Ronnit Bendavid-Val Email & Phone Number

New York, Ny, Us

Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

The Vice President of Horticulture & Landscape (VPHL) is responsible for visionary and inspirational leadership and effective management of the Horticulture Department and a total departmental staff of 53 positions. Provides oversight and support to multiple teams within horticulture including: Arboriculture, Horticulture, Grounds Maintenance, Greenhouse, Recycling, Sustainability, and Vehicle & Equipment Services sections.The VPHL is responsible for the design and implementation of landscape maintenance and improvements that achieve long-term strategic objectives such as increasing plant diversity, enhancing the sustainability and wildlife habitat value of the landscape, and preserving the historic character of this 175-acre “National Historic Landmark” and Level III accredited arboretum, which has over 5,000 trees and more than 20,000 plants overall, representing 115 different botanical families and comprising more than 2,000 different taxa.The VPHL has overall responsibility for preparation of the annual departmental budget for approval by the Board of Trustees, and is responsible for prioritizing, setting, and achieving annual and long-range goals for all sections of the Horticulture Department, while adhering to the approved budget. The VPHL works with the Chair of the Horticulture & Landscape Committee of the Trustees to schedule meetings, set agendas, and prepare materials.The VPHL serves as a member of the staff Executive Team (ET), along with the President & CEO, Executive Vice President & CFO, Vice President of Preservation & Facilities, Vice President of Cemetery & Visitor Services, Vice President of People & Culture and Vice President of Institutional Advancement. The ET is responsible for assisting the Trustees of the Cemetery in formulating the strategic vision for the organization and leading the staff in the planning and successful execution of goals, both annual and long-range, in support of the Cemetery’s strategic initiatives and mission.

1000 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, Ny

Responsible for overseeing all forestry & horticulture operations at Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Director of Gardens & Grounds focused solely on outdoor operations. Director of Horticulture includes indoor conservatories and other overlap responsibilities.• Oversee all forestry & horticulture maintenance & operations for 52 acres of plant material including tree care, specialty gardens, lawns, bioswales, green roof, seasonal plantings, and all outdoor and indoor plant collections.• Develop short and long-term goals for forestry & horticulture, and strategies to achieve these goals. • Oversee operations for managing compost, woodchips and plant debris on site, along with compost tea and organic/ecologically sound pest management programs. • Develop soil management strategies and irrigation plans for the diverse soils and irrigation needs of the site.• Supervise and manage 38 horticulture staff (full-time & seasonal) including hiring, salaries, performance reviews and personnel issues, in addition to horticultural guidance and professional training.• Provide oversite for safety trainings and protocols for all staff including arborist rescue protocols.• Manage entire fleet of horticulture vehicles, heavy equipment, power tools & small equipment. Continue transitioning to environmentally-friendly vehicles and equipment.• Oversee vendor contracts and external professional consultations.• Expand BBG’s sustainability practices in all aspects of horticulture and arboriculture, including preparing for and managing threats of invasive pests such as EAB, Spotted Lanternfly and more.• Work with the BBG capital construction division, landscape architects and construction contractors on all phases of capital construction projects.• Develop and manage annual horticulture budget.• Work with other departments on the many programs and events needed to further the Garden’s Mission.

Brooklyn, Ny

New York City

Responsible for overseeing all operations on the High Line, including the intricate and diverse planting pallet, together with infrastructure, cleanliness, and the overall visitor experience. • Supervise and manage four departments in the Operations Division: Horticulture, Custodial, Maintenance and Visitor Services, ranging from 35 - 50+ staff, appropriate to season. Responsibilities include hiring, performance evaluation, and handling personnel issues • Manage annual budget of over $2.6 mil, and project future budgets to accommodate new infrastructure• Develop strategies and protocols for maintenance and operations that reflect the growing size of the park and staff• Oversee the continued development of environmentally friendly and sustainable management practices, consistent with overall goals of the organization• Oversee contract management process, including RFPs, scopes of work, bid submissions, final contracts, implementation oversight• Work in collaboration with divisions within the organization (such as Public Programs & Education, Food & Revenue), with other organizations (such as the Central Park Conservancy) and city agencies (such as NYC Parks Department, NYC Department of Sanitation)Executing these responsibilities ensures the High Line is maintained to the exemplary and world-class status for which it is known, in all aspects of operations and horticulture

New York City

Responsible for creating a centralized approach to horticulture that unified protocols, methods and standards in all five boroughs, in addition to building a professional peer network and community for horticulture staff throughout the agency•Oversaw and managed horticulture field training and professional development for the agency• Researched, developed and implemented new IPM (Integrated Pest Management) techniques and methodologies• Served as primary agency contact for pesticide use and reporting for the agency and affiliated entities • Oversaw management of the agency's Citywide Nursery, providing plants for horticulture projects throughout the city• Initiated, developed and managed programs to support horticulture field staff, including annual meetings, seminars, monthly horticulture competition and monthly newsletter• Represented the Commissioner and the Parks Department on the Boards of horticulture institutions in New York City such as the Horticulture Society of New York and GrowNYC• Oversaw special projects at the specific request of the Commissioner or Mayor's Office, such as; monitoring the effect of salt spray on plants resulting from the art installation “Waterfalls” in the East River, and developing & implementing practices to reduce that salt impact on trees, shrubs, and other plants; designing and overseeing installation of special planting requests in front of the Brooklyn Court House and outside the NY Botanic Garden

East Side, Manhattan

Responsible for over 50 parks of various sizes in 3 districts on the East Side of Manhattan• Supervised and managed staff in maintenance, operations and horticulture • Provided leadership in maintaining and improving parks and playgrounds while managing resources efficiently and staying within budget• Motivated staff to meet and exceed agency objectives and standards• Pursued improvement of infrastructure and horticulture when needed, immediately responding to safety hazards on a daily basis• Represented the agency at Community Board, Parks Committee and District Managers meetings• Partnered/collaborated with numerous city agencies and community members• Ensured safe and appropriate installation of construction projects in parks and playgrounds

Theodore Roosevelt Park & District 7, Manhattan West Side

Supervised horticulture and park maintenance crews in one of Manhattan’s flagship parks, Theodore Roosevelt Park, and oversaw a mobile horticulture crew caring for 15 horticulture sites throughout the district• Responsibilities included developing a design intent for horticulture and guiding the horticulture staff according to this intent, overseeing park infrastructure and cleanliness, equipment maintenance, budget oversight, special event permits, community relations, museum relations, and agency reporting • Established a Park Manager's office that acted as liaison between NYC Parks Dept., the Museum of Natural History and the community group Friends of Theodore Roosevelt Park

Chester, Ny

As Farm Manager, supervised farm production for Project Renewal Farm, a certified organic 8-acre farm serving as the work site for a program for 25 men recovering from substance abuse. As Program Director/Farm Manager beginning in 2000, was additionally responsible for overall functioning of the program including management of 5 staff• Planned and supervised all aspects of the farm crops grown in greenhouses, coldframes and outdoor field plots• Oversaw maintenance of all farm infrastructure, including buildings, tools, vehicles, irrigation systems, greenhouses and coldframes • Approved daily assignments and weekly program calendar for work and drug treatment for all participants• Planned and oversaw construction of new offices• Managed program budget and bank account• Submitted regular reports to Project Renewal main offices in New York City• Organic farm certification granted by NOFA (Northeast Organic Farming Association)

Morningside Park

Responsible for initiating and supervising restoration of Morningside Park's 31 acre landscape, originally designed by Olmsted and Vaux, including naturalistic pond restoration and installation of memorial arboretum.- Directed horticulture office which oversaw staff of up to 10, and volunteer groups- Managed budget and supplies- Aquired two grants for park restoration totalling $20,000, and oversaw use of $10,000 tree pruning contract- Trained participants in Parks Career Training Program and Lincoln Correctional Facility in basic horticulture techniques- Awareded Manhattan's "Employee of the Month" for August 1998.

Msc, Agronomy

Bachelor Of Science (Bsc), Soil And Water Science