STEPHANIE MEEKS NAMED 8TH PRESIDENT OF NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION

On behalf of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s board of trustees, I am very pleased to tell you that Stephanie Meeks, an experienced non-profit leader, has accepted our invitation to become the Trust’s eighth president. The board voted yesterday to approve the unanimous recommendation of the search committee, which I have been privileged to chair, and this morning I had the pleasure of introducing her to the staff here in Washington. All of us who have met Stephanie believe she is the ideal person to lead the organization at this critical point in its history. Her long-time membership in the Trust and unmistakable passion for our work, combined with impressive experience in leading large organizations that are complex and stewardship-driven, equips her superbly to take the Trust to the next level of effectiveness. We are all enthusiastic about working with her in the years ahead. Stephanie currently serves as president and CEO of Counterpart International, a $110 million development organization operating in 25 countries. She earlier spent 18 years at The Nature Conservancy, one of the largest and most influential conservation organizations in the world where she held a number of leadership positions including chief operating officer and, for nearly a year, acting president and CEO. Among other things, she led the three largest capital campaigns in the history of the conservation movement, one of them raising $1.6 billion. Her complete bio can be found here, but you should know that the references and recommendations we received on her were absolutely stellar. Her academic background includes a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado and an M.B.A. from George Washington University. Stephanie, 45, lives with her husband and three children in Falls Church, Virginia but hails from Colorado. I want to share with you a statement that she issued earlier today. “It is with great enthusiasm and respect,” she said, “that I look forward to joining the National Trust for Historic Preservation next month. It is an important organization with an important mission, and I enthusiastically embrace the opportunity to build on the remarkable foundation laid by Richard Moe over the past seventeen years. Holding true to the values of preserving the nation’s heritage, I hope to expand upon his work to broaden the reach of the Trust to encompass the protection of consequential places at the heart of all of our communities. At this time in our history, we have an opportunity – and a need – to embrace what makes our individual communities unique and authentic and celebrate and preserve those qualities.” Earlier today, outgoing President Richard Moe said he shares the excitement and enthusiasm surrounding Stephanie’s election: “She has the perfect combination of talents and experiences to lead the Trust and the preservation movement toward greater impact and relevance, particularly in areas like sustainability and economic development. She and the Trust clearly have many shared values, and I look forward to working closely with her on the transition in the months ahead. I congratulate the search committee and the board for making such a superb choice, and I ask everyone in the Trust family of friends to give Stephanie the same support you have given me, and even more. Believe me, the possibilities for the National Trust and for historic preservation are unlimited.” Stephanie will assume office at the Trust in July. I know we all look forward to welcoming her to the Trust family. Cliff Hudson is the chairman of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.