Selby Gardens names new board leadership

The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Board of Trustees has elected new leadership and appointed three members to three-year terms.

Katherine Martucci has been named chair and Jeannie Russell vice chair for the 2026 fiscal year. In addition, new board members are Sherry Koski, Kevin O’Donohue and Nikki Sedacca.

Martucci has served on the executive committee of the Garden Club of America, as well as other philanthropic boards and not-for-profit organizations. She previously served on the advisory board of the Northeast Community Center in Millerton, New York, as well as the chair of the board of Children First of Sarasota.

Russell is the former president of the Founders Garden Club of Sarasota, has served on numerous committees of the Garden Club of America and was a member of the Selby Gardens Advisory Committee. She mentors children for Big Brothers and Big Sisters and continues to support numerous philanthropic causes.

“Katherine Martucci has provided valuable insight as a trustee over the past several years, including leadership of our governance committee, and we are fortunate that she will lead our board as we embark on Phase Two of our transformative Master Plan with a groundbreaking ceremony later this year,” said Selby Gardens President and CEO Jennifer Rominiecki in a news release. “Jeannie Russell has also been a vital champion for Selby Gardens, and as a member of our Board of Trustees has helped Selby Gardens advance our mission and vision for the future during this transformative time.”

According to the release, Koski, a former executive, is dedicated to philanthropy with an emphasis on health, children and education. 

O’Donohue has more than 35 years of experience in private equity, finance and management consulting and serves on the boards of several private equity funds. 

Sedacca is an entrepreneur and strategic business leader with more than three decades of experience in fine jewelry design, contemporary art, luxury retail and interior and spatial design. She has served on numerous nonprofit boards and chaired high-impact fundraising events across the arts and education sectors.

“Their combined expertise and their shared commitment to community will serve Selby Gardens well as we continue to grow and expand our mission,” Rominiecki said of the new board members in the release. “Together, they bring a wealth of professional experience and passion for community engagement that aligns with Selby Gardens' focus on plant research, education and conservation.”

Continuing their service on the Board of Trustees are Ali Bahaj, Daniel Ball, Aaron Bellamy, Morgan Bentley, Mary Braxton-Joseph, Hosana Fieber, Renée James Gilmore, Jean Weidner Goldstein, Marcy Klein, Cornelia Matson, Marianne McComb, Keith Monda, Joel Morganroth, Michael Quillen, Audrey Robbins, Richard Sandor, Bruce Sorensen, Margaret Wise and Rominiecki.