Naples Botanical Garden has named Wilson G. Bradshaw to their Board of Directors. Dr. Bradshaw is currently president of Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU).

“We are so pleased to have Dr. Bradshaw join our Board of Directors,” stated Judy Sproul, Board Chairman. “We are looking forward to his leadership in our community and the partnership that will benefit both the University and the Naples Botanical Garden. As we look to break ground on the Garden’s and FGCU’s Center for Education and Research later this month, the addition of Dr. Bradshaw is timely and serves to strengthen this key partnership. This shared-use facility will be the core of our research efforts.” Prior to joining FGCU Dr. Bradshaw served as president of Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, MN, for seven years. He previously held the posts of provost and vice president for academic affairs at Bloomsburg University and dean of graduate studies at Florida Atlantic University.

Born in Sanford, FL, and raised in West Palm Beach, Bradshaw earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology from Florida Atlantic University, and a doctorate in psychobiology from the University of Pittsburgh. During his tenure at Metropolitan State, Dr. Bradshaw served on the Board of Directors of Securian Financial Group Inc., the Bush Foundation, the Greater St. Paul Chamber of Commerce, the St. Paul Police Foundation and numerous other organizations.

Naples Botanical Garden is in the process of creating a world-class tropical garden paradise that will include cultivated gardens of Brazil, the Caribbean, and a hands-on interactive Children’s Garden along with 90 acres of beautifully restored natural habitats. The Garden will open to the public in November 2009. Currently, the Garden offers pre-registered visitations on specific dates. For more information call 239-643-7275 or visit www.naplesgarden.org, where the Garden is virtually open.

Naples Botanical Garden’s Board of Directors has unanimously selected Juliet (Judy) C. Sproul as their Board Chairman. “With the grand opening before us, we are extremely fortunate to have Judy Sproul as our new chairperson. She has been chairing the Project Committee of the Board of Directors for several years and her transition to leading the Garden will be seamless” stated Brian Holley, Executive Director.

Ms. Sproul most recently served as Naples Botanical Garden’s Vice Chairman and has been a member of the Garden’s Board for eight years. She currently serves on the Board of Directors, Barron Collier Companies. Ms. Sproul is a member of the Board of Directors of the Florida Gulf Coast University Foundation; she serves on the Chairman’s Council, YMCA of the Palms; the Advisory Board, The Community School of Naples; a member of Trinity-by-the-Cove. Ms. Sproul has previously served on the Board of Directors, Naples Philharmonic. She was recipient of Edison College Life Achievement Award 2006; Junior Achievement Laureate in 2004 and chosen as Naples Daily News Outstanding Citizen in 2003 and is a 1995 graduate of Leadership Collier. She follows Charles M. (Chuck) Berger as Board Chairman for the Garden. Mr. Berger passed away in December 2008.

“I am proud to follow in Chuck's capable footsteps as we work towards making Harvey Kapnick's vision a reality,” said Ms. Sproul. “Naples Botanical Garden will be a place for generations of Neapolitans and all who visit here to enjoy.” The current 170-acre property at Bayshore and Thomasson Drives was purchased with the support of Harvey Kapnick, philanthropist and Garden Director in Memoriam, and the Kapnick Family Foundation.

Naples Botanical Garden is in the process of creating a world-class tropical garden paradise that will include cultivated gardens of Brazil, the Caribbean, and a hands-on interactive Children’s Garden along with 90 acres of beautifully restored natural habitats. The Garden will open to the public in November 2009. Currently, the Garden offers pre-registered visitations on specific dates. For more information call 239-643-7275 or visit www.naplesgarden.org, where the Garden is virtually open.

Naples Botanical Garden was presented with the Waste Reduction Awareness Program (WRAP) Award by the Board of Collier County Commissioners on Tuesday, January 27, 2009. The WRAP Award goes to businesses that have integrated new, expanded, exceptional and/or innovative recycling and/or waste reduction efforts into their solid waste management system.

“We have a dedicated group of employees at Naples Botanical Garden we call ‘The Green Team’ who take on the additional responsibility of ensuring the Garden lives up to the message of being good environmental citizens,” stated Janele Smith, Green Team member. “We constantly strive for ways to improve our own practices. Our goal is to set a good example for other businesses in the area on how easy it is to engage in green business practices,” added fellow team member, Rich Lewis.

Efforts Naples Botanical Garden took to be a greener Garden:

• Purchase business cards, paper, paper towels, toilet paper and envelopes with recycled content.
• Recycle all plastics, cans, cardboard, magazines, newspapers, junk mail and office paper
• Buy refillable / recyclable ink cartridges
• Minimize the use of paper by maintaining digital files
• Publish documents electronically; post one copy at staff bulletin board
• Use the backsides of old photocopies and surplus paper for notes and scratch paper
• Eliminate the use of paper, plastic, and Styrofoam dishware by using environmentally friendly dishware and reusable dishware
• Provide staff and volunteers with reusable water bottles and ceramic coffee mugs
• Composting yard and garden waste
• Provide cardboard boxes at staff desks for the easy collection of recyclable office paper
• Utilize shredded newspaper as mulch
• Switched from irrigating with city water to irrigating with water from our lake and initiated the use of rain barrels
• Shutting off lights when not in use — utilize daylight when possible
• Installed programmable A/C thermostats
• Use organic I natural pesticides

Naples Botanical Garden is in the process of creating a world-class tropical garden paradise that will include cultivated gardens of Brazil, the Caribbean, and a hands-on interactive Children’s Garden along with 90 acres of beautifully restored natural habitats. The Garden will open to the public in November 2009. Currently, the Garden offers pre-registered visitations on specific dates. For more information call 239-643-7275 or visit www.naplesgarden.org, where the Garden is virtually open.