Photo of new Executive Director Jill Eldredge and her husband John, taken while cross country skiing on Mendum’s Pond in Barrington, where they live.
MMRG is pleased to announce that Jillian Eldredge of Barrington, NH has been hired as the new Executive Director. She started the job on November 7.
“We are genuinely thrilled to be announcing Jillian Eldredge as our new Executive Director. We have made tremendous progress toward our mission, and our goal was to find someone with the experience and leadership skills to take our organization to the next level,” said Nicole Csiszer, MMRG Board Chair. “Jill’s energy and enthusiasm, coupled with her nonprofit experience, will greatly benefit the mission and the vision of MMRG.”
From 2015 through early 2019, Jill served as Director of Programs at Seacoast Eat Local in Dover, NH where she expanded the organization’s programs, partners, and reach. In 2016, she won a Catapult Seacoast “10 to Watch” Young Professionals Award. Her qualifications include a Master’s degree from Harvard University Graduate School of Education and Bachelor of Arts, Summa Cum Laude from Wheaton College.
“Over the past several years, I’ve closely watched as MMRG has grown and have been impressed with its accomplishments.” said Jill. “I want to streamline how the organization works so it can accomplish its goals even more effectively.” She added, “I look forward to getting to know the MMRG community: the landowners, members, volunteers, the supporters who attend all these great outreach events, and all the dedicated Board and staff.”
Jill succeeds Interim Executive Director (ED) Dan Coons, who stepped in when Patti Connaughton-Burns resigned last March after three years as Executive Director. Csiszer expressed her thanks to Dan: “We are grateful that Dan stepped up when he was needed. With Dan leading us during our time of transition, we were able to move forward without missing a beat and continue to focus on the important mission and goals of the Land Trust.”
Jill joins several MMRG part-time staff, including Office Manager Amy Gardner, Educational Outreach Coordinator Kari Lygren, and Public Relations Coordinator Virginia Long. As Executive Director, she will work with a dedicated volunteer Board of Directors: Cynthia Wyatt and Jonathan Nute of Milton, Nancy Spencer Smith of Wakefield, Nicole Csiszer of Brookfield, Art Slocum and Dan Coons of Wolfeboro, Lorrie Drake and Ron Gehl of New Durham, and Wendy Scribner, Kam Damtoft, Ian Whitmore and Peter Goodwin, At-Large.