The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

Richard I.G. Jones, Jr., state director of The Nature Conservancy’s Delaware Chapter, today announced two new additions to the Chapter’s Board of Trustees: Dawn Rittenhouse, director of Sustainable Development for the DuPont Company, and Robert F. Rider, Jr., CEO of O.A. Newton.

“We’re thrilled to be gaining the experience and knowledge that Dawn and Rob bring to our board,” said Jones. “They will both complement nicely The Nature Conservancy’s global and regional perspective, and help advance our practical, science-based approach to preserving Delaware’s essential lands and waters.”

Dawn Rittenhouse

Dawn Rittenhouse is a graduate of Duke University, having majored in both Chemistry and Economics.  She now is director of Sustainable Development for the DuPont Company.

Dawn joined DuPont in 1980 and has held positions in the Packaging and Industrial Polymers business and Crop Protection businesses.   In 1997, she began working in the corporate organization to assist DuPont in integrating sustainability strategies into their business management processes.  In 2000, DuPont adopted Sustainable Growth as a mission. 

Dawn leads DuPont’s efforts at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the United Nations Global Compact.  In 2001 and 2002 she served as co-chair of the Global Environmental Management Initiative (GEMI) and also co-chaired the WBCSD working groups on Energy and Climate, Innovation and Technology and Sustainability through the Market. 

She now sits on the Education Committee of the Delaware Nature Society and is on the Sustainability Council at Penn State’s Smeal College of Business. 
She is interested in helping The Nature Conservancy continue its long history of helping to preserve natural areas in ways that allow humans and wildlife to benefit.

Dawn lives in Wilmington, with her daughter, Jacquie, a graduate student at the University of Delaware. Her son Joe is a freshman at Virginia Tech majoring in Engineering. In her free time Dawn loves sports photography and is a runner.

Robert F. Rider, Jr.

Robert F. Rider, Jr. is president and CEO of O. A. Newton in Bridgeville, DE and Bergen, NY.  O. A. Newton provides services and solutions for agricultural irrigation throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.  It is a family-owned business begun by his grandparents in 1916.

Rob grew up on a family farm in Bridgeville and majored in Agricultural Engineering at Cornell University.  Upon graduating in 1985 he began employment immediately with O. A. Newton. He has held a variety of positions there, becoming president in 1996 and CEO in 2011.

In addition to many professional and civic roles, Rob serves on the Sussex Economic Development Action Committee (SEDAC), serving as president for 2011-2012. He is on the Delaware Technical and Community College Owens Campus Development Council and serves on the Nanticoke Health Services Foundation Board.  He is on the Board of the Process Equipment Manufacturers Association (PEMA) and is a member of Bridgeville Kiwanis Club (Past President).  He was a 10-year member of Vistage, a worldwide program that facilitates personal and professional growth for chief executives, presidents and owners of businesses.

Rob expressed his hopes that he can apply his farming experience with land stewardship, and awareness of the importance of the vitality of the Delaware Watershed, to the work of The Nature Conservancy.

Rob lives in Seaford with his wife Susan in a 100+ year old downtown home that they have passionately restored over the last eight years. Together they have five children: Tyler Mills, Lauren Mills, Justin Rider, Nathan Rider, and Emma Rider. They range from 14 to 27 years of age.