Noted Environmental Leader Carol Ash to Act as Interim Director
Environmental Advocates NY (EANY) announced today that they are actively searching for a dynamic candidate to be their next Executive Director. The search will be led by G. Angela Henry and Mark Tarnacki of the New York based executive search firm Phillips Oppenheim. As the next leader of EANY, the Executive Director will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the organization, including program development and implementation, fundraising, and community engagement.
EANY also revealed that noted environmental leader Carol Ash would be acting as Interim Director until a new Executive Director is named. Ash has served on the EANY Board of Directors as well as the EANY Advisory Board and has held leadership roles for numerous environmental organizations both in and out of Government.
John Buttrick, Chair of the Environmental Advocates NY Board of Directors said, “We are excited to get this search underway because our next Executive Director will play a key role in shaping the future direction and impact of our organization as we work to protect and preserve the environment in New York state. As the process takes place, we are thrilled that Carol Ash has agreed to step in as our interim director and help make sure that EANY maintains our momentum during the state legislative session.”
Carol Ash, Interim Director of Environmental Advocates NY said, “I have been a longtime supporter and admirer of Environmental Advocates NY. EA’s mission perfectly aligns with my personal values, and I am happy to lend my skills and knowledge to EANY until the next Executive Director is on board.”
About Carol Ash
Carol Ash served as commissioner of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation where she led the agency’s efforts to restore and develop infrastructure within the state’s 178 state parks and 35 historic sites. Carol also led efforts to create New York’s Walkway over the Hudson– a former railroad bridge that now is the world’s longest, elevated pedestrian bridge.
A staunch advocate of environmental issues, Carol also served as executive director of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, New York State director of The Nature Conservancy, director of the Office of Environmental Policy for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and regional director of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. In addition, Carol co-founded the Alliance for New York State Parks, an Open Space Institute (OSI) initiative, to protect and improve New York’s state parks and historic sites. She is also a current board member of OSI and Chair of the board of Carey Institute for Global Good, located in Rensselaerville, New York.
About Environmental Advocates NY
Since its formation in 1969, Environmental Advocates NY (EANY) has been championing environmental policies that have improved health, enhanced the quality of New York’s natural resources, and saved lives. Its mission is to fight for policies that will restore and protect New York’s environment, support healthy, vibrant communities, and secure benefits and outcomes for all through education, partnerships, and advocacy.
EANY addresses the many environmental issues facing New York State and beyond, with a focus on:
Climate and Energy
EANY is at the forefront of taking action to fight climate change and advocating for transportation and energy policies that transition our economy off fossil fuels. An important cornerstone of our climate work is to fight for climate justice and policies that will include those most vulnerable to climate change impacts.
Clean Water
Our clean water program embraces a comprehensive and integrated approach in protecting water from source to tap. We are deeply committed to advocating for policies that restore and protect our water systems; so New Yorkers know what’s in their water; and ensure that significant investments are made to water testing for dangerous toxics, and the repair, upgrade, and replacement of our state’s crumbling water infrastructure.
Healthy Communities
EANY’s commitment to Healthy Communities is grounded in the idea that every New Yorker should live in clean, healthy, and vibrant spaces. Now that all New Yorkers have a constitutional right to a safe environment, we will work to ensure our communities, especially disadvantaged ones, no longer face exposure to toxic chemicals through myriad pathways and experience the greatest burden of our aging infrastructure, addiction to fossil fuels, and a mounting solid waste and plastic pollution crisis.
About Phillips Oppenheim
Debra Oppenheim and Jane Phillips Donaldson founded Phillips Oppenheim in 1991 to help diversify and strengthen the leadership of mission-driven nonprofit institutions. Our dedication to the sector keeps us abreast of the challenges faced by nonprofits where new paradigms of leadership require creative and proactive recruitment from traditional as well as nontraditional networks.
Phillips Oppenheim works nationally and internationally. Our team comprises a racially and an ethnically diverse group of recruiters who are committed to ensuring that leadership in the sector adequately reflects the constituencies served. Additionally, the principals bring their experiences rooted in either direct service to the nonprofit sector or in work at the nexus of the nonprofit, private, and public sectors. As a result, our firm has the broad-based sources and contacts needed to uncover the best and most representative people for the wide range of searches that we undertake.
Phillips Oppenheim is an independent company not affiliated with any other search firm or corporate entity.