Heart of the Lakes Announces Leadership Transition
Glen Chown, Board Chair of Heart of the Lakes Center for Land Conservation, announced today that Rachel Kuntzsch has transitioned from Executive Director of Heart of the Lakes, a role she has held for six years, to serve as an advisor to the organization. Julie Stoneman, Associate Director, has been named Interim Executive Director. Heart of the Lakes is the statewide association of Michigan’s nonprofit land conservancies.
September 7, 2012
By Heart of the Lakes
Glen Chown, Board Chair of Heart of the Lakes Center for Land Conservation, announced today that Rachel Kuntzsch has transitioned from Executive Director of Heart of the Lakes, a role she has held for six years, to serve as an advisor to the organization. Julie Stoneman, Associate Director, has been named Interim Executive Director. Heart of the Lakes is the statewide association of Michigan’s nonprofit land conservancies.
“On behalf of land conservancies and millions who benefit from conserved lands throughout Michigan, I want to express our gratitude to Rachel for steering Heart of the Lakes to become a force and voice for land conservation,” Chown said. “We just cannot thank Rachel enough for all the tremendous contributions she has made to the land conservancy community in Michigan and we are very pleased that she will still be engaged in our work.”
“It has been great to work with Michigan’s land conservancies as I passionately believe in their work and in Heart of the Lakes,” said Kuntzsch. “But I am also excited to turn my attention and focus to growing my consulting business, Kuntzsch Business Services, Inc. (KBS). Unfortunately, I just cannot do both effectively, but I am very happy to continue to support this great organization.”
As Heart of the Lakes begins a search for a new Executive Director, Chown said the Board will work with Stoneman in coming months along with member conservancies and other partners to strengthen the links between land conservation and the state’s prosperity. One focus of Heart of the Lakes will be to help Michigan’s 28 conservancies partner with communities on new economic development initiatives.
“Julie, along with the Heart of the Lakes’ board and member conservancies, will ensure that Michigan’s sweet spot for our quality of life and economic well-being—our conserved lands—are recognized, respected and used to harness their full potential. Land conservation in many ways is what makes Pure Michigan a brand that endures,” Chown concluded.
