New AHS Board Members!
We are grateful to announce three new members of the American Horticultural Society Board of Directors! Doug Barker, Dr. Larry Deaven, and Philip Tabas bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the organization. Our Board’s diverse range of talents and expertise help guide AHS’ mission and exemplify commitment to innovation and excellence in horticulture.
Read more about these outstanding individuals and their passion for gardening, ecological health, and nonprofit work below!
DOUG BARKER
Doug is a strategic advisor for Barker & Scott Consulting which assists leading regional, national, and international nonprofit organizations with leveraging the power of information technology for organizational advancement and mission success. He is passionate about helping nonprofit organizations fundraise to connect more deeply with supporters and achieve greater impact. Prior to co-founding Barker & Scott, Doug was Vice President and Chief Information Officer for The Nature Conservancy and the nonprofit industry lead for the consulting practice of Arthur Andersen in Washington DC. Doug resides in DC where he is active in local environmental causes including an initiative in his community to remove invasive plants and restore ecological health through planting native plants. He loves nature, gardening, starry night skies, travel, hiking, canoeing, and biking.
LARRY DEAVEN
Larry is a distinguished scientist and horticulturist. Larry was the Director of the Center for Human Genome Studies at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, and he has received numerous honors for his work. Larry has had a passion for horticulture all of his life and most recently grew plants from seed and developed extensive gardens at the Pajarito Environmental Education Center in New Mexico. He designed, installed, maintained, evaluated, and supported these gardens. He is one of the leading experts in Clematis, Penstemon, and Agastache. Larry has been a regular traveler and supporter for American Horticultural Society as well as writing for The American Gardener.
PHILIP TABAS
Philip is Special Advisor with the North American Conservation Region of The Nature Conservancy. He served as the Conservancy’s General Counsel from 2003 to 2013. Philip has been involved in land conservation, water resource protection and compatible economic development projects for TNC, particularly involving the use of conservation easements and tax incentives. Prior to TNC, he worked as an attorney for the New England River Basins Commission, an intergovernmental water resources management agency, and was an attorney with an environmental consulting firm. Philip is a tax lawyer and a land use planner by professional training. He is a member of the American College of Environmental Lawyers; a member of the Board of Directors of Friends of Herring River; a former Board member of The Potomac Conservancy; a co-author of Comprehensive Planning and the Environment, published by Abt Books; and he has taught a summer course entitled “Ecosystem Conservation Strategies” at the Vermont Law School.