Everything one does as a leader is calculated risk.
November 2022Jennifer Rominiecki knew she was in for a challenge when she became CEO of Sarasota's Selby Gardens seven years ago -- but maybe not quite as big of a challenge as it turned out.
"This site has the world's best scientifically documented collections of orchids and bromeliads, terrific talent and an amazing bayfront location," says Rominiecki, who had been in senior leadership at New York Botanical Garden before joining Selby. "But the infrastructure was in really poor condition. We were using old buildings that were repurposed. Our collections were housed on the ground level in a flood zone. We were in vital need of shoring up our infrastructure from day one. It was crystal clear what needed to be done to make us sustainable for the long term and to preserve our history."
Her first shot at upgrading the Selby campus -- a $92-million master plan that included a five-story parking garage, a roof-top restaurant and multiple upgrades to Selby's science, education and welcome facilities -- drew opposition from the surrounding neighborhood over concerns of increased traffic and noise. Following spirited community debate, Sarasota's City Commission rejected the plan.
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"This site has the world's best scientifically documented collections of orchids and bromeliads, terrific talent and an amazing bayfront location," says Rominiecki, who had been in senior leadership at New York Botanical Garden before joining Selby. "But the infrastructure was in really poor condition. We were using old buildings that were repurposed. Our collections were housed on the ground level in a flood zone. We were in vital need of shoring up our infrastructure from day one. It was crystal clear what needed to be done to make us sustainable for the long term and to preserve our history."
Her first shot at upgrading the Selby campus -- a $92-million master plan that included a five-story parking garage, a roof-top restaurant and multiple upgrades to Selby's science, education and welcome facilities -- drew opposition from the surrounding neighborhood over concerns of increased traffic and noise. Following spirited community debate, Sarasota's City Commission rejected the plan.
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