PORT TOWNSEND — Conservationist Richard Tucker, the new executive director of the Jefferson Land Trust, is beginning work on a strategic plan for the next three to five years.
Tucker, who brings more than 25 years of experience in conservation and organizational operations to the land trust, began work June 29.
“I consider the Northwest my home and always intended to come back,” Tucker said.
“When I saw this position opening at Jefferson Land Trust, I saw it was the perfect opportunity to come back to the place my heart is.”
New transitional role
He fills the position opened by the transition of past Executive Director Sarah Spaeth to a new role as director of conservation and strategic partnerships for the Jefferson Land Trust.
“I’m excited to be concentrating my energy on the exciting projects and partnerships that make our work so successful,” Spaeth said.
“We have amazing conservation opportunities right now that require my full time and expertise.”
Through a strategic planning process, the land trust will develop its priorities and game plan for the next three to five years, Tucker said.
Will seek input
“I’ll be coming to the community this summer for advice and input into how we can do the best job possible preserving what our community loves about Jefferson County,” he said.
Tucker has a bachelor’s and juris doctor degree from Florida State University and a Master of Public Administration in coastal resources management from the University of West Florida.
Tucker’s professional life began with his participation in the creation of the Escambia Bay Bluffs Park as a city planner in Pensacola, Fla.
After moving to the Northwest almost 30 years ago, he worked for Puget Sound Water Quality Authority, then spent 15 years in King County, where he managed conservation programs.
He managed three watershed teams working on salmon recovery projects in Central Puget Sound and developed the King County Public Benefit Rating System, which has protected more than 8,000 acres through landowner incentives to date.
Family needs took him south 10 years ago.
Tucker worked as associate state director for the Trust for Public Land in Georgia, director of operations for the Nature Conservancy of Alabama and chief operating officer for the Freshwater Land Trust in Birmingham, Ala.
Tucker also is a trained mediator who has taught courses on conflict resolution, law and ethics, human rights and issues surrounding death and dying as an adjunct professor for Western Washington University.
He taught a semester of environmental law and environmental impact assessment at the Far Eastern State University in Vladivostok, Russia.
Land trust growth
Now in its 26th year of working to preserve open space, working lands and habitat, the Jefferson Land Trust has grown since its inception as an all-volunteer organization.
The land trust’s first full-time development director, Chris Clark, was hired earlier this year.
The restructuring was supported through a three-year capacity building grant from the Satterberg Foundation.
