The Nature Conservancy Appoints Two Top Conservationists to Ohio Board of Trustees

Speck, Gabel boast lifetimes of conservation efforts

DUBLIN, OHIO — June 27, 2007 — The Nature Conservancy in Ohio has appointed two prominent conservationists to its volunteer board of trustees.

With the recent appointment of Sam Speck, former director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), and Marianne Gabel, a lifelong champion of environmental causes throughout the state, the Conservancy continues to advance its reputation as Ohio’s leading conservation resource.

“Sam and Marianne have dedicated their lives to protecting Ohio’s natural communities and making the state a more beautiful place to live and work,” said Rich Shank, the Conservancy’s state director in Ohio. “Their appointments as trustees reflect the values and accomplishments our board represents.”

Trustees display a steadfast commitment to conservation efforts in Ohio and significant success in the Conservancy’s core goals and objectives. Mr. Speck and Ms. Gabel join an outstanding group of accomplished conservationists, business leaders and former public officials.

“It’s truly an honor to serve with the highly accomplished conservationists on the Conservancy’s Ohio Board of Trustees,” Mr. Speck said. “The Conservancy has a demonstrated commitment to protecting Ohio’s vital natural resources, and I hope my contribution will advance that mission.”

Ms. Gabel echoed Mr. Speck’s sentiment.

“The Conservancy’s strategic approach to environmental protection and conservation efforts are essential to Ohio,” she said. “I look forward to helping the Conservancy in the critical task of protecting our natural resources.”

Mr. Speck, of Worthington, served as ODNR’s director for eight years, retiring from state service in January. Mr. Speck has also been president of Muskingum College in New Concord, and was an associate director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency under President Ronald Reagan. He also served in Ohio's General Assembly for 13 years as a state representative and a state senator.

While Ohio's director of natural resources, he served as a member and chair of the Ohio Lake Erie Commission and the Great Lakes Commission. He also served as chair of the Council of Great Lakes Governors and Premiers Water Management Working Group.

Ms. Gabel, of Delaware, is a graduate of Stanford University and the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and has lived and practiced law in Delaware, Ohio since 1979. She is in her fourth term on the Delaware City Schools Board of Education, and is also active in the community as a member of Rotary and the League of Women Voters.

She is on the boards of Population Connection (formerly Zero Population Growth) and of the Union of Concerned Scientists’ National Advisory Board. She has been a longtime financial supporter of environmental causes and writes a monthly column on the environment for the Delaware News.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 102 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.