The Board of Directors for Pittsburgh Botanic Garden recently selected Keith S. Kaiser to be its Executive Director.
Keith joins the Garden with 40 years of experiences in the field of horticulture, specifically focused on ornamental plant cultivation and public garden management. Most recently, he spent 27 years at Fellows Riverside Gardens, a 12-acre public display garden in Youngstown, Ohio. Prior to that, he worked at Kingwood Center Gardens and Cleveland Botanical Garden.
Keith holds a Bachelor of Science in Ornamental Horticulture from The Ohio State University. He is an active participant with American Public Gardens Association, recently serving as chair for the Small Gardens Section and host of the Small Gardens Professional Development Symposium.
In accepting the position, Keith says, “I am thrilled to take a leadership role at Pittsburgh Botanic Garden which is building new gardens and facilities at a rapid pace.” A new, updated Master Plan was approved in 2016 with current improvements including the Garden of the Five Senses, several new garden areas and expanded parking facilities are planned for the coming year. Keith believes that one of the core missions of the Garden is to educate people about plants, strengthening the greater western Pennsylvania region as it continues to develop itself as a green and environmentally focused community.
In announcing his appointment as Executive Director, Board Chairman Nelson Craige said, “We are fortunate to bring such a talented and experienced leader to Pittsburgh Botanic Garden and look forward to working with Keith continuing to build this amazing regional asset”.
Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, located 10 miles west of downtown Pittsburgh, offers an outdoor experience unlike any in the region. A total of 460 acres of forest that was farmed, logged, and coal mined are coming back to life with gorgeous gardens, inviting trails, forested slopes, and open meadows. Currently, with admission, the public can explore 60 acres which include an environmental award-winning lotus pond, stunning dogwood meadow, fun exploration stations for families and three miles of peaceful trails. A beautifully restored 1870s barn serves as the welcome center and is available to rent for celebrating special occasions. For more information please visit pittsburghbotanicgarden.org.
