New Leadership Announcements from Coalition Partner Organizations
Preservation Massachusetts and The Trustees both announced big changes to their executive staff this week, continuing a year of exciting announcements from organizational members on the Coalition's Steering Committee. Preservation Massachusetts announced that the organization's Associate Director Erin Kelly will be promoted to the role of Executive Director on January 1, 2022. Meanwhile, the Trustees also released a newsletter letting their members know that John Judge, who previously led the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), has been named as The Trustees’ 5th President and CEO.
Erin Kelly (pictured with Stuart Saginor from the Coalition) has been with Preservation Massachusetts since 2004 and has overseen the organization's fundraising, program activity, policy work, and strategic growth, as well as frequently assisting and participating in the Coalition's historic preservation efforts. Jim Igoe, the longtime Executive Director for Preservation Mass, emphasized Erin's role in the historic preservation community during the announcement.
"Erin has been with the organization almost as long as I have. She will be an outstanding leader, and she has my full support."
As a part of the transition, Jim will be continuing to work for Preservation Massachusetts as its Policy and Legislative Consultant.
When The Trustees' Board of Directors made their announcement, they described how John Judge's conservation leadership, climate change research, and community engagement efforts at AMC made him a perfect fit for the leader of the organization.
"We were especially impressed with John’s work to build partnerships in cities, his focused approach to inviting all communities to the outdoors, and his concept of outdoor citizenship."
In the same announcement, the Board also thanked Jocelyn Forbush, who had been serving as Acting President and CEO since the sudden passing of the previous president, Barbara Erickson, at the beginning of this year.
Preservation Massachusetts was one of five non-profit organizations that originally founded the Community Preservation Coalition, and just few years later, the Trustees joined the Coalition in 2007. Since then, both organizations have been invaluable allies in the Coalition's efforts to promote the statewide CPA program, resulting in 6,300 historic preservation projects and the protection of 32,566 acres of open space over the last 20 years. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the new leaders of both of these organizations in order to help municipalities understand, adopt, and implement the Community Preservation Act.
Preservation Massachusetts was established in 1985 as a statewide non-profit organization that actively promotes the preservation of historic buildings and landscapes. Their goals are to promote historic preservation as a positive force for economic development and the retention of community character. In keeping with that mission, the organization works in partnership with national, state, and local organizations and individuals across the Commonwealth to advance the understanding, appreciation, and utilization of the state's historic built and natural landscapes.
Founded by landscape architect Charles Eliot in 1891, The Trustees is the nation’s first and Massachusetts’ largest preservation and conservation nonprofit. The Trustees cares for more than 100 sites across Massachusetts, protecting nearly 27,000 acres of open space in the process. Each year, more than 2 million people visit their reservations and participate in their programs and events. For over 125 years, the organization has committed to preserving the Commonwealth’s landscapes and keeping open space accessible for everyone.