Dr. Casey Sclar Appointed Executive Director for the American Public Gardens Association

KENNETT SQUARE, Pa., June 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Public Gardens Association today announced the appointment of Dr. Casey Sclar as its new Executive Director. Sclar has been serving as Interim Executive Director since September 2011.

"Dr. Sclar's accomplishments over the past 25 years in the fields of public horticulture, horticultural science, and sustainability made him the top candidate of our Search Committee and the APGA Board of Directors," said Ken Schutz, Executive Director of The Desert Botanical Garden and APGA's Board Vice President and Chair of the Search Committee. "APGA is an organization with a bright future. Its success hinges on a leader with an innate passion for public gardens, a bright and analytical mind to propel new ideas forward, and someone to bring a heightened level of consciousness to the country about the role of public gardens in our communities."

The Search Committee unanimously recommended Sclar as APGA's new Executive Director.  In his new role, Sclar's primary goal will be to advance APGA's vision: A world where public gardens are indispensable.

"Public Gardens are - but are not just - beautifully designed pleasant places to visit. They are invaluable botanical, cultural, educational, historical, recreational, and conservation resources. They are critically important parts of people's lives. They are also economic engines and we need to gauge these impacts," said Sclar.

While serving as Interim, Sclar has overseen the planning of the 2012 Conference, directed day-to-day operations, and kept APGA programs and services moving forward.  He has also maintained key partnerships within the Association, including expanding APGA's initiative with NOAA and the National Climatic Data Center regarding climate change awareness and education at public gardens.

Prior to his appointment at APGA, Sclar served 15 years as the Plant Health Care Division Leader at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA. He holds a B.S. degree in horticulture from California Polytechnic State University, S.L.O., as well as M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in entomology from Colorado State University.

ABOUT APGA
Founded in 1940, the American Public Gardens Association is committed to advancing public gardens as a force for positive change in their communities through leadership, advocacy and innovation. The organization's membership includes over 500 public gardens in the US and Canada. http://www.publicgardens.org    

SOURCE American Public Gardens Association