 |
Ken Schutz
The Dr. William Huizingh Executive Director
Ken Schutz has held executive leadership positions in cultural institutions for more than 20 years. He has been with the Desert Botanical Garden since 2001 and during his tenure he has managed construction of $17 million in new facilities at the Garden, more than doubled local attendance, initiated a number of exciting new education and research projects, and raised more than $10 million in gifts and pledges for the Garden’s endowment. Prior to moving to Phoenix, he served as the Executive Director of the Science Museum of Western Virginia, and before that he was Director of Marketing and Development for the Baltimore Zoo. He holds an M.B.A. from the University of Virginia, an M.S. degree from Johns Hopkins University, and a B.S. from Bucknell University.
|
 |
Jim Carlson
Director of Safety and Security
Jim Carlson is responsible for providing a safe environment for the 300,000 annual visitors to the Garden as well as Garden staff overseeing daily operations within the 145-acre boundary of the Desert Botanical Garden. Jim oversees a complement of 10 Rangers who monitor Garden paths, buildings, infrastructure, and parking lots, provide security for special events and exhibits, and respond promptly to any special needs incidents. Jim supervises the Garden’s emergency response system to insure it meets city and county standards. Jim has served as Director of Security and Safety at the Desert Botanical Garden since 1993.
|
 |
Mary Catellier
Director of Human Resources
Mary Catellier joined the Garden in 1989 as Accounting Manager, and was appointed Director of Human Resources in 1998. She oversees all aspects of HR including compensation and benefits, recruitment and selection, training and development, budgeting, compliance and planning. During her tenure she has implemented a 401(k) Plan, enhanced health and wellness benefits, established competitive job standards, created recognition programs, and provided valuable counsel through periods of transition and growth.
A native of Phoenix, Mary holds a B.S. degree in Accounting from the University of Arizona, and is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). She is an active member of the Society for Human Resource Management and the Valley of the Sun Human Resource Association, and has served on VSHRA’s Legislative Action Committee.
|
|
|
Beverly Duzik
Director of Development
Beverly Duzik is responsible for leading the office of philanthropy staff in planning, developing and managing the Garden’s contributed income and membership activities that support the operating fund, endowment program, and strategic initiatives.
Since joining the Garden staff in September 2000, Beverly closed the final $1M gifts for the $17M Growing a Legacy for Generations capital campaign; recruited significant community support and marketing resources which helped the Garden double local attendance and membership; and most recently she planned and implemented the successful $16M Tending the Garden Campaign, which exceeded the goal with $17.8M in recorded pledges.
Beverly has 28 years of experience in non-profit management in Arizona, including 12 years as Executive Director of the Phoenix Boys Choir (1984-96) and three years as Director of Major Gifts for the American Cancer Society’s Southwest Division (1996-1999). As a former Peer Consultant for Arizona Commission on the Arts, she has facilitated board retreats for 17 organizations around the state. Beverly holds a B.A. degree from Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina and did graduate work in interdisciplinary humanities at Arizona State University.
|
 |
Marcia Flynn
Director of Event Services
Marcia Flynn is Desert Botanical Garden’s Director of Event Services, and has been with the Garden since 2000. Prior to her arrival, Marcia held a similar position at Denver Botanic Gardens from 1995-2000. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a B.A. degree in International Relations and International Business.
During the past 10 years at the Garden, Marcia has provided leadership in the development and growth of the Event Services Department. The department includes Adult Group Tours, Facility Rental, Special Events, Concerts and Fundraisers, as well as the Gardens Food and Beverage programs.
|
 |
Marie Gant
Administrative Coordinator
Marie Gant, Administrative Coordinator, joined the Garden in 2004 and serves as the primary liaison between the Executive Director and Board of Trustees and liaison between the Executive Director and members of the Senior Staff. Before joining the Garden she held positions as Grant Program Manager for CIBER (Center for International Business Education and Research) at Thunderbird, The American Graduate School of International Management and Grant Development Coordinator for the Washington Elementary School District. Marie graduated summa cum laude in 1997 from Arizona State University with a B.S. degree in Management. Prior to obtaining her degree she held administrative positions with Nissan Motor Corp., USA, Los Angeles and Ford Motor Company, Phoenix District Office.
|
 |
Brian Kissinger
Director of Horticulture
Brian Kissinger brings to the Garden 24 years of experience and knowledge as well as being a published horticulturist and landscape designer. His work has appeared in Architectural Digest, Better Homes and Gardens, Sunset Magazine, Traditional Home and Phoenix Home and Garden to name a few. His work has been featured on HGTV, “Secret Gardens”, KCTV5 “In The Garden”, and recently his work on the ‘Belleview Estate’ was documented by the Smithsonian Institution’s Archive of American Gardens.
Brian holds a bachelor of science in Ornamental Horticulture from the University of Missouri in Columbia. His client list of large estate gardens and smaller gardens is extensive, and his personal garden in Paradise Valley was on the Patrons Circle Spring Garden tour as well as Phoenix Home and Gardens Grand Tour of Gardens. Brian brings to the garden a “new set of eyes” to create a new world class vision for the garden and it's future.
|
 |
MaryLynn Mack
Deputy Director
MaryLynn Mack joined the Garden in 2004 and in collaboration with the Executive Director, serves as a co-leader in all aspects of the operation. She is responsible for the vision,
planning, and growth of the “visitor-based” aspects of the operation, including Admissions, Retail, Visitor Services, Marketing, Facilities and Security. MaryLynn has over 18 years of staff management, strategic planning, and project development experience in the areas of social services, gardens, and museums. She graduated with a degree in Business, did a four-year stint in the U.S. Navy, and was the founding Director of Operations of a 75-bed facility for battered women and children. Her program was recognized by the Points of Light Foundation and the city of San Diego as one of the most innovative and successful long-term residential programs for women. Before moving to Phoenix, Arizona, MaryLynn also worked at the San Diego Natural History Museum.
|
 |
Dr. Joe McAuliffe
Director of Research
Dr. Joe McAuliffe has been with the Desert Botanical Garden since 1990 as a Research Ecologist. His current research focuses on plant-soil relationships in desert regions of the American Southwest. Ongoing projects include the study of long-lived creosotebush clones in the Mojave Desert of California, landscape and vegetation changes in the Painted Desert region on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona, and the ecology and conservation of desert grasslands in southern Arizona. In 1995, Joe received the W.S. Cooper Award from the Ecological Society of America for his research contributions in plant ecology.
|
 |
Chris McCabe
Director of Facilities
As Director of Facilities, Chris McCabe leads the Facility staff responsible for maintaining the Garden’s buildings and grounds, including set-up for all events. Chris joined the Garden in 1998 as Maintenance Technician and has advanced to manage the department. He has been an integral part of construction of the Butterfly Pavilion, Desert House renovation, the Sybil B. Harrington Cactus and Succulent Galleries and the Steele Herb Garden. Chris serves as staff liaison to the Board of Trustees Building and Grounds Committee and works closely with Committee Members in managing the Garden’s fleet of vehicles and maintaining existing building structures, roads and parking areas.
|
 |
Elaine McGinn
Director of Planning and Exhibits
Elaine McGinn has been with the Desert Botanical Garden since 1997. As Director of Planning and Exhibits she is responsible for leading the planning, exhibit development and design process for permanent and temporary exhibits at the Garden. She has extensive experience in exhibit development, design, strategic planning, and education. During her tenure with the Desert Botanical Garden, she has led the exhibit development of major exhibit initiatives including: The Sybil B. Harrington Cactus and Succulent Galleries, The Ottosen Entry Garden, The Berlin Agave Yucca Forest, and The Harriet K. Maxwell Desert Wildflower Trail. Temporary exhibitions include seasonal butterfly exhibits and art installations by Arizona artists John Waddell and Mayme Kratz, and internationally recognized artists Patrick Dougherty, Pablo Picasso, Allan Houser and Dale Chihuly. In 2009, McGinn received a Virginia G. Piper Fellowship to study garden design and the exploration of place-making.
|
|
|
Janis Munsil
Director of Retail & Admissions
Janis Munsil has been with the Desert Botanical Garden since 1999 in retail management. She assumed the dual responsibility with Admissions in 2005. In 2001 she successfully integrated the Gift and Plant shops into a new and larger facility as the combined Garden Shop. Upon adding responsibility for Admissions, she has supervised the upgrades in computer services for the Admissions and Retail operations. Retail revenues have more than doubled during her tenure.
Janis has a B.F.A. degree from Arizona State University. Her extensive retail management experience includes years with Banana Republic, Eddie Bauer and The Disney Store. These combined with a nearly lifetime residency in Arizona add to the unique experience of the Garden Shop and the Desert Botanical Garden.
|
 |
John Sallot
Director of Marketing
John Sallot is responsible for communicating the Garden’s message to members, visitors and the community. John joined the Garden in 2003 as the Institution Giving Manager and was responsible for managing relationships between the Garden and corporate and foundation donors. During this time, he wrote successful grants for funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and The Kresge Foundation.
A native of California, John graduated with a degree in communications from California State University, Fullerton. Prior to working at Desert Botanical Garden he worked for Mary Tyler Moore Studios, AIDS Project Los Angeles, ehobbies.com and the Palm Springs Desert Museum.
|
|
|
Tina Wilson
Director of Education
Tina Wilson has been with Desert Botanical Garden since 2005. Prior to her arrival she taught at Broward College in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and served as the Horticulture Extension agent for Woodford County in Versailles, Kentucky. She has over 13 years of science education experience and is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a M.S. degree in plant science.
As Director of Education, she is responsible for the overall supervision of the Sonoran Desert Adventure school program, Volunteers in the Garden, and Adult and Family programs. She is currently guiding staff members of the education department in the development and management of innovative programming to promote environmental literacy.
|
