Selby Gardens names new vice president for strategic communications

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens has formally announced the appointment of Nancy Seijas-Kipnis as vice-president for strategic communications and marketing.

Kipnis succeeds Greg Luberecki, who joined the Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation as chief communications and learning officer in September.

Courtesy image

Although her arrival was not formally announced until now, Kipnis spearheaded the marketing and communications strategies for Selby Gardens' Phase One Master Plan expansion, which opened in January.

The $52 million project included a new parking structure called the Living Energy Access Facility, a new restaurant and gift shop, an open-air welcome center and upgraded research and office facilities.

Kipnis has also promoted Selby Gardens' 50th anniversary season, including the exhibition "Yayoi Kusama: A Letter to Georgia O'Keefe" and the outdoor show of landscape photographer Clyde Butcher at Historic Spanish Point in Osprey. 

Prior to joining Selby Gardens, Kipnis was an active participant in the development of the Tampa Museum of Art, where she worked for more than a decade. 

Through her namesake PR and marketing firm, NK-92 LLC, Kipnis has worked with numerous public and private organizations that have helped revitalize downtown Tampa. Her experience spans arts and culture, government, urban revitalization, culinary arts and lifestyle brands.

"Nancy brings tremendous energy to our team, and her insight and knowledge is inspirational, especially in strengthening and directing Selby Gardens' global positioning as one of the world's preeminent botanical research and garden complexes," said Selby Gardens President and CEO Jennifer Rominiecki in a statement. 

During Kipnis's relatively brief tenure, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens placed third in USA Today's Readers' Choice Awards contest for the 10 Best Botanical Gardens in the United States.

In addition to promoting Selby Gardens, Kipnis helps call attention to the accomplishments of its leadership team, including Rominiecki. 

On May 14, Visit Sarasota County, the regional tourism organization, will honor Rominiecki with the 2024 Voice of Sarasota Award. The designation is presented annually to an individual whose efforts have enhanced Sarasota County as a tourism destination.

After joining Selby Gardens in 2015, Rominiecki converted it to The Living Museum model, which has increased membership by 128% and overall earned revenues by 135%.