Friends of Fred Smith
The Friends of Fred Smith is powered by a passionate community of volunteers, a dedicated Board of Directors, and expert preservationists.
Our work is guided by a clear commitment to preservation, education, and community discovery. We believe that by protecting Fred’s 237 sculptures and the historic Smith family home, we provide a space that broadens perspectives and brings people together.
Interested in Becoming a Friend of Fred Smith?
Your membership directly funds the Wisconsin Concrete Park and keeps Fred’s work alive.
Operations Manager
Ann Grzywnowicz
Ann has served as Operations Manager for the Wisconsin Concrete Park since August 2022. She holds a degree in Parks and Recreation and oversees the daily operations of the park and Friends of Fred Smith, Inc. In her role, Ann coordinates events and workshops, manages marketing and communications, works with contractors on maintenance and improvement projects, and helps guide ongoing preservation efforts for Fred Smith’s historic concrete sculptures. Through her work, she supports the park’s mission to preserve the site and create engaging experiences for visitors and the community.
Preservationist
Ben Caguioa
Ben Caguioa of International Artifacts, LLC is a professional sculpture conservator and art preservationist based in Chicago, known for his work on large-scale art environments. Every summer he stays in Phillips for several weeks to make extensive repairs and restore the Concrete Park sculptures and foundations.
FoFS Board Member
Alan Barkstrom
As a long time resident of Price County, Alan has always appreciated the Concrete Park with all of its unusual statues. He, along with his family, enjoys the many activities that are held at the Park throughout the year. It is fulfilling to serve on the Board along with the other dedicated members and volunteers.
FoFS Board Member
Etola Foytek
Etola is the representative on the FoFS board from the Countryside Artist Gift Shop in the Historic Fred Smith House. She has been involved in the gift shop since she retired from education in 2002.
Etola has been coming to the Wisconsin Concrete Park since the 1950s when her parents would bring friends and families here from Marathon County. In the 1960s she brought her nephews and after she moved here in 1970 she brought her friends and then her daughter and family for frequent visits.
When the shop is open Etola enjoy sharing stories of Fred Smith and the sculptures with our visitors.
FoFS Secretary
Eva Tavares-Reilly
In 2021, Eva joined the Board because Marjory Brzeskiewicz, the President of the Board, thought she would be a good asset. She retired from teaching at the School District of Phillips and wanted to volunteer for something. She likes working with her hands, so working on the Park statues and all that goes with the Park is a good fit. Eva enjoys fixing things, gardening, camping, cooking, and being with friendly people. She loves working at the Park because she has an interest in Phillips' history, loves the idea of preservation, conservation, and enrichment of historical treasures. She also loves the people who work and volunteer there. It feels like family.
FoFS Board Member
Gay Marschke
The Wisconsin Concrete Park interested Gay in 1964 when she moved here with her Wisconsin-bred husband. Gay helped serve punch and cookies the day Herb and Ruth Kohler came to deed the Park to Price County. Over the years the forestry department, the many volunteers, the talented preservationists, and the Friends of Fred Smith Board have worked to keep the Park in good repair. She is proud to be a part of it, and says, "It's been fun!"
FoFS Vice-President
Janie Boho
Janie is a hospitality leader in Phillips, who believes deeply in community, connection, and creating spaces where people feel welcome. She joined the Friends of Fred Smith Board with a genuine sense of pride and purpose, as her husband, Wayne Boho, is the great‑grandson of Fred Smith. Being involved allows Janie to help honor her family’s legacy while supporting a park that means so much to the community.
Janie treasures the park as a place where families gather, memories are made, and the beauty of the outdoors can be enjoyed by all. She is grateful for the opportunity to give back and to help ensure the park continues to be a special place for generations to come
FoFS Board Member
Jodell Kadlecek
In the summer of 2018 Jodie's good friend Sally asked if she would be interested in helping to run the new Airbnb above the Rock Garden Tavern. The building had been acquired by the Kohler Foundation and was being refurbished and made part of the WI Concrete Park. Jodie ran that for a few years and learned more and more about the park. She has worked, volunteered and taught workshops at the park, and then joined the board in January 2026. Jodie is very proud and excited to be part of the Friends of Fred Smith family.
FoFS Board Member
John Klimowski
Board President
Marjory Brzeskiewicz
Marjory is currently our Friends of Fred Smith board president. She became involved in FoFS and Concrete Park back in about 1995. She started by helping create a self-guided nature trail at the park, and says that working on special programs throughout the years was fun. When Marjy retired from her Forest Service job in 2021, she, along with her husband, started visiting some of the other art environments in Wisconsin. Fred Smith was in good company when he created his unique pieces! The Park is enjoyable in any season. Come visit; and be a “Friend of Fred”!
FoFS Treasurer
Mary Jean Peterson
After serving as one of the founding board of director members in 1995, Mary Jean took a break due to a change in employment. She came back in 2019 and has been reinvigorated by the enthusiasm and passion of our current board and staff. Improvements have been made in signage, infrastructure of the tavern, and added workshops and events that make the Wisconsin Concrete Park even more vital in our community. She thinks its wonderful to read and hear all of the great comments from our park visitors.
FoFS Board Member
Robert Kopisch
Bob and his wife live in northern Price County in the Town of Lake. He is retired and is currently a member of the Price County Board of supervisors and has been for all but one term since 2000. Bob joined the FoFS board in 2013 as the Price County appointee to the board, and in 2022, he became an a At-Large member. Over the 13 years as a FoFS board member, there have been many changes including the purchase of the Tavern. He says that it has been a pleasure participating in the growth of this organization during this time period and seeing a corresponding increase in public support.
FoFS Board Member
Sally Nez
Sally became interested in the park when she was employed as a summer worker in 2012. Until then she was one of those locals who had never visited the park. Sally quickly learned how special the park is with its unique history, and wanted to be on the board because she enjoys being in the park and around the hardworking people that make it a success. It’s a fun place to be!
FoFS Board Member
Terri Yoho
During her tenure as Executive Director of the Kohler Foundation, Terrie had the privilege of working with the great team of people who support Wisconsin Concrete Park to make sure it is preserved for future generations. She continues to advocate for preservation of art environments through her work as a Director of the Ruth Foundation for the Arts and as President-elect of the Wisconsin Historical Society.