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MEDIA RELEASE: Maine Audubon Announces New Executive Director

MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release

January 11, 2016

Contact: Michelle Smith, Communications & Marketing Manager

msmith@maineaudubon.org
(207) 781-2330 x209
Mobile: (207) 838-0511

Ole Amundsen
Ole Amundsen

Falmouth – Maine Audubon announced today the appointment of Ole Amundsen III as its new Executive Director. Amundsen brings more than 25 years of experience in conservation leadership, with a focus on landscape scale conservation, environmental education and finance. Amundsen most recently served as program manager for the national land trust, The Conservation Fund. Amundsen’s entrepreneurial approach to conservation uses market forces to achieve lasting benefits for the environment, balancing conservation and commercial interests.

During his tenure at The Conservation Fund, Amundsen helped communities and nonprofits reach their full potential through strategic planning and investment in trails, farmers’ markets and parks. He has sourced over $20 million in loans to a wide range of conservation groups across the country. One New England example is a $3 million loan to build Boston Public Market, the first completely locally sourced farmers’ market in a major metropolitan area.

Jerry King, President of Maine Audubon’s Board of Trustees, said “I am thrilled that Ole will serve as Maine Audubon’s next Executive Director. As the leading wildlife conservation organization in the state, Maine Audubon is a great match for Ole’s experience as a conservation leader.”

Amundsen also brings a breadth of experience in strategic planning and collaboration. One of his signature achievements was bringing together the land trusts in the Gulf coast to create a vision for land conservation and restoration for the BP settlement funds (after the 2010 oil spill). It was one of the first times that national conservation organizations (National Audubon, The Nature Conservancy, etc.) and local and regional land trusts worked together to create common goals for the conservation of the Gulf coast.

“I am elated to join Maine Audubon,” said Amundsen. “I grew up in northern New England and am passionate about protecting the vital wildlife and habitat in this region.” Amundsen has served on the faculty of Cornell University and the boards of the National Conservation Leadership Network and the Land Trust Alliance. An active outdoors person, Amundsen enjoys hiking and alpine and cross country skiing with his family. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Colby College and a Master of Science degree in City Planning (with a concentration in Environmental Policy) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

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About Maine Audubon

Maine Audubon’s science-based approach to conservation, education and advocacy advances wildlife and wildlife habitat conservation in Maine. Our citizen science programs connect Maine people to engaging volunteer opportunities that make meaningful contributions to conservation research. The largest Maine-based wildlife conservation organization, Maine Audubon has eight centers and wildlife sanctuaries and serves over 50,000 people annually, with 15,000 members and 2,000 volunteers.

Conserving Maine’s wildlife.

Please visit www.maineaudubon1.wpengine.com for more information.

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