La Cañada Flintridge, CA, September 1, 2017 – Juliann Rooke, former chief operating officer at Descanso Gardens, has been selected to be the new executive director of the La Cañada Flintridge botanic garden. The announcement was made Tuesday, May 2, by Amy Lamb, chair of the Descanso Gardens Guild board of trustees. Rooke stepped into the position on Sept. 1, 2017, following the retirement of former executive director David R. Brown on Aug. 31.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to be selected as the next executive director,” Rooke said. “My heart and soul are rooted in Descanso Gardens. This is so much more than just a job.”
Rooke has 22 years of experience in nonprofit management. She joined Descanso Gardens in 2008 as chief financial officer. In 2012, she moved up to chief operating officer with responsibility for all revenue-producing operations of the Gardens, including development and
marketing. During this five-year period, the Gardens saw significant growth in attendance; membership doubled to the current 16,000 households; and financial results from operations increased substantially, providing more revenues to reinvest in the care and maintenance of the facility. Descanso Gardens is owned by the County of Los Angeles and has been managed by the Descanso Gardens Guild, Inc., a 501(c)(3) community-supported nonprofit, since 1993.
Brown informed the Descanso Gardens Guild board of trustees a year ago that he would retire in August 2017 after 12 years as executive director. During the search for his replacement, the transition team considered dozens of candidates from botanic gardens, and from the for-profit and nonprofit sectors, Lamb said. “We looked at candidates from all over the country – internationally, too – and found the best person in the world for this job right here at home.”
Brown too is enthusiastic about the board’s choice. “Juls has a unique commitment to the quality of the visitor experience,” he said. “There is great capacity in Juls for creative thinking about making the Gardens different and better while preserving the unique character of a place that is already well loved. She just radiates passion for and commitment to Descanso Gardens.”
Among Rooke’s many accomplishments was the launch of “Enchanted: Forest of Light” in November 2016, a 43-night light show spectacular that introduced Descanso Gardens to a broader audience. “It was Juliann’s baby and she brought it home,” Lamb said.
A native of Pasadena, Rooke earned a bachelor of science degree in accounting from the University of Southern California. Her career in nonprofit management includes stints at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles and St. James School in Los Angeles. Rooke lives in San Marino with her husband, Andy Rooke, and her four children. An active community volunteer, she currently serves on the board of the San Marino Junior Alliance and is a former board member of the San Marino Schools Foundation.
About Descanso Gardens
Descanso Gardens is a member-supported garden accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Owned by the County of Los Angeles, Descanso Gardens opened to the public in 1953. Community volunteers created the Descanso Gardens Guild in 1957 to support the new garden. Since 1993, the nonprofit Guild has managed the Gardens in a public-private partnership with the County. Through the years, the Guild has created a consistent record of stewardship, sensitive enhancement of the property, service to the public and institutional growth. In 2016, Descanso Gardens welcomed more than 500,000 visitors to daytime activities, summer evening concerts and the "Enchanted: Forest of Light" night-time spectacular.
Descanso Gardens’ history and future aspirations are reflected in its mission statement: “Descanso Gardens is a unique Southern California landscape distinguished by its specialized botanic collections, historical significance and rare natural beauty. Our mission is to practice exemplary stewardship of Descanso’s distinctive character and assets; offer people an experience close to nature; and cultivate understanding of the natural world and people’s place in it through inspiration, education and example.”