Do the best that you can in the place where you are, and be kind. –Scott Nearing

My name is John Eckman and I live in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

After working with small, nonprofit, conservation and education organizations for over 30 years in both professional and volunteer positions, I am now retired and glad to help with specific projects for various clients.

My focus is land and water conservation and facilitating improved management and strategic planning for small nonprofits.

I am most proud to have assisted dozens of families who chose to permanently protect thousands of acres of land through conservation easements.

If you need help with your land or your organization, let’s talk and see if there’s a productive role I can play.

Reach me by email here:   john [at] sustain.us.com

Positions have included:

• Executive Director of both Valley Conservation Council and Friends of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River.
• Chief Information Officer for the Rural School and Community Trust
• Chief Administrative Officer for The Mountain Institute
• Board Treasurer: Virginia Conservation Network and Shenandoah Valley Pure Water Forum
• Board Chair: Shenandoah Resource Conservation and Development Council

Consulting clients have included:

• Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley (land conservation outreach)
• Friends of the Middle River (board retreat / strategic planning)
• Shenandoah Valley Pure Water Forum (grant writing and conference organizing)
• Eastern Mennonite University, Finance Office (strategic planning)
• Mountain Forum Council, Urubamba, Peru (conference facilitation)
• Pine Cabin Run Ecological Center – now The Cacapon Institute- (organizational visioning)