McLaughlin Garden appoints seasoned executive

Photo:

Ruth Copeman

SOUTH PARIS — The McLaughlin Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving one of Maine’s renowned gardens and historic homes, has named Ruth Copeman to the post of executive director.

She has been charged with strengthening the organization’s ability to achieve its mission through community outreach and resource acquisition.

Copeman, a nonprofit executive with extensive background in launching, managing and growing nonprofits, will support McLaughlin Garden in its work to build the volunteer program and to bring to life its strategic plan with a new focus on operating the organization as a “cultural center.”

Copeman’s initial responsibilities will include developing a team of volunteers, community leaders and staff to establish committees to lead the implementation of strategic initiatives for community outreach, fund acquisition, volunteer program development, high school program development and historic preservation.

Copeman has a Master of Science degree in Botany. She worked for 10 years with the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, AZ, working her way up to the Director of Education and has spent the past five years as the Executive Director of the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy in Scottsdale, AZ.

She has served on national committees and has spoken nationally about nonprofit programming.  Copeman most recently led the construction of a fully-accessible nature trail that won the 2010 State of Arizona ADA Project of the Year award for ensuring that everyone in her community had access to the nature preserve the organization managed. She is originally from Pt. Pleasant, NJ and is happy to return to the East.

Visit McLaughlin Garden on the web at www.mclaughlingarden.org.