Benjamin E. Wright Email & Phone Number

Palo Alto, Ca, Us

Advancing POST’s land protection goals on the San Francisco Peninsula and in the South Bay by developing and administering a portfolio of land acquisition and transfer projects valued at over $150 million and recruiting and managing a 6-person transactions team.

Palo Alto, California

Comprehensive management of a farmland conservation program including: goal and strategy development, land transaction negotiation and implementation (acquisitions and transfers), contract drafting and review, messaging and content development support, and engaging both private and public donors/funders.

Palo Alto, California

Amherst, Ma

Managed and completed all aspects of regional land trust acquisition projects including: strategic conservation planning, GIS mapping and analysis, advising landowners, negotiating purchases, facilitating land donations, drafting conservation easements, grant writing, managing contractors for environmental and real estate services, and collaborating with private organizations, government agencies (local, state, and federal), and regional conservation partnerships. Cultivated and completed a portfolio of forest, farmland, and water resource protection projects that included acquisitions ranging in size from 15 to 1,200 acres with values of up to $3,000,000.

Worcester, Ma

Facilitated the creation and adoption of a new student association constitution to increase prestige and effectiveness. Enhanced communications between and among a diverse body of international students, faculty, and staff while resolving departmental issues. Created operational budgets and planned and coordinated two major departmental events with 100-200 attendees each. Demonstrated advanced skills in quantitative assessment, geographic information systems (GIS) and international environmental policy analysis. Presented research results at the international 2011 ICARUS conference and the 2011 Ecological Society of America conference.

Worked with faculty to organize the inaugural workshop for the international Sustainable Consumption Research and Action Initiative (SCORAI) attended by 40 leading researchers and practitioners.

Enhanced land trust operations and practices by drafting and establishing three new policies for stewardship regulation and funding. Secured over $80,000 in federal and state funding and supported private grant applications for conservation projects. Developed and coordinated a model volunteer program to enhance stewardship and organizational capacity, which recruited and engaged over 1,200 community volunteers in conservation projects and provided 11,400 hours of service valued at more than $250,000. Directed volunteer staff and interns, drafted stewardship budgets, and cultivated partnerships with organizations, businesses, and government agencies to advance and complete multiple priority projects simultaneously. Produced outreach materials including newsletters, press releases, and delivered public presentations including two workshops at regional conservation conferences. Researched, evaluated, and recommended property acquisition and management to advance the Trust’s conservation mission.

Evaluated baseline ecological conditions and provided management recommendations for properties owned and managed by the coastal conservation organization. Each property evaluation included wetland and upland habitat status, anthropogenic impacts, and GIS-derived maps of property bounds and rare species habitat. Designed and created a Land Inventory Catalog of reports and recommendations for over 130 properties owned by the coastal organization to enhance stewardship and conservation effectiveness.

Assisted with aquaculture research projects and support programs for local government agencies and stakeholders. Developed outreach materials to promote sustainable shellfish aquaculture. Quickly acquired and utilized new skills and knowledge of marine biology for program support and to conduct independent field research.

Contributed over 1,700 hours of environmental and disaster service for government and non-profit groups as a member of an award-winning, residential program. Project focus areas included: terrestrial natural resource management, freshwater and marine natural resource management, environmental education, and disaster preparedness and response. Coordinated and administered residential activities, maintenance, and program policies for four volunteer staff to achieve programmatic goals and to support volunteer events during a period of challenging program expansion.

M.A., Environmental Science & Policy

Activities and Societies: Student Association President & Representative.GPA 3.93. Awarded a certificate of recognition for excellence.

B.S., Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, & Evolutionary Biology

Selected Coursework: Population Ecology, Evolutionary Ecology, Ecosystem Management, Conservation Biology, Biostatistics