Bloedel Reserve Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JUNE 17, 2024: Bloedel Reserve Announces New Richard A. Brown President & CEO

Bloedel Reserve, a 140-acre public garden and forest reserve on Bainbridge Island, WA, announced the appointment of the new Richard A. Brown President & CEO. Evan Meyer will begin his tenure at Bloedel Reserve on October 1, 2024.

Mr. Meyer joins Bloedel Reserve from Theodore Payne Foundation in Los Angeles, where he served as Executive Director since early 2020. During his tenure there, he doubled the foundation’s income and enhanced its visibility, while navigating the challenges of the pandemic. Prior to his role at Theodore Payne Foundation, Mr. Meyer held positions at the Native Plant Trust, The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, the Harvard University Herbaria, and the UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden, where he honed his expertise in plant conservation and botanical garden management.

Mr. Meyer’s roots trace back to Western Massachusetts, where he developed a passion for horticulture on his family’s 70-acre property. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a degree focused on biology, building materials, and wood technology. Over his past eleven years in California, he has gained extensive experience in horticulture and plant management, showcasing his deep knowledge of ecosystems worldwide.

At Theodore Payne Foundation, Mr. Meyer fostered strong relationships with indigenous organizations and individuals in the Los Angeles area. His dedication to native plant projects on tribal lands reflects his commitment to community and ecological stewardship and the development of deep relationships between plants and people. In his own words: “I believe that I am in the perfect place in my career to lead Bloedel Reserve. I have deep roots in the public garden, community engagement, and plant science fields, coupled with a proven track record of success in nonprofit leadership, financial management and growth, high-level communications, and implementation of strategic vision.”

In preparation for Mr. Meyer’s arrival, the Board of Trustees, led by Nate Thomas, along with interim President & CEO, Chuck Little, will work closely with staff to ensure a smooth transition of leadership. Said Thomas, “Bloedel Reserve is thrilled to welcome Evan Meyer as the new Richard A. Brown President and CEO. Evan stood out amongst all the candidates for his passion of horticulture, entrepreneurial approach, and experience with program development. He understands the potential for nature to be a healing experience and the need for our culture to reconnect with the natural environment. I am excited for the future of Bloedel Reserve as we welcome Evan to his new position.”

Since the departure of former President & CEO, Ed Moydell in 2023, the Reserve has continued evolving into its role as a broadly serving community organization with the development of a forest management plan, a plant collections policy, and an interpretive master plan. These will provide a strong foundation for Mr. Meyer to lead Bloedel Reserve into the future.

The nationwide search was conducted with the assistance of Koya Partners, an executive recruiting firm that specializes in mission-driven search, and a selection committee comprised of Bloedel Reserve Board of Trustees members Nate Thomas, Deborah Schenk, Sandra McIver, Todd Adams, and former board member and Interim President & CEO, Chuck Little.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 14, 2023

Bloedel Reserve, a 140-acre public garden and forest reserve on Bainbridge Island, has embarked on a search for its next President & CEO to succeed its longtime leader, Ed Moydell. Bloedel Reserve’s mission is to enrich people’s lives through a premier public garden of natural land and designed Pacific Northwest landscapes. The organization’s Board of Trustees has established a leadership transition committee to facilitate the search for Moydell’s successor. Koya Partners, an executive recruiting firm that specializes in mission-driven searches, has been retained to conduct the search which commenced this week and will continue into 2024.

For more information and the position profile, please visit:

https://diversifiedsearchgroup.com/search/20292-the-bloedel-reserve-president-and-ceo/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DECEMBER 11, 2023

Bloedel Reserve Announces Access Program for Low-Income Families, Museums for All, to increase accessibility of high-quality museum learning resources.

Bainbridge Island, WA—Today Bloedel Reserve announced that it has joined Museums for All, a signature access program of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), administered by the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM), to encourage people of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly and build lifelong museum-going habits. The program supports those receiving food assistance (SNAP) benefits visiting Bloedel Reserve for a minimal fee of $1 per person, up to four people, with the presentation of a SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. Similar free and reduced admission is available to eligible members of the public at more than 850 museums across the country. Museums for All is part of Bloedel Reserve’s broad commitment to seek, include, and welcome all audiences.

Museums for All helps expand access to museums and also raise public awareness about how museums in the U.S. are reaching their entire communities. More than 850 institutions participate in the initiative, including art museums, children’s museums, science centers, botanical gardens, zoos, history museums, and more. Participating museums are located nationwide, representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Virgin Islands.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 35,000 museums. Our mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Our grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) The Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) champions children’s museums worldwide. With more than 460 members in 50 states and 16 countries, ACM leverages the collective knowledge of children’s museums through convening, sharing, and dissemination. Learn more at www.childrensmuseums.org.

Bloedel Reserve Communications Manager, Etta Lilienthal el*********@bl************.org

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: SEPTEMBER 12, 2023

Bloedel Reserve has chosen 106 Group (106group.com) as the partner firm to develop an interpretive master plan for the organization. The firm’s focus on interpreting cultural institutions and heritage sites connected to tribal communities closely aligns with the Reserve’s culture and vision for the future. 106 Group will begin work with Bloedel Reserve in September 2023, with a project close-out expected in late 2024.

106 Group’s team blends backgrounds in Indigenous knowledge, interpretive planning, and award-winning design expertise with a shared purpose for illuminating the stories of a place and its people. They have collaborated at places such as Waḳaŋ Ṭípi Center in Minnesota, Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest in Virginia, and Garman Nature Preserve & Indian Mounds County Park in Wisconsin.

Bloedel Reserve’s Interpretive Master Plan (IMP) will identify and provide strategies from pre-selected goals and objectives, arriving at a plan of action that seeks to clarify storytelling, enrich the visitor experience, and develop a relationship to environmental graphic design in the landscapes. It is expected that this interpretive master plan will be a living document that continues to guide the Reserve’s relationship with itself and its community well into the future.

Interpretive Master Plan Goals

1. 1. To create a cohesive and uniform approach to interpretation at Bloedel Reserve that integrates storytelling into the visitor experience.
   2. To distill and clarify the main messages we would like visitors to take away from their experience, so they leave with a deeper understanding of the place, its history, and its mission.

1. 3. To create a safe, accessible, and informed experience for a broad range of visitors that reduces confusion, thereby increasing the chances that they have a relaxed, restorative visit.

1. 4. To simultaneously design and adopt a uniform visual environmental graphic design language that respects the founders’ intent.

Bloedel Reserve is a public garden and forest preserve situated on Bainbridge Island, WA in Puget Sound, a region that enjoys a most favorable climate for growing a diversity of plants and trees. Founded by Prentice and Virginia Bloedel and opened to the public in 1988, Bloedel Reserve is now one of the Pacific Northwest’s botanical, cultural, and environmental treasures and is considered a heritage landscape. A conservation pioneer in the timber industry, Mr. Bloedel envisioned the Reserve as a choreographed experience of nature and a place to explore the role of humans as “trustees of nature.” It is a place where the positive benefits of nature on humans is palpable; a place to enjoy and learn the values of eclectic design, aesthetics, and ecology as catalysts for the harmonious interaction of people and nature. Through the years, the Reserve has garnered widespread recognition for its outstanding and unique blend of native northwest forest and cultivated landscapes. Though not considered a botanical garden from a scientific standpoint, this combination of botanical excellence featuring rare and diverse plants collected from around the world, contextualized within a natural landscape makes the Reserve unique. With the development and integration of highly acclaimed programs centered around creativity and inspiration and nature and well-being, a number of prestigious journals and experts have rated Bloedel Reserve among the finest public gardens in the United States.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MAY 17, 2023

Bloedel Reserve Announces Leadership Transition

Bloedel Reserve, a 140-acre public garden and forest reserve on Bainbridge Island, WA, announced that President & CEO Ed Moydell will be stepping down on August 15th to become President & CEO of Holden Forests & Gardens in Cleveland, OH.  Moydell has been with the Reserve since 2009, first arriving as Associate Director before his appointment as Executive Director in 2010 and then President & CEO.  Under Moydell’s leadership, the Reserve has evolved into a community organization, expanded the number of people served, developed key mission-based programs, and completed a $25MM fundraising campaign.

Said Moydell, “It’s been an honor and pleasure to lead Bloedel Reserve for the last 13 years. The Reserve is a place like no other and I’m grateful for all the opportunity I’ve been given here.  While I’m delighted with all the great work we’ve done to enhance the landscapes, buildings, and guest experience, I’m proudest of the culture we’ve built to support all of that.  We have an amazing, talented, and dedicated group of Staff, Trustees, and Volunteers that make all the magic happen.”

In preparation for Moydell’s departure, the Board of Trustees, led by Chair Deborah Schenk, will launch a transition task force and has appointed Chuck Little as Interim President & CEO.  Chuck previously served as the Reserve’s Board President for 3 years and co-led two strategic planning processes with Moydell.  Schenk noted that Bloedel Reserve’s recently adopted strategic plan, which focuses on sustainability, provides a good framework for Moydell’s successor who will lead this beloved community asset.

Over the next few months, Chuck will work closely with Ed and other Reserve Staff members to ensure a positive and smooth transition.  A search for Moydell’s successor will soon be underway. Said Little, “We wish Ed well as he steps into a much-deserved new opportunity. Through his hard work and leadership, Bloedel Reserve has become one of America’s preeminent public gardens.  With the plans he’s put in place, our future looks even more promising.”

Holden Forests & Gardens is made up of two of Northeast Ohio’s most important environmental and cultural institutions — the Holden Arboretum and Cleveland Botanical Garden — whose mission is to connect people with the wonder, beauty, and value of trees and plants, to inspire action for healthy communities. One of the largest public gardens in the country, Holden Forests & Gardens has over 20,000 member households and an annual attendance of over 300,000. Holden’s science, conservation, and urban forestry work is widely acclaimed and helps save native trees in the Great Lakes region and beyond. Moydell hopes to continue there the great work he began at Bloedel Reserve.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – JULY 17, 2020

Bloedel Reserve Named One of the 10 Best Botanical Gardens in the U.S.

Bloedel Reserve is thrilled to announce that it has earned a place in USA Today’s annual list of the 10 Best Botanical Gardens in North America. The 2020 10 Best winners are:

1. Mt. Cuba Center
2. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
3. Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
4. Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
5. Missouri Botanical Garden
6. Ganna Walska Lotusland
7. Bloedel Reserve
8. Garden in the Woods
9. UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley
10. United States Botanic Garden

The 10 Best list is determined by readers’ votes. Twenty nominees are selected by a panel that includes travel and garden experts and members of the USA Today editorial staff. Then readers are encouraged to vote for their favorite nominees. All voting was digital and accessible at 10Best.com, as part of the 2020 10 Best Readers’ Choice Award contests.

This the second time Bloedel Reserve has made the 10 Best list. The first time was in 2018 when Bloedel Reserve took 10^th place. Hearing the news, Executive Director Ed Moydell remarked:

“We are thrilled. All 20 nominees are botanical treasures. We are honored to be in their company and we are so appreciative of the many people who chose Bloedel Reserve as the best of the best. This honor recognizes the beauty of our landscapes, our commitment to excellence in horticulture and conservation, and our work to enrich lives using nature’s ability to enhance well-being and creativity. We’re grateful to offer guests an opportunity to connect with nature in unique and meaningful ways, which is more important now than ever.”

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