The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

The Nature Conservancy’s Ohio program has added two members to its volunteer board of trustees who, together, bring a wealth of experience and skill from decades of work in public service and private enterprise. Sam Speck, former director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, brings to the table a resume that includes decades of government service with a focus on conservation, while Greg Cunningham, who heads up the environmental sustainability program at Limited Brands, has years of experience in corporate leadership.

“The Conservancy’s science-based and pragmatic approach to conservation draws support from the best minds in both public service and the business community,” said Josh Knights, the executive director of the Conservancy’s Ohio program. “These two men are perfect examples of this.”

Cunningham was elected to the Conservancy’s board Friday at its quarterly meeting in Columbus. Speck also returned to the board on Friday. He had previously served as a trustee but resigned after his appointment to serve on the International Joint Commission, a bi-national federal agency that addresses issues involving waters shared by the U.S. and Canada. His term on the IJC has expired.

Cunningham currently serves Limited Brands as Associate Vice President for Environmental Health and Safety and Environmental Sustainability. He is a member of Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman’s Green Team advisory committee, is on the steering committee for the Central Ohio Sustainability Alliance and serves on the board of the Grange Insurance Audubon Center in Columbus. He received his bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Morehead State University and his master’s in environmental management from the University of Findlay.

From 1999 through 2007 Speck served as Director of Natural Resources in Ohio where he played a major role in the development of the Great Lakes Compact. He also has served on the Ohio House and Senate, where he supported many pieces of conservation-oriented legislation. He is a graduate of Muskingum College, earned his master’s and doctorate from Harvard University and later served as president of Muskingum for more than a decade.

The Nature Conservancy is a private conservation organization that protects lands and waters in Ohio and around the globe. The Conservancy turns to its trustees for three main things: strategic focus, resources and influence, as well as advice and mentoring – three contributions the Conservancy anticipates from Cunningham and Speck. “We are proud to have these two accomplished men on board and it is a pleasure to have trustees as diverse as the nature we conserve,” said Harry Kangis, chair of the Conservancy’s board of trustees.