Denise Fowler
I have served the Shinzen Japanese Garden in several different capacities e.g., Director, Events Coordinator and volunteer Bonsai and Shinzen garden.
Linda Jacobsen
A few years after I retired as an English and Art History Teacher at Bullard High School, I began serving as a weekly docent for the Clark Center for Japanese Are and Culture. I began volunteering at Shinzen when the bonsai collection was transferred to Shinzen. I have served as a docent for both Shinzen and the Clark Bonsai Collection since 2015. I became the CBCS Liaison on the Shinzen BOD in 2016 and since that time served many other functions for the CBCS. After a three-year term with the Shinzen BOD, I became an emeritus member. I have participated in all Shinzen and CBCE events for the past 6 years.
Gary Mukai
I was born in Fresno and attended schools locally in Fowler and Selma and a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, and the Southern California College of Optometry. I am a member of the East Fresno Rotary Club since 1975 and served as president in 1982-83 and 2008-09. I have also served as a board member for the Fresno Zoo Society, Dance Theater of Fresno, Friendship Center for the Blind, Executive Association of Fresno and several more local non-profit organizations. I have been active with Shinzen Friendship Garden as both a volunteer and a board member for over five years and look forward to continuing my service to the garden as a member of the 2023 Shinzen Board of Directors.
Jerry Palladino
I am encouraged the Board has changed for positive. I wish to be considered to rejoin the Board of Directors. I am a member and former board past president, and a donor to garden/Clark Bonsai.
George Takata
As a former co-anchor of KSEE Sunrise and Sports Director at CBS 47, I joined the faculty at Reedley College as Director of Marketing and Communications. I am very active in serving the community and have served as Master of Ceremonies for numerous teams and organizations, including Shinzen Friendship Garden. I am extremely honored to have just completed my first three-year term as a member of the Shinzen Friendship Garden and I am looking forward to serving another three-year term.
John Wright
I am a City and Regional Planner by profession. Retired in 2008 as the Director of Planning and Development Services for the City of Clovis. I was the Planning Director of the city for 30 years. I introduced the development of trails to the Fresno/Clovis area in the 1990’s. I am the Vice Chairman of the Clovis Community Foundation and a Board Member of the Fresno Bonsai Society. I currently serve as an Assistant Curator for the Clark Bonsai Collection. I helped with the establishment of the Clovis Botanical Garden. I have organized a number of volunteer projects for Fresno and Clovis over the last 30 years.