By Khalida Sarwari
Lon Saavedra has stepped down after 16 years as the founding CEO and executive director of the Hakone Foundation.
Saavedra left Dec. 8 to begin his own consulting practice and take time off to travel.
“After 16 [years] serving as the founding CEO of the Hakone Foundation and overseeing a growing and ever more complicated operation with a vast array of constituencies, I have truly enjoyed the new year and [am taking] the time to explore the many opportunities that have been presented,” Saavedra said. “I will always be devoted to Hakone’s future and provide support and assistance to my many friends throughout Hakone’s large community.”
Prior to Saavedra’s reign, Hakone was operated as a city park and overseen by a municipal commission appointed by the city council. Saratoga Mayor Howard Miller credited Saavedra with many of the improvements at Hakone.
“He was a huge and tremendous asset to the early days of the Hakone Foundation,” Miller said. “I am proud of all that Hakone has done and I think Lon was a driving force behind a lot of the work.”
Throughout his tenure, Saavedra served with 12 mayors, worked in partnership with eight Japanese consul generals from the Japanese Consulate in San Francisco and seven Hakone board chairs. He indicated he is proud of his role in helping raise Hakone’s stature as a heritage site and a renowned cultural center for art, music and as a botanical and architectural masterpiece that over the years has hosted the celebrations of cultures from throughout the world.
“We have made enormous strides in establishing Hakone as a global cultural venue and premier Bay Area destination site,” he said. “With everything we have accomplished in the past 16 years it was time to step away.”
Saavedra’s resignation coincides with plans to construct two new buildings at the gardens, a process that is being overseen by the city. The plan was initially set in motion in 2006 when the city provided a $250,000 challenge grant to the Hakone Foundation to put together a master plan for the construction of a retreat center, tearoom and gift store
adjacent to the gardens. An agreement was signed with the Portico Group last year to begin a process that is expected to last through 2016. Hakone leaders say the additional buildings would make Hakone a year-round destination.
On Feb. 10, the city held the first of several planned workshops to gather input from residents about their vision and goals for the master plan. Consultants will use the master plan as a technical and aesthetic guideline as they attempt to renovate the gardens.
While he was sad to see Saavedra go, Miller said he also feels it is time for a change in Hakone’s leadership. He said he hopes Saavedra’s successor, whomever the foundation hires, will build on Saavedra’s work.
“Now we’re at a time where we’re talking about the future of Hakone, and it turns out that future will include a new leader,” Miller said. “It’s a new chapter for Hakone.”
