Selby Gardens Announces New Trustees and Officers

June 16, 2021 – Sarasota

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens (Selby Gardens) will soon welcome two new individuals to their governing Board of Trustees.  Aaron Bellamy and Renée James Gilmore will each serve athree-year term beginning July 1, 2021, during which they will help guide the strategic vision for the future of the institution.

Aaron Bellamy is a Sarasota native who currently serves as the Youth and Family Advocate Manager with the Safe Children Coalition Residential Program.  He was a member of the Board of Directors of Gulf Coast Heritage Association, Inc., the governing body for Historic Spanish Point prior to the campus becoming part of Selby Gardens in May 2020.  He previously served on Selby Gardens’ Advisory Committee, is the past Worshipful Master of Sarasota Masonic Lodge 314, and currently serves on the City of Sarasota Police Advisory Panel.

Renée James Gilmore is the Executive Producer of Empowering Voices on ABC7 and a fourth generation Sarasotan. She owns Saja Group, LLC and makes it her mission to help communities and businesses benefit from inclusion and cultural diversity. She has worked in public and private sectors leading national multibillion-dollar business initiatives and has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor for achievements in capacity-building and innovative programming.  As the chairwoman of the citizens advisory board at Sarasota National Cemetery, she works with other volunteers to honor the ultimate sacrifice made by U.S. military troops who died for the freedoms Americans enjoy. 

As of July 1, 2021, Marianne McComb will serve as Board Chair and Dr. Joel Morganroth will serve as Vice Chair.  McComb holds a master’s degree in Language and Literature from the University of Chicago and had a successful career in children’s book publishing before becoming a Master Gardener.  McComb and her husband Bill are leadership donors to the campaign for Selby Gardens’ Master Plan.  Dr. Morganroth is an academic cardiologist who specializes in the field of cardiovascular drug development.  He has served on the editorial boards of several journals and published more than two dozen books.  Dr. Morganroth chairs Selby Gardens’ Finance Committee and he and his wife, Dr. Gail Morrison Morganroth are the visionary donors for the campaign for Selby Gardens’ Master Plan.

Also continuing their service as Selby Gardens’ trustees: J. Allison Archbold, Esq., Daniel “Pat” Ball, Ariane Dart, Norbert P. Donelly, Jean Weidner Goldstein, Teri A Hansen, Marcy Klein, Katherine A. Martucci, Cornelia Matson, Keith Monda, Mike Quillen, Jeannie Russell, Pauline L. Wamsler, Michael J. Wilson, Esq., Margaret Wise, and Jennifer O. Rominiecki, President & CEO of Selby Gardens.

For more information contact Lynn Bates at lbates@selby.org or 941.210.0874.