Mary Benton is a portrait painter, sculptor, and jewelry designer who put down roots in Miami Shores after 30 years of living all over the world. Concerned by the “business as usual” and “there’s nothing we can do about climate change and sea level rise” attitudes she encountered after moving to South Florida, she founded Bound by Beauty in 2016 with a group of friends as a means of creating paradigm shifts in people by opening their eyes to the beauty and importance of nature through butterflies and the magical process of metamorphosis. Bound by Beauty designs innovative programs to transform neighbors into nurturers of nature and is constantly seeking new ways to open people’s eyes to the importance of conserving vital native flora and fauna in order to pass on to future generations a natural world that can sustain them.

Douglas Barnes is a professional résumé writer and former U.S. diplomat and international consultant with extensive experience in Latin America as well as in East Asia and Europe. Doug spent much of his Foreign Service career working in public diplomacy, promoting international exchange programs and managing relations with the press and public at U.S. embassies and consulates. A lover of nature and driven by concern for our planet’s future, he helped his wife Mary launch Bound by Beauty in 2016 and, as the stodgiest member of the board, was a shoo-in for Chair, a position he has held since January 2020.

Gwen Burzycki is our fashion-conscious Board member. She is also a wetland ecologist and botanist who has spent much of her career in South Florida working in land conservation and restoration. She is an enthusiastic gardener with an environmental focus and recently documented over 100 species of native plants in her yard, along with many species of butterflies and other native and beneficial insects that have never been counted because they won't sit still long enough to allow documentation. In addition to serving on the Bound by Beauty Board, Gwen is also a member of the Dade Chapter Florida Native Plant Society, the Tropical Audubon Society, and several other non-profit organizations that seek to educate the public about the environment that surrounds and supports us and how we can be better stewards. Bound by Beauty is a natural fit for her and she is delighted to serve.

Gwen joined the Board in 2018.

Jennifer Gibbs is a creative thinker and self-starter offering more than 25 years of experience as a professional fundraiser and public relations strategist. She has a proven track record in all areas of fundraising including capital campaigns, major donor and corporate solicitations, grant writing, annual fund drives and special events. She is an award-winning director of marketing and public relations campaigns.

Jennifer’s family, civic and professional roots run deep in the South Florida community. Her grandfather, Alex Gordon, was a former Vice Mayor of Miami-Dade County and a member of the Miami-Dade County Commission.

She has held senior leadership positions for some of South Florida’s most notable non-profit institutions including the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida, South Florida PBS, the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, Planned Parenthood of South, East and North Florida, and is currently the Director of Principal Gifts for the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM).

Jennifer graduated from Wheaton College in Norton, MA, magna cum laude with a BA degree in Art History. She resides in Miami Beach.

Jennifer joined the Board in 2019.

Carol has spent almost 40 years in film/video production. Carol started out in Miami learning line and executive production, moving to post production as a post producer and later general manager of two leading post facilities in town, before opening her own production company, which has been in business now for about 25 years. She has learned to work easily with almost anyone and to build creative, efficient teams. A South Florida gardener from way back, it was not until she met Mary Benton that her interest turned to native plants and pollinators. Now she is very happily removing more ornamentals from her garden each year to provide additional space for the the wildlife we love, as she learns more about our biodiversity.

Carol joined the Board of Bound by Beauty in 2022.

Brought up on 52 acres and spending every spare minute in the field and forest with her brother and dog, Jan learned the value of Ohio hardwood forest ecosystems. With a big dose of Girl Scouts, gardening and family camping as a child and adult, outdoors is her undisputed happy place. Her professional career led her to administration and strategic planning, mostly in healthcare and lately at UM. She is active in the political realm to influence climate-related regulations as well as being active in the women’s movement and her family’s environmental education. She is a member of the Tropical Audubon Society and the Sierra Club. After living most of her life in northern states from Massachusetts to Oregon, transitioning to a South Florida garden 22 years ago was a radical learning endeavor. She is still pulling out non-natives in her landscape and replacing them with beautiful thriving native plants. And still learning!

Jan joined the Board in January 2023.

Susan Howell has loved nature since she was a young girl growing up in Manchester, Connecticut. The pond and woods that were a stone’s throw from the small home in which she grew up, were her sanctuary. 

Susan is a graduate of Barry University and worked for the Federal Government for 26 years, with 22 of those years as a Special Agent with the IRS and The Department of Justice. 

Susan retired at 50, created her own business, MoneyMaestra, and is a money coach, public speaker, and financial educator. Susan focuses on core money skills, money mindset, and how to holistically help people strengthen their relationship with money to get on the path to financial freedom. 

Susan is an avid pollinator gardener and has transformed her once mostly grass yard into a biodiverse pollinator sanctuary. Every day she steps outside her door into the awe and wonder of the natural world. Susan knows part of her purpose is to help reconnect people with nature. 

Susan joined the Board of Bound by Beauty in January 2025.

Patrizia Bonaduce is a real estate attorney and broker with a passion for preservation. She serves as Chair of the Miami Shores Historic Preservation Board, where her commitment to education, engagement, and preservation of the Village’s historic structures have been instrumental in fostering a deeper connection between residents and their heritage. Patrizia was recognized for her tireless dedication to historic preservation with the Dade Heritage Trust Award in 2024. 

Patrizia is the author of the architectural book Miami Shores Beautiful Centennial Houses, which documents the priceless historic and architectural legacy of this parcel of Miami Dade County. Her extensive research in County archives unearthed a rich trove of lost data to illuminate the Village’s history. 

Patrizia’s passion for preservation extends to the cause of conserving our natural environment. She is a Member of the Board of Friends of Biscayne Bay, a non-profit organization supporting the health and prosperity of the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves. Established in 1974, the Aquatic Preserves run the length of Biscayne Bay proper, from the headwaters of the Oleta River down to Card Sound near Key Largo, and encompass roughly 64,607 submerged acres. 

Demonstrating her commitment to the preservation of Biscayne Bay’s shores and lands, Patrizia has adopted two islands within the Aquatic Preserves through Friends of Biscayne Bay’s Adopt-an-Island Program. 

Patrizia joined the Board of Bound by Beauty in January 2025.

Jeffrey grew up in Vermont. After finishing college, he moved to Washington, DC for nearly 20 years and then relocated to Miami in 1998. He worked in the financial services sector serving in various roles over his career of 35 years. Upon an opportunity to enter into retirement from his professional career, he soon found another voice calling him into children’s education and began working at a private school in Miami in 2016. Through mutual friends, he met Mary and Doug several years ago and became intrigued by Mary’s passion for butterflies. 

He joined the Bound By Beauty board in July 2022 and accepted the role of Treasurer.

Edelman Lopez's roots run deep in the Cuban countryside. Born in Ciego de Avila, a small town surrounded by rural land, his childhood was marked by visits to his grandfather's farm. A genetic affinity that has been passed down to him and his brother who is in the nursery business.

sign and working in the field for a time, Edelman pursued a career in healthcare. Yet, his passion for cultivating plants has always remained strong. Transforming his lawn-covered corner home into a lush oasis of mostly South Florida native plants brings him joy. From the comfort of his indoor haven or amidst the outdoor bustle, Edelman delights in watching his garden thrive.

His dream now is to establish a nursery, specializing in native plants, so others can experience the same serenity and connection to nature that he does.

Edelman joined the board in July 2023 and has been Secretary since January 2025.

We are deeply saddened to note the passing of Board Director, Treasurer, and friend, Jeffrey Mathews, on March 14. Jeff gave generously of his time and talents in his time on the board and in his role as Treasurer. We will sorely miss his kindness, warmth, humor, and wisdom.

Jeffrey grew up in Vermont. After finishing college, he moved to Washington, DC for nearly 20 years and then relocated to Miami in 1998. He worked in the financial services sector serving in various roles over his career of 35 years. Upon an opportunity to enter into retirement from his professional career, he soon found another voice calling him into children’s education and began working at a private school in Miami in 2016. Through mutual friends, he met Mary and Doug several years ago and became intrigued by Mary’s passion for butterflies. 

He joined the Bound By Beauty board in July 2022 and accepted the role of Treasurer.