The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, a regional leader in Chesapeake Bay watershed restoration since 1971, announced today that its Board of Directors has selected Kate A. Fritz as the organization’s new Executive Director. The announcement follows a six-month nationwide search undertaken to replace current Executive Director, Al Todd, who will be retiring in August 2017. Ms. Fritz currently serves as the Executive Director of the South River Federation in Annapolis, Maryland. She will assume her new role with the Alliance on August 1st .
Ms. Fritz has over 15 years of leadership experience focused on building and fostering partnerships and collaborative teams engaged in the work of watershed restoration and protection. She has worked in the environmental sector as a scientist, local planner, project manager, sustainability coordinator, and for the last 3+ years as the Executive Director of the South River Federation where she grew the organization into a well-respected advocate for water quality. Ms. Fritz is a certified Master Watershed Steward and a founding member on the Board of Directors for the Anne Arundel County Watershed Stewards Academy, where she remains a leader. Most recently, while at the South River Federation, Kate helped build a multimillion dollar stream restoration and stormwater reduction program and led a highly regarded monitoring program that tracks the health of the South River.
“We are excited about the new energy and ideas and strong sense of mission and leadership Kate will bring to the organization”, said Bob Paul, Board Chair. “At this critical time for Chesapeake restoration, the Alliance is confident that Kate will build on our successes and prepare the organization to meet the challenges of the future.”
Ms. Fritz stated, “The opportunity to grow my impact from a 66 square mile watershed to the 64,000 square mile Chesapeake Bay watershed is incredibly exciting for me both professionally and personally. I am confident that the work I have done with the South River Federation will lead to great successes for the Alliance and the Chesapeake Bay watershed as a whole.”
Ms. Fritz earned an Executive Master of Natural Resources focused on Leadership in Sustainability degree from Virginia Tech, as well as a masters degree in Environmental Management from the University of Maryland University College. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and is also a certified Maryland Qualified Professional Forester and a LEED Green Associate certified professional.
“After over 25 years working on the Chesapeake restoration effort and an amazing 6 years as Alliance Director, I am delighted to see Kate take over leadership. I look forward to staying involved with the Alliance during the transition and as needed over the coming year,” said Al Todd.
The public is invited to the Alliance’s Taste of the Chesapeake on September 14 th in Annapolis to meet and welcome Ms. Fritz in her new role and say farewell to Al Todd. Taste tickets are available at: www.allianceforthebay.org/taste
