PAUL M SONIAT
New Orleans,LA
Overview
42
42
years of professional experience
Work History
Founding Director - Director of the Botanical Garden
New Orleans Botanical Garden
New Orleans, Louisiana
03.1982 - 10.2023
- Transformed old City Park Rose Garden into a respected Botanical Garden for New Orleans metropolitan area.
- Created Celebration in the Oaks and developed Pavilion of the Two Sisters, contributing over 4.5 million dollars annually to City Park's operating budget upon retirement in 2023.
- Launched numerous volunteer and educational programs while managing financial operations of the Garden.
- Coordinated physical master plan, securing continuous funding for improvements and expansions.
- Collaborated with community leaders to establish Botanical Green Advisory Committee, now New Orleans Botanical Garden Foundation.
- Facilitated fundraising efforts for capital improvements and educational programming at Botanical Garden, establishing three Garden Endowment funds.
- Directed design and construction of Pavilion of the Two Sisters, Conservatory, Tolmas Center, Helis Foundation Enrique Alferez Garden, and various display gardens in Botanical Garden.
- Demonstrated creative and entrepreneurial skills throughout multiple high-impact projects.
Education
B.S. - Horticulture
University of Southwestern Louisiana
Lafayette, Louisiana, USAAwards
Recognized by the New Orleans City Council for creating Celebration in the Oaks. Selected by the Getty Institute to attend the Museum Management Institute in Berkley, California, Received the Excellence in Government BellSouth Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004 2019, Honored as an "Urban Hero" by the Urban Conservancy of New Orleans
ADDITIONAL TALENTS
Successful musician songwriter and musician. I have produced 3 musical CD’s of original songs. Currently I have written 19 songs for the musical, “Our City of Saints” which will be performed at the Jefferson Performing Arts Center on August 29, 30 and 31st.
Timeline
Founding Director - Director of the Botanical Garden
New Orleans Botanical Garden
03.1982 - 10.2023
B.S. - Horticulture
University of Southwestern Louisiana
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