Conserve Lake County hires new executive director
After a lengthy search, a 20-year-old conservation organization in Lake County has hired a new executive director as it moves into its third decade.
Dave Neu was hired from among 30 applicants and comes to the Grayslake-based Conserve Lake County from the Sand County Foundation in Madison, Wisconsin. He fills the spot left open when Jim McConoughey left in October after a year in the position.
Conserve Lake County was established as the Liberty Prairie Conservancy in 1995 by citizens concerned about development, and it initially focused on protecting the 5,800-acre Liberty Prairie Reserve between Libertyville and Grayslake. Its reach quickly expanded to include all of Lake County with the purpose of buying or accepting donations of land for preservation, but activities have expanded to include sustainable food and other programs.
Neu has 25 years of nonprofit and government experience in the conservation field. He has served as: a regional field supervisor with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; a wildlife and fisheries technician and senior wildlife biologist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; and, a wildlife biologist for the National Wild Turkey Federation.
With the Sand County Foundation, Neu worked with leaders in various fields and private landowners to better care for the land as national director of the Leopold Conservation Award Program.
Keith Gray, president of the Conserve Lake County Board, described Neu as a pragmatic leader with an "action-oriented" approach to help the organization deliver quality service and grow thoughtfully.
Neu said Conserve Lake County is poised for growth and progress toward the goal of making the land healthier to the benefit of wildlife and residents.
He described Conserve Lake County's mission as "bringing people closer to nature, raising awareness and instilling a conservation ethic among residents," and he said he hoped to increase outreach and marketing efforts.
Aside from the opportunity in Lake County Neu said he is engaged to a Libertyville woman and the Lake County opportunity was well-timed.
"The stars aligned," he said.