John M. Eckman 285 Newman Ave. Harrisonburg VA 22801 john@sustain.us.com
EDUCATION
Antioch New England Graduate School, Keene, New Hampshire.
Two years of coursework toward the PhD in Environmental Studies
The MacGregor School of Antioch University, Yellow Springs, Ohio.
1998, M.A. Program on Environment and Community.
Thesis topic: Issues and Opportunities in Community Ecological Learning.
James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia.
1985, Secondary Teaching Certification–Earth Science, English, and Government.
1982, B.A., English and Political Science.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Consultant at sustain.us.com (January 2019 to present)
Assisting various conservation nonprofits with land and water projects, strategic planning, and other program and organizational needs. Inquiries welcomed.
Friends of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River, Woodstock, Virginia. (www.fnfsr.org)
Mission: working to keep the North Fork clean, healthy, and beautiful through science, education, advocacy, and community action.
• Executive Director, June 2014 to December 2018
Oversaw transition from a working board to a governing board. Expanded staff and added a partnership with Seven Bends State Park. Successfully implemented the organization’s first urban restoration project at the Edinburg Mill. Brought the organization into two Chesapeake Bay Funders Network supported initiatives through the Shenandoah Futures Collaborative and the Shenandoah Land and Water Initiative. Worked with board to successfully increase support from annual fund drives and events.
Harrisonburg Farmers Market, Harrisonburg, Virginia. (www.harrisonburgfarmersmarket.com)The largest market in the region, HFM is open year-round. It is governed by a board made up of vendors.
• Assistant Manager, June 2013 to May 2014. Opened and closed the Market through the winter, vendor and customer relations, online media, advised board on nonprofit matters.
Valley Conservation Council Staunton, Virginia. (www.valleyconservation.org)
• Executive Director, January 2004 to June 2012
Responsible for overall management of programs, fundraising, and capacity building for this regional nonprofit land trust. Involved in all aspects of land conservation programming, including conservation easement acquisition, drafting, monitoring, stewardship and enforcement. Authored successful multi-year grants, provided dozens of presentations to the general public, and coordinated communications and outreach, including website development. Managed partnerships with various state agencies, soil and water conservation districts, and localities. Successfully integrated new projects involving local foods, stream fencing, and sustainable agriculture in 2012 that more than doubled the annual budget.
Rural School and Community Trust (formerly the Annenberg Rural Challenge, www.ruraledu.org)
The Rural School and Community began as a five-year, $50 million project to provide grants to clusters of rural schools utilizing their communities as a focus of study for environmental, cultural, economic, and artistic learning. The group continues as a national nonprofit organization addressing the crucial relationship between good schools and thriving communities.
• Information Officer, July 2001–2002
Responsible for the Rural Trust’s online information services, website, contact management, electronic discussions, technology planning and training. Direct team creating a database driven website/information clearinghouse for rural revitalization and educational renewal. Produced educational video project, Echoes in the Hallway.
• Policy Program Officer, September 1998–June 2001
Managed grants to grassroots groups. Member of the Policy Program team working to develop a grassroots network of rural education activists nationwide, to further research, and to inform the public dialogue regarding the rural perspective on education and community development issues. Managed the program’s issue and constituency development, print and electronic publications, and communications systems. Editor of Rural Policy Matters, a monthly print and online newsletter.
The Mountain Forum. International conservation and development network.
• Facilitation consultant
Worked with Secretariat to plan, facilitate, and report out on global council meeting of 35 organizational representatives. Urubamba, Peru. September 1999.
The Mountain Institute Franklin, West Virginia (www.mountain.org).
Ten years of association with The Mountain Institute, an international education, conservation, and rural development organization with field operations (at that time) in West Virginia, Peru, Nepal, the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, and India.
• Chief Information Officer, 1996–1998
Involved in new program design, publications management, and fund-raising. Developed website and assisted with internal monitoring, evaluation, and reporting. Assisted with creation of the Mountain Forum, a global information sharing network. Extensive facilitation experience with various workshops as well as organizational development activities with community-based nonprofit groups.
• Chief Administrative Officer, 1993–1996
Responsible for coordination of daily headquarters operations, personnel matters, inter-program communication, facilities management, and administrative budget oversight. Worked closely with President/CEO to implement fund-raising strategies, to research, write, and report on grants, and to support Board of Trustees activities.
• Program Officer, Community Schools Program, 1990–1992
Member of a team researching strategies to improve learning and school-community relations in rural areas. Grant supported position funded by the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation. Worked with staff and national board of advisors to design program. Researched, drafted, edited, designed, and published citizen’s handbook on rural school reform and promising practices.
• Program Associate, Mountain Learning, 1988–1993
Led and facilitated small groups in wilderness settings. Planned logistics, coordinated, and taught environmental and college-going symposia to high school and college students, instructed at ElderHostel.
Little Grill, Inc., Harrisonburg, Virginia
• Co-owner, Manager, 1986 – 1991
Hands-on manager and corporate treasurer for restaurant firm operating first a full service diner/sandwich shop (The Little Grill) and later a fine dining restaurant (The Belzona Café).
Spotswood High School, Rockingham County, Virginia
• Earth Science Teacher, 1985- 1986
Classroom instructor for 128 ninth grade public school students in oceanography, meteorology, geology, astronomy, and environmental studies.
RELATED ACTIVITIES
Shenandoah Valley Pure Water Forum. Harrisonburg, Virginia. (www.purewaterforum.org) Board member and treasurer (2017 to present)
Virginia Conservation Network. Richmond, Virginia. (www.vcnva.org) Board member (2005-2015).
Shenandoah Resource Conservation and Development Council. Verona, Virginia. (www.shenandoahrcd.org) Board member and chairman (2004-12).
Farmers Market Pavilion Fundraising Committee, Harrisonburg, Virginia. (2007-08)
References available upon request.