Executive Director of Ventura Botanical Gardens
Joe Cahill has always held an interest in plants ever since he was a child and he decided to pursue this interest in his education and career. After earning a Bachelors in Biology, he went into scientific writing for publications such as the Encyclopedia Britannica. His couple years of experience here enhanced his technical writing skills, aiding him in future careers. Cahill pursued a Ph.D. in Botany under Arturo Gómez-Pompa at the University of California in Riverside. He originally planned to go into industry after earning his doctorate, but was recruited by a law firm in New York. He studied at Fordham University School of Law in Manhattan part time, eventually earning his J.D. He continued working in the legal side of biological research for several years, consulting and writing patents for companies such as Iden Biotechnology in Spain. He started working part time at the Botanical Garden, becoming the President of the Board of Directors and has since been the Executive Director of the Gardens for four years.
As the Executive Director, Joe Cahill has his hands in just about everything happening in the Ventura Botanical Gardens. The director serves as the public face as well as the organizational leader for the garden. Cahill speaks at conferences, interacts with donors, and does outreach. But he also leads the staff, plans botanical collections, organizes fundraisers, and meets with contractors for garden expansions. The job comes with the unique challenge of navigating the bureaucracy involved with a nonprofit organization, but he finds it to be very rewarding. His duties always incorporate plants and he gets to work with some very passionate people. Out of all of his past jobs, Cahill believes this position has been the most fulfilling. The garden is loved by locals and and has massive support from the community. Botanical gardens have a major role in public education and preservation of biodiversity. Cahill is building a legacy with his career, that will continue to grow and promote environmental conservation.
While his goal was not always to run a botanical garden, he followed his interests and took advantage of the doors open to him, eventually leading him to his current gratifying career as the Executive Director. Cahill encourages others to be open to taking opportunities that may not necessarily be what you planned. His past work experiences were broad, but were always plant related. There are many careers in agriculture, from genetic research and farming to product development and patents, that all benefit from a biological background.
Learn more about the Ventura Botanical Garden
Authors: Alexis Garrison and Tamera Taylor
As the Executive Director, Joe Cahill has his hands in just about everything happening in the Ventura Botanical Gardens. The director serves as the public face as well as the organizational leader for the garden. Cahill speaks at conferences, interacts with donors, and does outreach. But he also leads the staff, plans botanical collections, organizes fundraisers, and meets with contractors for garden expansions. The job comes with the unique challenge of navigating the bureaucracy involved with a nonprofit organization, but he finds it to be very rewarding. His duties always incorporate plants and he gets to work with some very passionate people. Out of all of his past jobs, Cahill believes this position has been the most fulfilling. The garden is loved by locals and and has massive support from the community. Botanical gardens have a major role in public education and preservation of biodiversity. Cahill is building a legacy with his career, that will continue to grow and promote environmental conservation.
While his goal was not always to run a botanical garden, he followed his interests and took advantage of the doors open to him, eventually leading him to his current gratifying career as the Executive Director. Cahill encourages others to be open to taking opportunities that may not necessarily be what you planned. His past work experiences were broad, but were always plant related. There are many careers in agriculture, from genetic research and farming to product development and patents, that all benefit from a biological background.
Learn more about the Ventura Botanical Garden
Authors: Alexis Garrison and Tamera Taylor