[PCA] New England Wild Flower Society Names New Executive Director

[Steven Ziglar]

Olivia Kwong

, 

 

Dear Olivia,

 

New England Wild Flower Society is proud to announce the appointment of its new Executive Director Debra Edelstein. Below is the press release and some biographical information on Debbi, who started work today at Society headquarters at Garden in the Woods, Framingham, MA. 

 

Cordially,

 

Steven Ziglar

Marketing and Public Relations Manager

New England Wild Flower Society

sziglar at newenglandwild.org

508-877-7630, ext 3503

 

Contact: Steven Ziglar

    Marketing and Public Relations Manager

    508-877-7630, ext. 3503

    sziglar at newenglandwild.org

Image available

 

2/17/09

 

News for Immediate Release


Debra Edelstein Joins New England Wild Flower Society as Executive Director

 

Framingham, MA - New England Wild Flower Society announced today the appointment of Debra Edelstein as its Executive Director. Society Board of Trustees Chair Frances H. Clark stated, "The Board of Trustees is delighted to welcome Debbi as the new leader of New England Wild Flower Society. She brings a deep commitment to conservation and a breadth of experience in managing non-profit organizations. We were impressed by her enthusiasm, expertise, and creativity and voted unanimously for her to lead us in the challenge and excitement of these coming years. The native plants will thrive under her charge." 

Edelstein starts February 17 and will manage the Society's headquarters and staff at the 45-acre botanical museum Garden in the Woods, Framingham; Nasami Farm and Sanctuary, Whatley; conservation programs; education programs; and ten sanctuaries located throughout New England.

 

In her most recent position at NESCAUM, the regional organization that provides scientific and policy expertise to the air agencies of the eight Northeastern states, she established a new collaborative effort by the states and the US EPA to reduce diesel emissions, secured $15 million in new project funding, created industry workgroups and multi-state task forces, and organized successful public workshops. 

 

As Vice President and Executive Director of National Audubon Society/Audubon Washington, she published the country's first "State of the Birds" report, garnered a unanimous legislative vote for a first-in-the-nation state law adopting Audubon's Important Bird Areas into the Natural Heritage Database used for land use and management decisions on both public and private land, produced the first "State of Environmental Education" report at the request of the Washington legislature, and provided fiscal stability to Audubon Washington.

 

As Bioreserve Project Manager for The Trustees of Reservations, she led the Trustees' role in creating the 13,600-acre Southeastern Massachusetts Bioreserve, the Commonwealth's largest land-protection project. 

 

She has also been a consultant offering environmental planning, education, and communication services, a marketing director, editor, and writer. She holds a MCP (Master in City Planning) in Environmental Policy and Planning from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and an AB in English from Bryn Mawr College. 

 

"We look forward to an exciting, extended period of leadership by Debra Edelstein. She is poised to take the next steps to bring New England Wild Flower Society to even greater heights of national awareness, while realizing our conservation mission, horticultural interests, and educational prowess," concluded Board of Trustees Chair Clark. 

 

Founded in 1900, New England Wild Flower Society is America's oldest native plant conservation organization, promoting the conservation of temperate North American flora through education, research, horticulture, habitat preservation, and advocacy. The Society's vision is a future where vigorous native plant populations live in healthy, balanced, natural ecosystems-protected, enjoyed, and beneficial to all life.

 

-END- 

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.plantconservation.org/pipermail/native-plants_lists.plantconservation.org/attachments/20090217/5faa6348/attachment.html>