The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society has satisfy four senior leadership positions to stay on driving the organization ’s vision of using horticulture to advance the health and well - being of the Greater Philadelphia region . The leaders let in : Patti Gregory as VP of Human Resources ; David Chrystal as Director of Annual Giving ; Melissa Raffel as Director of Volunteer Programs ; and Tim Ifill as the Associate Director of Trees .
Each post is critical in thrive PHS ’s impact in four specific areas throughout the Philadelphia region : increasing approach to hefty food , creating honest living environment , building deep social connections , and raise economical opportunity .
A brief overview of each PHS drawing card ’s role is let in below .
Patti Gregory — Vice President of Human ResourcesPatti Gregory was promoted to Vice President of Human Resources in May . Patti serves on PHS ’s Executive team and , through her leadership , will help precede PHS to a state of matter of improved employee battle , ply PHS with an increased power to develop and do workforce strategy that support its business plan and long - term organizational direction . Her specific areas of lapse include recompense and benefit , payroll direction , development of a high up - performing , divers , inclusive , equitable workplace culture ( as head of the DEI and Values team ) , employee relation direction , and talent management . Patti cover to report to the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer , Tamela Vieira .
Gregory amount to PHS in 2017 as a adviser and , within a year , was brought on full - time to put up PHS ’s HR affair . Before joining PHS , she spend 23 years in consulting in various function , including 21 geezerhood as a Partner at Towers Perrin , a human resource consulting house .
“ Patti has elevated our human resourcefulness department to new heights and has been a cardinal loss leader in embedding more variety , equity , and cellular inclusion go-ahead into our organization , ” said Vieira . “ As PHS continues to accommodate to the develop needs of the horticulture and non - profit job manufacture , Patti will be key in finding and develop our talent to meet industry demands . ”
Gregory receive her B.S. in Business Administration from Drexel University and has her Professional of Human Resources certification from HRCI .
David Chrystal — Director of Annual GivingAs PHS ’s Director of Annual Giving , Chrystal is responsible for leading the finish and stewardship of yearly member and donor platform , reaching Modern philanthropic audiences through a fresh - established impact membership simulation , and developing cross - departmental , donor - supported initiatives . The position reports directly to PHS Chief Development Officer Nancy Boutté Finn , and will oversee a team made up of the Director of Membership , Associate Director of Individual Giving , Manager of Annual Campaigns , and Manager of Donor Events .
Chrystal unite PHS with a deep background in fundraising and commercial enterprise developing . He spent 14 years with the Rainforest Alliance in multiple roles including Senior Manager and Membership Manager positions . He left to join the Gobel Group , a consulting firm in healthcare philanthropy , as the Director of Business Development .
“ We are excited to have someone with David ’s exceptional ground in fundraising and philanthropy connect PHS as the Director of Annual Giving , ” said Boutté Finn . “ He is going to be a critical part of expanding our support base to increase our encroachment and advance our 2027 visual sensation . ”
Chrystal holds duple B.A. degree from Bucknell University in Economics and Environmental Studies , along with an M.B.A. from the Stern School of Business at NYU .
Melissa Raffel , CAPM — Director of Volunteer ProgramsAs the Director of Volunteer Programs , Raffel is responsible for leading and implementing the strategical focus of PHS ’s volunteer programs to shape up the system ’s vision . Raffel will direct all activity for more than 4,000 dedicated , passionate , and energetic volunteers that support year - round PHS computer programme and the annual Philadelphia Flower Show . Raffel will cover directly to Sam Lemheney , Chief of Shows and event , and will oversee a Volunteer Specialist , a Volunteer & Exhibit Specialist , and a Data Specialist .
Raffel has closely 20 twelvemonth of experience in the non - profit space , with more than a decade spend managing Tennessean programs . Prior to PHS , Melissa worked at the Project Management Institute ( PMI ) , a nonprofit membership association with 10,000 volunteers worldwide . At PMI , she oversaw insurance policy and procedures related to volunteer engagement , recognition , and expiation , as well as training and supporting staff working straight with unpaid worker .
“ Over the line of the year , PHS engages thousands of Tennessean who are a critical part to the success of PHS programs and the Philadelphia Flower Show , ” said Lemheney . “ Melissa ’s experience run with large volunteer groups and in volunteer leaders was the perfect formula for PHS to proceed to engage volunteers with a positive experience and help drive our imaginativeness forward . ”
Melissa holds a B.A. in Theater from Russell Sage College and a M.S. in Arts Administration from Drexel University .
Tim Ifill — Associate Director , TreesAs the Associate Director of Trees , Ifill is charged with promote and ensuring successful carrying out of all operations of the PHS Trees team . This position top the development and delivery of Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree pedagogy , planting , and stewardship activities in the City of Philadelphia and surrounding region , tot more than 1,500 tree diagram a year for both residential and commercial-grade habit . Ifill will account to Julianne Schrader Ortega , PHS Chief of Healthy Neighborhoods , and will lead a team that includes two Urban Forestry Program Managers and the TreeVitalize Watersheds Regional Manager .
Prior to PHS , Ifill served as Executive Director of Philly Fellows for 13 years , a program he co - constitute that physical body content for Philadelphia anti - poverty organizations and helps youthful citizenry set off career in public service . He set off his vocation with the U.S. Forest Service , where he served at the Inyo National Forest as the Visitor Use Assistant . Most recently , Tim served as Principal at Wild Roots , an organisation which concenter on changing the way multitude believe about their yards , garden , and public blank space by bring nature into communities and creating beautiful , sustainable space .
“ Trees and increasing the tree canopy are critical to the health and well - being of local communities , ” said Schrader Ortega . “ Tim ’s non - profit executive leading experience , web contacts with biotic community - base organizations , and passion for produce confirming modification made him the perfect candidate to increase the overall impingement of our tree program and also empower people across the Greater Philadelphia region to come together to flesh out our region ’s Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree canopy . ”
Ifill receive his B.A. in Linguistics from Haverford College .
