Audubon International announced that Frank LaVardera, director of environmental programs for golf, will retire June 26 after 45 years as a respected leader in environmental project consultation and planning.
Under his leadership, the organization’s flagship Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf continued to grow, adding members around the world – private, public, and resort golf courses whose superintendents and crews took on the demanding challenge to achieve and maintain certification for their environmental best practices. LaVardera also helped direct membership growth in Audubon International’s Signature and Classic Sanctuary programs, and in 2023 helped introduce the comprehensive Signature Sanctuary Platinum level for new and redesigned golf courses, as well as their clubhouses and lodging/hospitality components. He has helped train the organization’s next generation of environmental specialists.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my years with Audubon International,” LaVardera said. “The opportunity to work with golf course superintendents and other invested stakeholders implementing environmentally sustainable practices was very rewarding. I greatly appreciate their hard work and dedication regarding the environment. I also enjoyed working with our younger staff members. It is inspiring to see a new generation this is passionately pursuing environmental conservation.”
Christine Kane, Audubon International CEO, says she recognized LaVardera’s deep resume and wide-ranging private sector experience when he applied for the position.
“Frank was key to our mission of helping more golf courses than ever reach their sustainability goals,” Kane said. “He set a high bar for work ethic, attention to detail, program follow-through, and establishing strong and trusting relationships with our members as they worked toward certification or recertification. His example will be followed by his successor, and everyone else in our organization, for years to come.”
“Working with Frank over the years, first as a participant in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary for Golf, and later as a board member, has been a pleasure,” Connecticut’s Fairview Country Club superintendent and current Audubon International board member Jim Pavonetti said. “Frank has always been thoughtful and helpful when working through re-certification, offering his expertise and advice. Frank has been a great ambassador for the golf program, and he will be deeply missed at Audubon International.”
LaVardera brought extensive experience to Audubon International, including decades as a principal partner in a private environmental consultant firm. He worked on a wide range of projects – preparation of environmental resource plans, stormwater management plans, best management practices plans, and wildlife habitat assessments. He also worked on several golf course improvement projects for the U.S. Navy. By any measure it was a fulfilling and impressive career, but his time at Audubon International proved a richly rewarding coda.
“Coming into this job, I knew the environmental science and planning side very well, but other than playing golf, I didn’t know much about what golf course superintendents did for the environment,” LaVardera said. “For the first year I had my eyes and ears open and realized quickly what stewards of the environment they are. They are very dedicated to what they do and have personal relationships with their properties. They see the wildlife, the trees, the flowers. They take pride in all of it. I have truly enjoyed working with them. I have also loved passing along my experience and knowledge to our specialists.”