CPC Welcomes New Conservation Partners and Trustees
The heart of the Center for Plant Conservation (CPC) is its vibrant community of conservationists—a dedicated network of individuals and organizations united by a shared mission to save plants from extinction. From practitioners and researchers to trustees, donors, and plant advocates, this community has been the cornerstone of CPC’s achievements for more than four decades, continually growing stronger, more diverse, and more connected.
CPC is delighted to have recently welcomed two new trustees to our Board, whose leadership and expertise will help guide our organization into its next chapter, as well as two esteemed institutions joining our network of Conservation Partners—bringing our total number of partners to 83. The Montana Conservation Seedling Nursery becomes our first partner in the state of Montana, helping to fill an important geographical gap in our collaborative network. The Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens adds vital expertise and momentum to the Florida Plant Rescue initiative, strengthening rare plant conservation efforts in a state with extraordinary biodiversity. Together, these new additions enrich CPC’s collective work and reinforce our shared commitment to advancing science, collaboration, and innovation in rare plant conservation. Read on to meet the newest additions to our community!
New Conservation Partners
Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Collaborating Partner | Jacksonville, FL
The Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens (JZG) is committed to its mission of connecting communities with wildlife and wild places through both animal and plant conservation. Since 2015, JZG’s Conservation and Horticulture teams have collaborated with CPC partners such as Atlanta Botanical Garden, Bok Tower Botanical Garden, and others on projects spanning surveys, monitoring, seed collection, and outplanting for several imperiled plant species. With plans underway to establish a seed bank and, eventually, a full conservation infrastructure—including a viability testing lab, propagation nursery, and conservation collections—JZG is building capacity to safeguard imperiled plants and contribute to restoration and education. Through CPC’s Florida Plant Rescue initiative and upcoming expansions to its Wild Florida habitat—2.5 acres of natural wetlands consisting of native animals and plants —JZG aims to increase surveys and ex situ safeguarding, provide rare plant propagules for restoration, and inspire the public by showcasing threatened and endangered species with conservation-centered interpretation.
Montana Conservation Seedling Nursery
Participating Institution | Missoula, MT
Established in 1927 on the DNRC Missoula Campus, the Montana Conservation Seedling Nursery produces seedlings and seed for conservation projects in partnership with the public, government agencies, non-profits, and tribal nations. With a capacity to grow more than one million seedlings annually, the Nursery supports a variety of conservation efforts, including post-fire recovery, erosion control, species diversification, and more. All seedlings are grown from wild-collected or source-identified seed, ensuring genetic integrity and regional adaptation. Seed is sourced exclusively from wild populations and amplified at the nursery for conservation use. The Nursery is also building a robust seed bank of common and rare species found throughout Montana and the Rocky Mountains, safeguarding plant diversity for future conservation efforts. As CPC’s first Conservation Partner in the State of Montana—and the first in the entire Intermountain region—the Nursery is uniquely positioned to expand rare seed collection and advance horticultural protocols that will strengthen plant conservation across this important landscape.
New CPC Trustees
Hilary Schneider | Los Gatos, CA
Hilary has more than 20 years of experience leading consumer technology companies, driving sustainable growth, and fostering strong collaboration and engagement among executive teams. Hilary served most recently as Chief Executive Officer of Shutterfly, a leading e-commerce company for personalized products and custom design. Prior to this role, she served as Chief Executive Officer of Wag!, the country’s largest on-demand mobile dog walking and dog care service, and as President and Chief Executive Officer of LifeLock, the leader in identity theft protection. Previously, she served in a series of executive positions at Yahoo! from 2006 to 2010 and in several senior leadership roles at Knight Ridder from 2002 to 2005. Hilary has a B.A. in economics from Brown University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She has served on the boards of Vail Resorts since 2010, and water.org since 2011. Additionally, Hilary serves on the boards of Sleep Number and DigitalOcean. Hilary is an outdoors enthusiast and enjoys hiking and biking with her two dogs and traveling with her husband and three sons.
Robert “Bob” Sears | St. Louis. MO
Robert “Bob” Sears is a lifelong resident of St. Louis. He is a graduate of Colorado College, and he earned his law degree from Boston University. After returning to St. Louis, he and his late wife, Erica Leisenring, raised two sons. Before retirement, Bob practiced law focusing on civil litigation and construction-related matters. He continues to be a licensed attorney in Missouri and serves as treasurer of the St. Louis Bar Foundation. Since taking up beekeeping in 1990, Bob has become deeply involved in honeybee health and advocacy. A Master Beekeeper, he has led several beekeeping organizations and serves on national boards and coalitions related to pollinator health. His work bridges beekeeping, conservation, and public policy, and he has contributed to educational programs and publications on best practices. His interest in the Center for Plant Conservation was sparked by the involvement of his late wife, a former CPC board member.