WALDOBORO — Medomak Valley Land Trust (MVLT) warmly welcomes Daniel Ungier as its new executive director beginning Feb. 1. Ungier brings a diverse range of nonprofit management, conservation, and community development experience to MVLT, in a news release. In the 12 twelve years, he has lived in Alaska, Senegal, and many points in between. He has taught children about water quality aboard the sloop Clearwater, one of the nation's first educational tall sailing ships, and he has trimmed prairie grasses and measured tree circumferences as part of long-term ecological research in the Midwest.



For the last six years, Ungier has been based in Portland, serving as the Director of Farmer Training at Cultivating Community, where he has supported New Americans in launching farm-based businesses in Maine. A champion of local agriculture, he is also a past board president of the Portland Food Co-op, and supported the Co-op's $1.6 million campaign to open a 3,000 square foot retail store in Nov. 2014.



"We are excited to welcome Daniel to Waldoboro," said MVLT Board President Charlie Witherell, in the release. "His leadership style is focused on bringing people together and building community, and we think his background and experience will be a great fit for our diverse region and for the work ahead for MVLT.

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This spring and summer, MVLT will be engaging community members in conversations throughout the watershed to discuss how MVLT can build on its legacy and continue to preserve the landscapes of the area while also expanding and deepening its work. Ungier will join MVLT's board and members in a dialogue that will help set future priorities and goals for the organization.



"This is an exciting time for land trusts in Maine," said Ungier. "More and more, people are understanding the connections between healthy communities and healthy landscapes. Land trusts are the perfect engine to sustain both our natural resources and the working lands that define people's way of life. MVLT has accomplished a great deal in its history, and it's an honor to have an opportunity to join residents of the watershed and contribute to this mission.



For more information on MVLT, visit medomakvalley.org.