Meet the Team Behind WildFlowers Music Park
- wildflowerscollabo
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
WildFlowers Music Park is more than a place – it’s a vision coming to life, thanks to a small team dedicated to music, community, and the beauty of nature.
Meet the people behind the park:
Founder, Visionary & Project Manager: Jordan Puryear
Jordan is the heart behind WildFlowers Music Park. With more than three decades of festival experience and a deep love for connecting people with nature and music, his vision is to create a space where art, education, and community thrive together.
Jordan was one of the original members of the band Donna the Buffalo. He helped the band co-found and run the Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival in Trumansburg, New York, beginning in 1990, where he played a central role in shaping the festival’s focus on “real roots” music – from bluegrass and Cajun to zydeco and reggae. As former Director and Co-Founder of the GrassRoots Festivals, he oversaw nearly every aspect of production and infrastructure, including stage and PA design, site layouts, and festival operations.
Known for his creative thinking, calm demeanor, and lead-by-example style,
Jordan has long been committed to creating welcoming, community-centered spaces where music, dance, and the arts flourish.
In 2002, he further expanded this community-based model by co-founding the bi-annual Shakori Hills Festival in North Carolina. His philosophy emphasizes preserving a personal, non-corporate quality and uplifting local talent.
At WildFlowers, Jordan oversees all festival logistics, ensuring that every detail aligns with our shared vision.
Land Manager: Robert “Hutch” Hutchinson
Our 270-acre property requires thoughtful, hands-on management, and Hutch ensures the land is cared for responsibly. He keeps the landscape healthy, vibrant, and accessible –preserving habitats, managing trails, and maintaining the natural spaces that make WildFlowers special.
Hutch has a strong background in conservation, having served as Executive Director of the Alachua Conservation Trust and as President of the Alachua County Humane Society. He has been directly involved in placing approximately 35,000 acres into conservation, including San Felasco Hammock and Prairie Creek, and co-founded the environmentally friendly Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery.
He also served multiple terms on the Alachua County Commission (1998–2002; 2012–2020), where he championed community-based initiatives ranging from mental health services to economic development. A musician as well, Hutch plays keyboard for Weeds of Eden and co-founded the long-running Windsor Zucchini Festival.
Community Engagement Liaison: Catherine Booth
Building a park is one thing; building a community is another. Catherine is our bridge to local neighbors, festival-goers, artists, and volunteers. Whether she’s planning events, hosting surveys, or coordinating outreach, she helps ensure the WildFlowers community feels welcome, informed, and included.
She holds a B.S. in Public Relations from the University of Florida and specializes in community-based branding and public engagement. With 17 years of experience across restaurants, hotels, and live music events – including helping grow Texas Roadhouse across the Southeast – Catherine has built a career around connecting people through creativity and environmental wellness. She has also served on multiple nonprofit boards.
At WildFlowers, she focuses on authentic relationships and community partnerships, collaborating with local businesses, nonprofits, and civic leaders to help ensure the park brings economic opportunity, cultural enrichment, and environmental stewardship to Melrose and the surrounding area.
Board Members
Our board provides insight, oversight, and support to help WildFlowers grow sustainably. Each member brings deep experience, creativity, and passion to guide the park’s long-term vision.
Board President: Guy Forchion
With more than 30 years of leadership experience in environmental management, historic preservation, public service, and community development, Guy has dedicated his career to protecting cultural and natural resources while creating opportunities for public access and engagement.
Before joining WildFlowers, he spent two decades as Executive Director of Historic Virginia Key Beach Park in Miami—one of the nation’s most significant civil rights landmarks. There, he oversaw restoration efforts, historical interpretation, and long-term sustainability, transforming the 82-acre park into a nationally recognized destination blending cultural heritage, ecological restoration, and public recreation.
At WildFlowers, Guy’s leadership unites environmental stewardship with cultural expression. His vision emphasizes ecological restoration, educational outreach, and immersive, nature-based cultural events. He is widely respected for his ability to bridge communities, honor history, and cultivate spaces that inspire both reverence and joy.
Board Member: Eli Collins
Eli Collins is a musician, entertainer, and entrepreneur based in Gainesville, Florida. A longtime fixture in the local music scene, he has been performing as a bass player since age 13, including with bands such as 3rd Stone. His energetic live performances have become familiar at venues like Depot Village.
Eli is also the owner of Boone Welding Inc. and Depot Village LLC. He is recognized for fostering community engagement, supporting the Gainesville arts scene, and building sustainable local businesses.
Board Member: Andy Kane
Andy Kane is an environmental health educator and researcher who supports community engagement in the natural setting at WildFlowers Music Park. His passion for music and dance, especially square and contra, adds a lively cultural layer to his role on the board.
Andy has been calling dances for more than 30 years at family dances, kid’s dances, camps, weekends, and at the Florida Folk Festival. His calling style emphasizes “dancing in the groove” with old-time tunes, minimizing instruction and maximizing fun.
Square and contra dancing, among the nation’s few homegrown dance traditions, brings people together through movement and music. It’s a joyful, multigenerational way for families and community members to connect – something Andy helps us weave into the WildFlowers experience.
Board Member: Kenneth Metzker
Kenneth Metzker is a percussionist and educator whose musical journey began with classical piano at age four and evolved into a lifelong study of Afro-Cuban and Brazilian folkloric traditions. His career includes performances with artists such as Shakira, appearances at national and international festivals and competitions, and 14 years of work in Miami’s arts community.
Since 2019, Kenneth has served on the faculty at the University of Florida’s School of Theatre and Dance and School of Music as an Assistant in Musical Accompaniment.
At WildFlowers Music Park, Kenneth will lead drumming workshops and serve as a liaison connecting musicians and dance instructors with the park.
WildFlowers Music Park is guided by an all-volunteer board, and we invite community members to join us as volunteers and committee members in shaping the park’s future.
Click the link below to join us - volunteers are contacted as needed for upcoming projects and events.
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