None The Nature Conservancy in Georgia Press Releases Search All Press Releases Sherry Crawley Phone: (404) 253-7246 E-mail: scrawley@tnc.org

Braye Boardman Named Chair of Georgia's Board of Trustees
Outgoing Chairman Dwight Mathews Honored for Contribution to Conservation

Atlanta — July 7, 2008 — The Nature Conservancy welcomes Braye Boardman, president of Beacon Blue, LLC, as chairman of the Board of Trustees for its Georgia program, a position held by H. Dwight Mathews since 2006. Boardman officially took over the reigns as chairman on July 1, 2008.

"Braye is a visionary leader, and conservation is truly his personal passion," said Shelly Lakly, director of The Nature Conservancy in Georgia. “He is dedicated to protecting Georgia’s natural heritage, and his unique insights will lead us to new heights.”

A member of The Nature Conservancy’s Board of Trustees in Georgia since 2002 and an executive committee member since 2004, Boardman is a native Georgian and committed conservationist with deep ties to Georgia’s natural areas.

“I grew up fishing in the Savannah River, hunting in Georgia’s deep forests and exploring the mysteries of nature in my backyard,” said Boardman. “I want our children and grandchildren to have those same opportunities.

“We have such a variety of natural resources in Georgia, but I am concerned that if we neglect our responsibility to honor and protect our rich natural diversity, future generations won’t be able to enjoy the wild places that exist across our great state and beyond.”

Boardman’s commitment to conservation is evident through his many volunteer leadership positions. Notably, Boardman was appointed by Governor Sonny Perdue to the Governor’s Committee on the Savannah River in 2005. He is a long-time supporter of the Southeastern Natural Sciences Academy, serving on the board of directors from 1999-2008 and as chairman from 2000-2004. A founding board member of the Central Savannah River Land Trust, Boardman has served on its board and executive committee since 2000.

A graduate of the College of Charleston in South Carolina, Boardman earned a bachelor’s degree in political science. Following several professional leadership positions, Boardman formed Beacon Blue, LLC, an Augusta-based holding company involved in real estate development and management, in 2001.

Outgoing Chairman Long-Time Supporter and Conservation Champion
Boardman is taking over the position of chairman for the Georgia program of The Nature Conservancy from H. Dwight Mathews. A member of The Nature Conservancy’s Board of Trustees in Georgia for 8 years, Mathews served as treasurer for several years and was chairman from 2006 to 2008.

During Mathews’ tenure as chairman, The Nature Conservancy helped protect 26,742 acres of ecologically significant lands throughout the state, including playing a crucial role in the protection of Paulding Forest, one of the last and largest forest strongholds in metro Atlanta.

"Dwight’s sincere and deep dedication to the future of Georgia led The Nature Conservancy to great accomplishments," Lakly said. "We look forward to his continued role as a member of board of trustees for our Georgia program as we grow and strengthen our efforts to protect the forests, coasts and freshwater resources of Georgia."

Previous chairs of The Nature Conservancy’s Board of Trustees in Georgia include John Sherrill, Doug Cockrill, Pierre Howard and Tricia Allen. Currently, 30 members, from across Georgia, serve on the board of trustees.