The Nature Conservancy Hires Lamont Smith as Milwaukee Program Manager

The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin is excited to announce the hiring of Lamont Smith as the new Milwaukee Program Manager. The position is brand new and will help kick off and guide TNC’s conservation work with communities and partners in Wisconsin’s biggest city.

Smith joins TNC after working as a Senior Analyst with the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, where he conducted policy research and contributed to local planning efforts to increase the impact of; community-based programs and advocacy efforts that support neighborhoods and families, and strengthen water sustainability and access to water industry careers.

Smith also led the development of an equity-focused capacity building model to assist organizations with the adoption of culturally responsive and equitable practices to improve their ability to contribute to social equity goals. Prior to that, he was an integral part of the implementation team for a cross-sector funder collaborative focused on improving skilled-trade career pathways in Milwaukee, funded by the National Fund for Workforce Solutions.
 

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Smith received his bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Science from UW-Madison and his graduate degree from LaFollette School of Public Affairs. He cites working two summer seasons for the Milwaukee County Parks and childhood adventures—fishing, biking trails, and playing other sports in those same parks—as inspiring his love of nature.

“There’s no question that two of the major issues of our time are environmental sustainability and climate change,” Smith says. “To know that there’s an organization that’s been working on these challenges for decades and across the globe and that is now interested in doing work in Milwaukee, I think that is a phenomenal opportunity for the city, and I'm very glad to be part of launching the program here.”

Smith’s focus will be on building partnerships with existing environmental organizations in the city, with an eye toward tackling challenges and opportunities related to water quality, urban heat islands, climate resiliency, community engagement, and environmental justice.