By Staff Reports

news@salisburypost.com

 

The LandTrust for Central North Carolina has selected Crystal Cockman as its Executive Director. Cockman, who has been serving as The LandTrust’s Associate Executive Director, began her new duties May 1.

She is replacing Jason Walser who announced his resignation earlier this year.

Darrell Hancock, Salisbury attorney and LandTrust board chair, said the organization conducted a nationwide search and eventually narrowed the candidates to four.

“We were looking for a new director who knows and appreciates the land trust movement and can assure the continuation of our high standards of stewardship consistent with the desires and intentions of our donors,” Hancock said.  “The job involves fundraising, management and an understanding of the intricacies of land acquisition. When it came time to make a decision after an exhaustive search, the board was unanimous in its choice of Crystal Cockman.”

Cockman has been with the LandTrust for nearly nine years. During that time, she has completed more than 40 conservation projects, including easements, land acquisitions and transfers protecting more than 5,000 acres in The LandTrust’ s 10-county area. She has been a principal contact with some 60 governmental agencies and organizations that The LandTrust works with on a continuing basis.

“In her nine years at The LandTrust, Crystal has mastered almost every aspect of our operations,” Hancock said. ” We are confident that in addition to proven ability to interact positively with our constituency and donors, she has the administrative and fundraising skills that are so very important to The LandTrust.”

Cockman, who lives in Asheboro, received the Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science in 2004 from Duke University and the Master of Environmental Management degree from the Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences at Duke in 2006. She has served as Land Committee Chair, Greater Uwharrie Conservation Partnership since 2007 and as a treasurer and board member of The Friends of Plant Conservation since 2012.

“The LandTrust is now celebrating 20 years,” said Cockman.  “It is protecting 25,000 acres in perpetuity, but there is still much to be done. We are uniquely able to leave this legacy conserving our natural, scenic, historic, farmland and water quality resources for future generations. I am grateful to be chosen to take on this role and work with our talented board, partners and supporters, as we continue to do exciting and important conservation work in North Carolina’s heartland. I am blessed to continue to be a part of this important work.”

Cockman is a native of Moore County. An avid hiker, kayaker, hunter and fisher, she said it is rewarding to be able to work to preserve natural areas and make them more accessible for the public. “The mountains and the coast of North Carolina are special places, but there are beautiful natural areas in the Piedmont that merit protection, also,” she said. “Making these resources more easily accessible to the public provides us all with places to have authentic experiences, away from cellphones and computer screens, to challenge ourselves and experience and enjoy the outdoors with family and friends.”

The primary focus of The LandTrust for Central North Carolina has been protection of the Yadkin and Pee Dee rivers, conservation of important and scenic farmland, and enhancement of public access and ecological restoration of the unique Uwharrie Mountain region. Founded in 1995, it has conserved natural areas along rivers and streams, scenic vistas, important wildlife habitats and invaluable cultural sites in a vast swath of central North Carolina.