Q&A with new PHS chief Drew Becher: 'It's just very flattering'
On Feb. 10, just weeks before the 2010 Philadelphia International Flower Show was scheduled to open, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society announced that Drew Becher will succeed President Jane Pepper, who has held the title since 1985. Becher, executive director of the New York Restoration Project, starts as PHS president-elect in March.
On Feb. 10, just weeks before the 2010 Philadelphia International Flower Show was scheduled to open, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society announced that Drew Becher will succeed President Jane Pepper, who has held the title since 1985. Becher, executive director of the New York Restoration Project, starts as PHS president-elect in March.
Q. What were your initial thoughts when you learned you were a candidate for the PHS job?
A. I was thrilled. I mean, this is a job that I had been looking at basically for the last 15 years of my career because I had always looked when I was working for Mayor Daley in Chicago and then in D.C. and New York. I was always looking at PHS and what they were doing because they've always been leaders in greening, landscapes and horticulture.
Q. What is your involvement going to be in this year's flower show?
A. I will be there full time, starting at the chairman's dinner through the preview party, and then I'll be there every single day.
I've always seen it from the other side. I can't wait to see how it all comes together.
Q. What are your plans for PHS?
A. I really want to focus on the marquee program, Philadelphia Green, and expand that and community gardening - really take that to the next level.
Q. Are there New York Restoration Project programs or initiatives that you want to bring to Philadelphia?
A. I know there's a tree-planting program [here], TreeVitalize. I really want to focus on that. We did MillionTreesNYC in New York, and I think that communities rallying around planting trees is just a win-win-win.
Q. Of your professional work thus far, what are you most proud of?
A. I would say MillionTreesNYC is great, but actually what I'm most proud of is in Chicago when we did the paradigm shift and created the idea that parks and open spaces were important, and people actually focused on the landscape and greening in Chicago.
People now think it's a necessity not a nicety, and it's something that's really important.
Q. While working with NYRP, you increased funding by 250 percent and raised $6 million for revitalization programs. What funding goals do you have for Philadelphia?
A. I'm going to set my sights high. PHS is the greening organization in this nation, and I think that Philadelphia should be the city that, when people talk about sustainability and greening and horticulture and landscape architecture, Philadelphia should be up there with the Seattles and Chicagos. With that will come the funding.
Q. How do you feel about taking over for Jane Pepper, who has such a legacy in Philadelphia?
A. I am honored to be chosen as the person to succeed Jane because I have just been in awe of what she's been able to do. For actually all of my career so far she's been in charge of PHS. It's just very flattering.