 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren. For 44 years, she has been a member of Theta Tau Theta Sorority, an organization that sponsors local children and families to Summer Camp at Bearskin Meadows Diabetes Youth Families in Sequoia National Forrest.
Chris is passionate about the Children's Storybook Garden & Museum. She loves volunteering, learning new things, and interacting with the guests at the Garden. Chris teaches our "Little Sprouts" program.
Susan Lafferty
Board Member
Susan has been a nutrition educator for the University of California Cooperative Extension for over 11 years. She especially enjoys working with youth teaching them about healthy choices and physical activity. She attended COS majoring in business administration. She is a mother and grandmother and has been active in youth organizations including 4-H, FFA and Kings County Junior Fair Board. Susan has lived in Hanford with her husband, David, for over 45 years. She enjoys reading, camping and being outdoors.
Susie Chavez
Board Member
Susie recently retired from her position as the Recreation Supervisor for the City of Hanford. The Children's Storybook Garden feels fortunate to have Susie on our Board with all the enthusiasm and leadership skills she comes with! She has an AA degree from C.O.S. Susie grew up on a 40 acre ranch in Laton and understands the value of hard work and sacrifice.
During her 21 years at the City she had many responsibilities including: running the swimming pool, developing a weekly special needs program, planning senior activities, running summer camps, planning children's activities and overseeing the Hanford Teen Center.
Today she sees the Children's Storybook Garden as her next chapter. She wants to continue enhancing the lives of local children and their families and being a positive role model to her 7 beautiful granddaughters.
Susie's favorite quote: "If you build it they will come."