The Board of Directors of the 7 Lakes Alliance is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Chris Monz as Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Laura Rose Day who will serve as Chief Conservation and Special Initiatives Officer on a part-time basis at 7 Lakes as she reengages her work as a nationally-recognized dam removal expert.
Chris Monz has been a tenured professor in the Department of Environment and Society at Utah State University. In this role, he has been a key player in recreation resource management, focused on managing and protecting outdoor recreational settings, such as state and national parks and wilderness areas. Monz is a highly respected leader in land conservation that aims to provide exceptional outdoor experiences for visitors while safeguarding the health and beauty of natural resources for future generations.
Peter Kallin, 7 Lakes board co-chair and interim CEO, noted: “We are pleased to
welcome Chris Monz and believe his proven experience in recreational ecology,
leadership skills and commitment to conservation make him the right leader for 7 Lakes’ skilled team of dedicated lake and land conservationists at this time.” Kallin added, “With Dr. Monz as CEO, we are confident that 7 Lakes Alliance will have continued success in meeting the pressures of increased recreational use of our lands and the growing challenges posed by climate change, including algal blooms and invasive species in our lakes.”
Dr. Monz will officially join 7 Lakes on a full-time basis on June 1st upon completion of his teaching commitments. He recently spent a week in Belgrade Lakes with the team at 7 Lakes Alliance and shared that he is thrilled to be returning to Maine, where he received his master's degree in ecology at the University of Maine, Orono.
Monz noted, “I am particularly excited about being part of an organization of
professionals who are dedicated to the fundamental work of science-based
conservation, environmental education and community engagement. I started my career with a land trust in the Hudson Valley, so working with 7 Lakes will be a return to the fundamental conservation work that has inspired me throughout my career. I fell in love with Maine as a graduate student and have family here, so it’s a wonderful homecoming for me as well as an exciting opportunity to hopefully make a lasting impact on conservation work that is vital to the Belgrade Lakes region.”
Chris and his wife, Wyatt, an educator with both higher and secondary education experience, enjoy hiking, rock climbing, Nordic skiing and kayaking. Their son, Jackson, attends Bates College.
