The Land Trust for Tennessee’s board of directors voted to appoint Liz McLaurin as CEO at the board’s annual meeting on May 5. McLaurin adds the duties of CEO to her current role as president – an office she has held since July 1, 2015. The Land Trust’s founder, Jeanie Nelson, announced her plan to step down as CEO in April 2015.
“I’m honored to assume the leadership of this organization at a time of unprecedented growth and interest in conservation,” McLaurin said. “When able, The Land Trust responds quickly if development threatens a special place. However, we also keep the big picture in focus. We are called to protect our farms, wildlife habitat, land in critical watersheds, and places that capture the spirit of rural communities before there is an imminent threat. Thanks to great leadership and generosity, The Land Trust is increasing the pace at which it’s conserving land — forever protecting what makes Tennessee the place we love to call home.”
“Open landscapes have a way of connecting people and important stories,” said Aubrey Preston, the organization’s first conservation easement donor and an entrepreneur most recently known for saving the historic Studio A. “Liz gets it. We’re excited about working with her.”
McLaurin is a graduate of The University of the South, and has been instrumental in a number of successful Land Trust initiatives, including the expansion of the organization’s work throughout the state, the revitalization of Glen Leven Farm, and the establishment of the Jeanie Nelson Conservation Legacy Fund. During McLaurin’s tenure as president, the organization surpassed the milestone of over 100,000 acres of protected land and began implementing the new strategic plan she spearheaded with organizational leaders.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the organization grow in the hands of Liz McLaurin and her team, seeded by the 16 years of Jeanie Nelson’s dedicated leadership,” said Mark Manner, chairman of The Land Trust’s board of directors. “In her time as president, Liz and the staff have laid the ground work for what promises to be the organization’s most productive conservation year on record.”
Source: The Land Trust for Tennessee