Liz O’Hara serves as Board President of the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, currently in her second term in that role and her sixth year on the Board. She has previously served as Vice President, chaired the Nominations and Elections Committee, and now leads the Resource Development Committee, helping guide the Gardens with steady leadership and heartfelt commitment.​

Liz began her career as a Public Health Microbiologist before moving into the biotechnology industry, where she worked in sales, marketing, and executive management. She retired six years ago when she and her family made the coast their full-time home, bringing her scientific background and strategic expertise into service of the Gardens.

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After purchasing a home in Fort Bragg in 2013, Liz completed the Master Gardener Program at the Gardens in 2014. What began as a volunteer role, primarily in the vegetable garden, quickly grew into deep involvement and lasting friendships. She describes the Gardens as a refuge for the soul, a place where community, beauty, and purpose take root together.

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Liz holds a special affection for the Heritage Rose Garden, drawn to the history and stories each bloom carries. To her, every rose reflects the care of those who came before and the stewardship we continue today.

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She believes the Gardens have the power to change people. Each year, hundreds of schoolchildren explore the grounds through educational tours led by passionate volunteer docents. Watching a child from inland experience the lush coastal landscape and see the ocean for the first time is a moment that never loses its magic.