Whitefish Legacy Partners has recently named Diane Conradi as Conservation Transaction Counsel, Heidi Van Everen as Executive Director and Melissa Segil as Outreach and Development Coordinator.
Conradi is a founder of the Whitefish Legacy Partners and attorney at The Law Office of Diane Conradi, a Whitefish law firm specializing in the areas of real estate, environmental, conservation and water law. Her work on the board and as the former director of the Whitefish Legacy Partners has been instrumental in the successful efforts of the organization including the implementation of the Whitefish School Trust Neighborhood Plan, the planning and development of the Whitefish Trail and the continued conservation efforts of the Whitefish Legacy Partners. Conradi’s transition to Conservation Transaction Counsel allows her to focus on the strategic and legal issues associated with the Whitefish Legacy Lands campaign which will permanently protect over 2,500 of state lands with a conservation easement centered around Beaver Lake and Skyles Lake areas, a land bank transaction with the Goguen family and the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) in the Beaver Lake area, and planning for long-term recreation and conservation on Spencer Mountain.
Van Everen has been working with Whitefish Legacy Partners for one and a half years as Recreation Program Director and was recently promoted to Executive Director to provide leadership in long-range strategy and developing program, organizational and financial plans with the board of directors and staff. She will oversee the non-profit organization’s Whitefish Legacy Lands campaign to provide permanent public recreation and conservation in the Beaver Lake, Skyles Lake and Spencer Mountain areas, as well as continuing construction of the Whitefish Trail. She holds a M.B.S. in Biology and Geography from the University of Colorado and a B.A. in Geography and Economics from Middlebury College. Her background with the Nature Conservancy of Colorado, her early work building and maintaining trails in NH with the Appalachian Mountain Club, and her decades of diverse experience with science based GIS mapping projects for conservation efforts, analysis for resource protection and complex inter-agency planning, will be an asset to her new position.
Segil’s position as Outreach and Development Coordinator will focus on community development, and generating awareness, support and momentum for Whitefish Legacy Partners. Her diverse experience in timeline management, event planning, community relations and fundraising as Manager of Middlebury College Solar Decathlon Team (received 4th place out of 20 finalists) in the 2011 U.S. Department of Energy green-building competition and her conservation work as an environmental volunteer in Ecuador and Mexico, provides a solid foundation for her new role with WLP. She holds a B.A. from Middlebury College in International Politics & Economics with minors in Spanish and Environmental Studies.
Whitefish Legacy Partners Board Chair and Glacier Bank Branch President Lin Akey explains, “We have accomplished a lot with Heidi and Diane carrying the torch on the planning and construction of The Whitefish Trail, as well as negotiating easements, lease agreements, and more. But now, it is more important than ever to permanently protect these lands to preserve public access, water quality, wildlife habitat, scenic vistas and recreation. Healthy forests, clean water, and stunning views equate to a strong economy and a steady stream of revenue for Montana’s schools and universities. We now have a solid team in place and with the help of our partners and community, we will create a legacy for future generations.”
The Whitefish Legacy Lands campaign will be the second implementation of the 2004 Neighborhood Plan, the first being the Whitefish Trail. The Whitefish Trail offers 19 miles of natural surface trails located in a forested, rural environment popular for mountain biking, hiking and equestrian use. The diverse trail system is appropriate for families, outdoor enthusiasts, dog walkers, hard core bikers and runners of all abilities. This trail system is made possible through a collaborative effort with Whitefish Legacy Partners, the City of Whitefish, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Montana State Parks, a division of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Flathead County, US Forest Service, private landowners, and many local volunteers.
For more information, call 406.862.3880.
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