Appalachian Trail Conservancy Announces 2015-17 Board of Directors

    WINCHESTER, VA, July 25, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) is pleased to announce its new board of directors for 2015-17. The election yielded six new members and one new officer, and returned nine incumbents to the 15-member board. The board is responsible for communicating the mission of the ATC, and enhancing the public standing of the ATC by ensuring legal and ethical integrity and practicing fiscal responsibility.

The six incoming board members are highly talented individuals that provide the ATC with a diverse set of skills and backgrounds. Some, like speed hiker Jennifer Pharr Davis, have intimate knowledge of the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) from years of hiking. Others, like Ruben Rosales, Daniel Howe and Norman Findley, not only have hiked the Trail, but also have extensive management and business backgrounds. In addition, the incoming class brings with it an immense amount of knowledge of nonprofit operations. Colleen Peterson's work for Maryland nonprofits led one business newspaper to name her one of the state's Top 100 Women, while Navy man John Noll is heavily involved in outdoors nonprofits. The ATC believes that the board's unique talents will provide a new perspective and fresh ideas on how to keep the A.T. in pristine condition. While the directors come from different backgrounds, they all share a love for the Trail.

"The board of directors' passion, expertise and guidance is critical to the mission of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and the well-being of the Appalachian Trail," said Ron Tipton, executive director/CEO of the ATC. "The board works tirelessly to ensure the organization runs efficiently and has the necessary resources to fulfill its missions. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is very excited about the impact this group will have on the management and protection of the Appalachian Trail."

The 2015 board of directors will provide guidance to the ATC as the organization implements its Strategic Plan. The overarching goals of the Strategic Plan include Proactive Protection, Engaged Partners, Effective Stewardship, Broader Relevancy, and Strengthened Capacity & Operational Excellence. These goals are designed to advance the health and long-term management of the A.T.

New board members are Norman P. Findley, Jennifer Pharr Davis, Daniel A. Howe, John G. Noll, Colleen T. Peterson, and Ruben Rosales. Beth Critton, Edward R. Guyot, Nathaniel Stoddard, Arthur Foley, Mary Higley, Elizabeth Pierce Thompson, Robert E. Hutchinson Jr., Sandra Marra and Greg Winchester will return to the board.

About the Appalachian Trail Conservancy
The ATC was founded in 1925 by volunteers and federal officials working to build a continuous footpath along the Appalachian Mountains. A unit of the National Park System, the A.T. ranges from Maine to Georgia and is approximately 2,190 miles in length. It is the longest hiking-only footpath in the world. The mission of the ATC is to preserve and manage the Appalachian Trail - ensuring that its vast natural beauty and priceless cultural heritage can be shared and enjoyed today, tomorrow, and for centuries to come. For more information, please visit http://www.appalachiantrail.org.

Contact: Javier Folgar
Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Tel: 304.885.0481
Fax: 304.535.2667
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ATHike
Web: http://www.appalachiantrail.org

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