Executive Director

For almost seven years since its founding in the the year 2000, our organization had consisted entirely of volunteers, led by Paulette Aukeman Thomas, Past President. The scope of achievement by this small group, leading to the development of the Master Plan, has been astonishing, and the support of local foundations, businesses, and generous individuals has been most encouraging.

Effective February 1, 2011 Hollandia Botanical Gardens named Crystal Justice its new Executive Director.  Ms. Justice was preceded by Paul Parlato, who served as the Executive Director from 2007. Ms. Justice has served in the nonprofit arena her entire career.  She founded Resource Nonprofit Fundraising, a consulting firm to aid nonprofits in need of development and special event coordination. Her goal as the new executive director is to take swift steps forward to construction; this will mean a dynamic fundraising campaign that engages support on a local, regional, and national level. Along with the construction cost, the organization seeks to build an endowment fund held by the Springfield Foundation to operate the garden. Ms. Justice and her husband Wayne are lifelong residents of Springfield.