Casimir Kopacki

Hi, I'm Cas. My wife, Laura, and I moved to Milwaukee in late 2019 and, aside from getting married, it was the best decision we've ever made! We instantly fell in love with the community ethic and neighborly vibes so ingrained in the Town of Lake neighborhood. Personally, I love making food and cocktails. And, to balance that, I'm a runner and cyclist. I have a couple kids: my son is a student at Marquette University and my daughter and son-in-law are brand new Milwaukeeans, living in Bay View. I work professionally as a communications specialist and look forward to helping the Garden District with some of my skills.

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.

Mike Garvey, 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.

Vicki G

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.

Jason Haas

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.

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 and loved every minute of it. He has been a resident of the Saveland park area for 34 years and it has always been a great neighborhood. Gregg is a former Master Gardener and still a prolific home gardener. It is an honor serving on the Garden District board.

Terry L. Witkowski Chairperson

Elected Chair in April 2022 and re-elected in December 2022. Served for 15 years as Alderman of the 13th district, organizing people to form this organization, other neighborhood associations as well as the Historic Route US 45 and Gateway to Milwaukee business organizations. He had this district officially declared the Garden District and had 6th Street from Howard to College named the Green Corridor.He started the neighborhood tree lighting, Wonderland, the Songs of the Season Event and Perennial Exchange.He supported various individuals in efforts to beautify and elevate this area.

Dawn Riegel

Dawn Riegel has been a member of the Garden District Board since 2010. Dawn is currently the Treasurer, Community Garden Rental Plot Coordinator and Events Coordinator. 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 by ex-committee member, Marie Cassavant. 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.

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. When it's not, I enjoy reading and various crafty activities. Saturday evenings are our date nights when we pass the time with a nice dinner, cocktails, and Svengoolie!

Steve Djuric

Steve Djuric has been a resident of the Garden District for the past 35 years. He has been quite involved in community involvement through community organization, being instrumental in efforts to save the Tippecanoe Library, starting Crime Watches, the establishment of Town of Lake Neighborhood Association and the 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, though he prefers to call out Gator's Pub as the area beacon. 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, as well as the opportunity to get to know his new neighbors. He is recently retired from the speciality printing industry. He enjoys early morning walks at the lakefront, Milwaukee's plethora of summer festivals and spending time with his partner Stacy and their cat, Greta James Van Wonderpants.