The Norcross Wildlife Foundation Board of Directors is delighted to announce that J. Edward Hood will step into the role of Executive Director on September 1, 2020. Mr. Hood will lead the dedicated staff and volunteers of the Foundation, working alongside the Board to usher in a new era of growth and impact for the organization.
Elizabeth Austin, Chair of the Board of Directors, described the appointment as a major milestone in the Foundation’s history: “Ed brings tremendous expertise in land conservation, a keen understanding of sustainable stewardship practices, and extensive experience in developing educational programming for the public” she said. “We are thrilled to have him at the helm, and look forward to collaborating with him to take the Foundation forward in new and exciting ways.
Mr. Hood has nearly 30 years of progressive experience leading teams and organizations that invite the public to engage with nature, history, and culture through a variety programs and activities. Since 2014, he has served as the first Executive Director of the Opacum Land Trust, where he oversaw a doubling of both acres protected and the organizational budget. During the previous 25 years, Mr. Hood served in progressive leadership roles at Old Sturbridge Village. In service of Norcross’s mission, Mr. Hood will leverage his existing regional network, including the MassConn Sustainable Forest Partnership, a consortium of 30 conservation organizations working in south-central Massachusetts and northeastern Connecticut, which he has coordinated since 2014.
“I immediately fell in love with this region when I moved here in 1985,” said Mr. Hood, “and have spent my career studying and preserving its history, archaeology, landscape and environment. The opportunity to lead the Norcross Wildlife Foundation will be an awesome, thrilling, and humbling experience. I very much look forward to working with the staff, board of directors and regional partners in this effort.”
