Friend of Vallarta Botanical Gardens
Our Friends
Friends of Vallarta Botanical Gardens A.C. (FVBG) is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation (EIN: 33-1156194). Founded in 2007, it advances the charitable mission of the Vallarta Botanical Gardens in Mexico through Board-approved grants.
FVBG is organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“IRC”), and is recognized as exempt from federal income tax under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) and classified as a public charity. FVBG is an independent organization whose mission is to support conservation, education, research, and community initiatives in Mexico.
FVBG is governed by a volunteer board and operates in partnership with the Vallarta Botanical Gardens in Mexico to help ensure that donor funds are used thoughtfully and in alignment with the organization’s mission.
The 2026 Board consists of:
Bill Williams
Bill Williams founded Bill Williams Advisors LLC after retiring from Lockton in 2016. The firm provides strategic advisory services across all areas of human capital consulting.
With over 40 years of experience, Mr. Williams has served as a chief operating officer, team leader, senior consultant, and relationship manager with Aon and Lockton. His expertise includes HR outsourcing, international benefits, and total rewards consulting, working with clients in industries such as information technology, oil and gas, retail, manufacturing, and aerospace.
Mr. Williams holds a BBA from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. He is a founder of Casa JoJo Foundation and serves on the Board of Trustees for Goodwill Industries of Houston. He is also a member of Friends of Vallarta Botanical Gardens and has previously served on several nonprofit boards in both the U.S. and Mexico.
Mr. Williams and his husband, Juan Alvarado, live in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where they operate La Catrina Cantina, a live entertainment bar and restaurant.
President
Kelly Marschall
Kelly Marschall is a respected nonprofit leader, systems thinker, and organizational development strategist with decades of experience helping mission-driven organizations strengthen their impact, sustainability, and capacity for growth.
As President Emeritus of Social Entrepreneurs, Inc. (SEI), Kelly guided hundreds of nonprofit organizations through strategic planning, systems analysis, and capacity-building initiatives that align mission, operations, and measurable outcomes. She is recognized for facilitating collaborative planning, building leadership capacity, and strengthening governance and sustainable funding strategies.
Kelly joined the board of Friends of Vallarta Botanical Gardens A.C. after experiencing the warmth, serenity, and beauty of the Gardens first-hand—captivated by a world-class garden that preserves biodiversity, enriches community life, and reflects the heart and soul of Mexico. She is inspired by the vision of future generations enjoying, learning from, and honoring all the garden represents.
Kelly holds degrees from Pennsylvania State University and the University of Nevada, Reno.
Vice President
Meredith Rosenberg
Secretary
Kim Roberts
Kim has known Robert Price for over 30 years; both are originally from Florida. Through him, she developed a deep appreciation for orchids, hummingbirds, and horticulture. She first visited the Gardens in 2004 and served on its inaugural Board. Two decades later, she is honored to return as Treasurer.
Kim lives in Marin County with her husband and frequently travels to Puerto Vallarta to spend time at the Gardens. With a background in medical sales and ongoing volunteer work in Northern California, she brings a strong commitment to governance, financial stewardship, and the continued growth of the Gardens.
Treasurer
Edith Ahern
Edith is a lawyer in the US but mainly retired. She has been active on several boards, including the Newberry Library in Chicago (facilities committee, collections committee, fundraising), the Women’s Board of Rush Hospital (fundraising), Friends of Sulgrave Manor, Sulgrave in the UK (fundraising), the Board of the Montessori School of Lake Forest (President, bylaws chair), and Colonial Dames of America, Washington DC and Chicago (bylaws chair, national codification committee). She has joined the Board of Friends of Vallarta Botanical Garden because it is near and dear to the hearts of her entire family as a place they have all visited and loved and will continue to visit. She has watched the Garden grow into a world class institution and admires its many accomplishments.
Edith is committed to finding a way to make a positive impact through fundraising in the US and to help raise the profile of the Garden among US donors.
Pam Grissom
T.J. Hartung
T.J. is a retired computer systems specialist and systems analyst. He designed computers and wrote computer software to manage hotels. His love for orchids began when he lived in Southern California and started growing Cymbidiums in his yard. For quite a few years, every secretary in the company where he worked received, anonymously, a Cymbidium blossom on Valentine’s Day.
Since retiring to Mexico, he has been rescuing orchids from downed trees and broken limbs before they are eaten by animals or washed down the streams and rivers into the sea. Much of what he knows about orchids he has learned in the laboratory of the great outdoors. The rest comes from online research and numerous books on the subject.
In recent years, he has given talks to orchid societies in the US, Canada, England and Scotland. His book, “Vanilla – The Gift from Mexico that gives Flavor and Aroma to the World” is available to purchase at the Vallarta Botanical Gardens’ gift shop.
Nancy Holland
Damian Maldonado
Damian Maldonado is the Founder and Chief Strategy Advisor for the Collaborative
Strategies Institute, a bilingual and multicultural consulting organization supporting
education, public health, and nonprofit systems. With over 25 years of experience, Damian leads initiatives focused on strategic planning, leadership development, and equity-centered community engagement. His volunteer work spans youth development, education, community health initiatives, and advocacy for
underserved populations.
Damian is honored to join the PV Botanical Gardens Board to support its mission of conservation, education, and cultural enrichment. He sees the Gardens as a living classroom and community sanctuary that reflects the region’s biodiversity
and rich heritage. Through his role, he hopes to strengthen inclusive community partnerships and promote environmental awareness that benefits both local
residents and visitors.
Lupe Patterson
Carl Timothy
Ellen Zagory
Ellen Zagory, MS Plant Science, is a retired horticulturist from Davis, California near
Sacramento. She served at the University of California (UCD) Davis Arboretum and Public
Garden as the Director of Public Horticulture, developing educational programming and
performing outreach for UCD on Sustainable Landscaping, Pollinator Conservation and
Irrigation-Conserving Plants.
Treasurer for the Friends of the Vallarta Botanical Gardens for 16 years, she has recently stepped down but hopes to continue to support the development and support of the Vallarta Botanical Gardens in its efforts toward environmental conservation and education helping people to understand the importance of conserving forests and natural areas and the creatures in them, upon which we all depend.
IRS Forms 990
Read Friends of Vallarta Botanical Gardens A.C.‘s most recent IRS Forms 990 at the links below.
2024 – Form 990
2023 – Form 990
2022 – Form 990
2021 – Form 990
2020 – Form 990
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