CPC Elects new Officers and adds four new members to their Board

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Harrisburg, PA, February 1, 2007 — Having served for over fourteen years as President of the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy, Carol Witzeman has stepped down with the election of Craig Dunn as the new President at the annual meeting held January 31, 2007. During her tenure as President, the Conservancy has directly protected just under 3,000 acres of land in an eight-county local region and indirectly assisted in hundreds more. Carol has taken this local land trust from a volunteer-run organization to a professional paid staff of three. Partnerships have been forged with state agencies, watershed groups, sportsmen organizations, hiking clubs, and other conservation-minded organizations during her term. For many Carol has been the name and face of the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy. She remains on the board with her term expiring in October of this year.

Craig Dunn has served on the board for numerous years and has recently retired as Sr. Vice President & Trust Officer of PNC Bank, allowing him more time to dedicate to CPC’s mission. Craig is also a co-founder of the Trust for Appalachian Trail Lands; past director of the Appalachian Trail Conference; Vice President of Cumberland Valley Appalachian Trail Management Association; Chair of Budget & Finance for Keystone Trails Association; and serves as CPC’s Budget & Finance Chair.

Also elected are: Todd Brajkovich who will serve as CPC’s Vice President and is currently the Manager for Perry County Conservation District. He also serves on CPC’s Land Protection Committee; Walt Pomeroy was re-elected as Secretary for the organization. Walt is the former NE Director for the National Audubon Society; Also re-elected was Brian D. Straub, CPA, a partner in Waggoner, Fruitiger & Daub. Brian will serve as CPC’s Treasurer.

In addition to the election of new officers, four new individuals were elected to serve on the Board of Directors for a three-year term:

• Jane Earle, Silver Spring Township – biologist and expert in aquatic invertebrates, retired from the Department of Environmental Protection and serves on the Conodoguinet Creek Watershed Association
• Geralyn M. Umstead-Singer, Hummelstown – previously served as Director of Communications for the Department of Conservation & Natural Resources and served on the Clifford L. Jones Conservationist of the Year Banquet Steering Committee
• Dr. Robert L. Thompson, Carlisle – retired Ophthalmologist. Habitat manager at Tumbling Run Preserve; Certified PA Forest Steward; Co-founder, Cumberland Woodland Owners Assoc.; Former director, Dickinson Township Parks & Recreation Board;  Board of Directors, Future of Cumberland County Agriculture; Board of Directors, Cumberland Valley Trout Unlimited
• Eric Edstrom, Boiling Springs – retired First Union National Bank (Wachovia) as Vice President/Relationship Manager; Financial Secretary of Safe Harbour House; Board President of Boiling Springs Civic Association; Board President Cumberland Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited

The Conservancy has become a mature organization, and these individuals will lead us to a new level of recognition and responsibility in our role of conserving and stewarding the 3,000 acres we have under protection. They share in our passion for land conservation, and their business expertise, technical knowledge and communication skills will be invaluable as we establish the Conservancy as the premier land trust in the central Pennsylvania region. If you would like more information on the Conservancy, or if you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact Debbie Bowman at (717) 233-0221 or dbowman@centralpaconservancy.org.

Celebrating a 25 year history, the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy is a regional non-profit, charitable land trust dedicated to preserving the land, water and wildlife resources of central PA to sustain our region’s health, natural beauty and ecological diversity now and into the future. The Conservancy serves: Cumberland; Dauphin; Franklin; Huntingdon; Juniata; Mifflin; Perry; and Snyder counties. Within that area, CPC is focused on the protection of the Kittatinny Ridge (known locally as Blue Mountain), agricultural preservation, watershed conservation and riparian protection, sustainable development, and culturally important areas with historical or recreational significance. CPC is dedicated to preserving Central Pennsylvania's natural beauty. Through our efforts and the support of our members we have preserved thousands of acres of land for future generations.