Gateway Greening finds a new leader in Downtown St. Louis Community Developer
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (September 23, 2015) — Gateway Greening, the downtown St. Louis non-profit organization that promotes urban community gardening, has completed its search for a new leader by naming Matt Schindler its new Executive Director. Schindler succeeds Michael Sorth, who led the organization for four years, and is now the Director of Conservation and Community at Great Rivers Greenway.. Gateway Greening has an approximate annual revenue of $1,000,000 and 11 full time and three seasonal employees.
Schindler comes to Gateway Greening after many years with Downtown STL, Inc., (formerly the Partnership for Downtown St. Louis) where he held the position of Director of Community Development. His accomplishments at Downtown STL, Inc. included various initiatives for public improvements, transportation studies, commercial and residential development, and his work with the St. Louis Streetcar Company. His previous work experience includes seven years at the International Institute of St. Louis where he worked in program management and business consulting and development, and time working with the United States Peace Corps,in Gyumri, Armenia.
“I am proud to be joining Gateway Greening. As an organization with a mission to educate and empower the people and communities of St. Louis, I look forward to helping further that mission and expanding Gateway Greening’s reach in the community,” said Schindler. “With a great staff, engaged board, and a tremendous number of volunteers and supporters, Gateway Greening will build upon its great work and continue to improve St. Louis through gardening and urban agriculture. I am looking forward to getting my hands dirty, both figuratively and literally.”
Schindler’s educational background includes a Master of Arts Degree in International Relations from Webster University in St. Louis. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and German with a Minor in Economics from Drury University in Springfield, Mo.
About Gateway Greening
Gateway Greening is a non-profit organization that educates and empowers people to strengthen their communities through gardening and urban agriculture. Gateway Greening has been working to provide creative, grassroots solutions to urban problems since 1984. Programs include supporting more than 200 community and youth-focused gardens across the St. Louis area through educational opportunities, grants and technical assistance; urban beautification projects that enhance the downtown St. Louis urban landscape; and City Seeds Urban Farm, a 2.5 acre farm in downtown St. Louis that provides therapeutic horticulture and jobs training programs to individuals who are homeless and underserved.
For more information on Gateway Greening and its programs visit www.gatewaygreening.org or call 314-588-9600.
Facebook.com/gatewaygreening
@gatewaygreening
@mattschindler