Mark Zankel Email & Phone Number

Brentwood, New Hampshire, United States

Our team is working to bring clean, renewable, locally-generated, and more affordable energy to thousands of individuals, organizations, businesses and communities across ME, NH and MA.

Hopkinton, New Hampshire, United States

Lead and support teams in developing and adaptively managing conservation strategies to address the most pressing environmental challenges facing people and nature. Presently focused on using Agile and Lean processes to build new, user-friendly tools & guidance that will enable teams to more effectively generate, evaluate, and make strategic decisions about conservation investments.

Concord, New Hampshire

Led The Nature Conservancy in New Hampshire during a transormational period, scaling up our program and organizational impact. Guided board and staff in development of an ambitious Vision 2020 strategic plan. Completed a successful $45M comprehensive fundraising campaign, the largest conservation campaign ever in New Hampshire, incorporating private philanthropy, public funding, and planned giving. Recruited and cultivated a strong & effective staff leadership team and a highly engaged Board of Trustees. Increased staffing by 50%, doubled annual operating budget & significantly increased endowment to support sustainability. Built new capacity in climate mitigation, climate adaptation, freshwater conservation, and expanding equitable access to nature while maintaining core strength in at-scale land conservation. Initiated a process of learning and dialogue to develop an equity point of view and framework for bringing dimensions of diversity, equity and inclusion into our program and practice . Leveraged TNC’s credibility and capacity by building strong working relationships with key federal/state agency staff, land trusts, and other important entities, and by representing the Conservancy on influential working groups, partnerships, and similar forums

Concord, Nh

Contributed to development of a marketing and fundraising strategy for a new initiative aimed at bolstering New Hampshire’s "agricultural ecosystem" by providing customized training and growth capital to local farm and food businesses. Principal services and deliverables included: 1) outlining, researching, and writing a case statement; and 2) reviewing prospective donors and advising on fundraising strategy. Using the results of this work, the Loan Fund launched and capitalized the initiative.

Led an initiative of TNC's seven northeastern state program directors to assess the state of land stewardship programs across the region. Compiled and analyzed quantitative data to produce a comparative snapshot of legal interests, stewardship capacity and finances in each chapter. Conducted and synthesized the results of interviews designed to gather qualitative evaluation and identify emerging ideas, best practices, and principal challenges. Generated a series of key observations, conclusions, and regional-scale recommendations. Vetted through the project team to gain consensus, and put forth final report and recommendations to regional leadership. The assessment spawned a portfolio of projects and activities to implement recommendations.

Concord, Nh

Responsible for conservation leadership and management, strategic prioritization, interfacing with the Board of Trustees, and raising funds. During my tenure, the Chapter’s conservation scope, impact and influence grew significantly: landscape-scale programs were initiated in the Gulf of Maine, Connecticut River, and Northern Appalachians; marine and freshwater programs were launched and quickly gained credibility; acres of land protected tripled; activities to leverage TNC science and expertise were greatly expanded; and the Chapter completed the largest conservation initiatives in its history.

Concord, New Hampshire

Responsible for strategic direction, management, and oversight of The Nature Conservancy's conservation programs in New Hampshire. The program consisted of 9-12 regular staff, 6 of whom reported directly to me, 3-5 seasonal employees, and occasional interns or other short-term positions. Key program areas included land protection, conservation finance, freshwater and marine science and restoration, conservation land management, and partner collaboration and engagement.

Newark, Delaware

I took over a young program and helped to grow its capacity, solidify conservation and stewardship funding, catalyze new bi-state initiatives, and build essential relationships with agencies, land trusts, and academic partners. Principal responsibilities included: Developing, coordinating, and leading implementation of conservation planning, land management, research, and monitoring activities; supervising and leading science and stewardship team; organizing and leading multi-partner, interdisciplinary conservation planning teams; coordinating and conducting multiple field research and ecological management projects; and, establishing and managing trail systems, hunting access, and other public use on TNC preserves.

Ms, Forest Ecology & Management

Activities and Societies: • Co-authored pioneering ecosystem management Master’s research project that integrated case studies and policy.

Ba, American History