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Conservation leader to become new state director of Nature Conservancy

Elliot Marks will continue to oversee five-state division

Seattle, WA - July 11, 2001 - David Weekes, an environmental leader who has played both a national and international role in land conservation, has become the state director of The Nature Conservancy of Washington. He began his new position on Monday, July 2.

Weekes replaces Elliot Marks, who has been state director of the Washington chapter for 22 years and has worked for the Conservancy for 24 years. Marks will retain his position as the Northwest Division vice president, overseeing programs in five state chapters, including Alaska.

Weekes comes to the Washington chapter after heading up the Conservancy's Ohio program for the past six years, where he recently led a $22 million capital campaign. He also played a lead role in international conservation, helping to establish a strong partnership between the Ohio chapter and the nonprofit conservation organization, Programme for Belize.

As vice president of the Conservancy's Midwest Division, Weekes also oversaw the work of six states and the Great Lakes Program.

Prior to his position in Ohio, Weekes served as the director of development for the Conservancy's Florida chapter and as the director of external relations for the national office. He holds a master's degree in administrative science from Johns Hopkins University and attended an executive education program at Harvard University's School of Business.

Marks said he is pleased by the caliber and strength of his successor.

"I'm thrilled that the Washington chapter has attracted such a capable leader," he said. "David is just the person to take this organization to new levels of accomplishment."

Marks' 24-year tenure at the Conservancy included many significant conservation milestones. He joined the Conservancy in 1977 after working as Gov. Dan Evans' special assistant on natural resources. Since his arrival, he has helped to create and shape the state's two leading land protection programs, the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program and the Trust Land Transfer program, helped establish the state's conservation easement law and oversaw the steady growth of the organization.

Today, with 37,000 members, the Conservancy's Washington program is the largest membership-based conservation group in the state. The organization owns 41 preserves, totaling nearly 20,000 acres, and has directly helped to protect another 320,000 acres.

"Elliot has been a true champion of land conservation in Washington state," said Gov. Evans, who serves on the Conservancy's board. "His steady persistence, determination and ability to stay focused on priorities have transformed the Conservancy from a largely volunteer land trust to a major force for land conservation in Washington state."

Added Lyn Grinstein, who chairs the Conservancy's board, "David is stepping into a thriving organization that has not been shy about setting ambitious goals. On behalf of the board, I can honestly say that we consider ourselves extremely lucky, as David's reputation in conservation circles is amazing. We're looking forward to working with him.