Michelle is the President and CEO of the Tucson Botanical Gardens, a 7½-acre urban oasis dedicated to connecting people with plants and nature.She began her career in the private sector, holding leadership roles in civil engineering, law, architecture, and media before transitioning to the nonprofit world nearly 35 years ago. Since then, Michelle has led organizations across the arts, culture, and science fields—including visual and performing arts centers, an air and space museum, and now, a major public garden. Known for transforming small organizations into thriving, sustainable institutions, she has been recognized as Southern Arizona Fundraiser of the Year and CEO of the Year in the large nonprofit category.
In 1999, Michelle and her family relocated from Michigan to Arizona, where she held leadership roles with the Arizona Theatre Company and the Pima Air & Space Museum before joining the Tucson Botanical Gardens in 2002. Appointed Executive Director in 2009, she has since guided the Gardens through a period of remarkable growth—expanding facilities and programs, attracting major exhibitions, and earning national recognition as one of the Top Ten Public Gardens in North America and one of USA Today’s Top 4 Public Gardens in America.
Michelle also serves on the Executive Board of the American Public Gardens Association and is a frequent speaker on nonprofit leadership and innovation.
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