Meet the new Executive Director of the Greater Lovell Land Trust!

After a thoughtful search, we are thrilled to announce that Erika Rowland has accepted the position of Executive Director of the Greater Lovell Land Trust.

Erika currently serves as Lands Transaction & Stewardship Manager for the Upper Saco Valley Land Trust. She plans to maintain her connection with USVLT by remaining on their Land Committee.

Her professional and personal achievements reveal she is a visionary, yet humble leader with a resolute commitment to forward thinking initiatives in the conservation community.

She brings two decades of experience in the Land Trust movement, great academic credentials including a PhD in forest resources from the University of Maine, an education program background, and extensive work on climate change issues at both a local and national level.

Additionally, Erika is well versed in grant proposal development and budget management. With her knowledge of the area, and connections to the people and personalities in the region and beyond, she will be ready to hit the ground fast on our mission work.

“I look forward to focusing my work in Maine, the place where I have spent the majority of my life,” says Erika. “My conservation career is anchored in a strong science background in forest ecology, natural resources, and climate change. I have worked in land protection roles and overseen stewardship for two Land Trust Alliance-accredited land trusts in Maine. In addition, I have been involved in all steps of land transactions and understand the implications for stewardship and the associated landowner relationships. Partnerships and collaborations have been a key component of my work over the years, and I hope to apply this skill set in my work with GLLT.”

She and her husband, Karl Cowan, make their home in Bridgton, with their son, Samuel, a recent graduate of Lake Region High School, and daughter, Eleanor, a current Lake Region HS student. An avid outdoors person, Erika especially enjoys skiing and running.

Erika comes to us with the strong belief that conservation is about people and place, and that outcomes cannot be realized without engaging the community, understanding community values, and fostering the relationships that underpin them.

As Executive Director, Erika will be responsible for working with the Board, overseeing day-to-day operations, development, and financial management, and most importantly engaging with you, our members.

We cannot wait to introduce you to Erika at the Annual Meeting on August 10. Join us for a meet and greet at 8:30 am at the VFW hall on Smarts Hill Road.

Jill Rundle, GLLT Board President, who has served as the Acting Executive Director for over a year, says, “We look forward to welcoming Erika to our community, and know that she will bring strong leadership, success and caring to our extraordinary organization.”

Erika will begin her new role as Executive Director on August 1, 2019.