New Exececutive Director!

The Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens' Board of Directors is pleased to announce the hiring of Ry Southard as Executive Director. Ry comes to the Gardens from the Vail Valley of Colorado, where he has resided for the last 17 years.

Ry's experience includes serving as Executive Director of the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens in Vail, Colorado. As the director, he was privileged to work with President Gerald Ford and Mrs. Betty Ford. In Vail, he worked for the world's highest botanical gardens and he is now assuming the leadership of the unique Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens that includes the ocean bluffs, incredible rhododendrons, as well as beautiful perennial gardens and plant collections.

In addition, Ry has an extensive business background. He was the co-founder and general manager of a financial planning and management group that was selected as one of the top financial planning firms in the U.S. by Mutual Funds magazine. He was also Vice President of a solar panel mounting system company in Carbondale, Colorado.

Ry has a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts from the San Francisco Art Institute and is looking forward to assuming his duties this month. "I am excited to the join the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens and return to the northern California coast, one of the world's most beautiful places. I look forward to growing the Gardens' role in both the local region and the botanical world."

"The Gardens is delighted that Ry has accepted the position of Executive Director and the Board and staff are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with him," said Lynelle Johnson, President of the Board of Directors.