Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden has named Gary Doubrava Jr. as its new chief financial officer and Christie Eckler as its new chief advancement officer.

Doubrava will be responsible for the financial, accounting, and audit operations of the garden and the Dallas Arboretum Foundation. A member of the executive team, Doubrava also will supervise the accounting, informational technology, and facilities teams.

“Gary offers the perfect blend of public and nonprofit accounting experience, management of people and departments and comes from a garden background,” Sabina Carr, Dallas Arboretum president and CEO, said in a statement. “We look forward to his contributions in helping us grow our $32 million garden.”

Doubrava said he’s excited about his new role.

“My prior experience as CFO at the Atlanta Botanical Garden makes me a perfect fit for this role. It’s an exciting opportunity to get back into the garden world especially as the Dallas Arboretum is a jewel in our region,” Doubrava said.

A relational approach to fundraising

Dallas Arboretum said that Eckler has 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, and has been a catalyst for community groups, clients, and teams on numerous successful campaigns, raising more than $100 million in support for various causes across Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Her approach to fundraising centers around meaningful relationships.

Beyond her fundraising abilities, Eckler is known for her expertise in human behavior and transformational leadership and management. With a background in social work, she possesses a unique insight into what motivates individuals to support causes they believe in, the Arboretum said. This deep understanding allows her to tailor strategies that align with donors’ legacies and supporting the organization in fostering lasting relationships and driving sustainable growth.

“I joined the Dallas Arboretum as an advisor and quickly realized I wanted to partner with this dynamic CEO, Sabina Carr, in a more significant way and support her in reaching the vision she has to build on the existing excellence of this unique and precious asset in the Dallas community,” Eckler said. “It’s an honor to step into this new role for Dallas Arboretum and be a part of such unique and innovative team of ambassadors.”

Eckler emphasized it is Carr’s approach to leadership and her expertise in public gardens that attracted her to taking on this role.

“With her proven track record in fundraising and innate ability to drive meaningful results,” Carr said of Eckler, “she is poised to drive our advancement efforts to new heights and make a transformative impact on our organization and the communities we serve.”

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