CVI is proud to announce the appointment of Kristin Mielcarek as Executive Director of Canaan Valley Institute. Kristin has served as Interim Executive Director since January 15, and has already provided many valuable contributions to the organization.
For the past 11 years, Kristin has served as a watershed circuit rider for CVI from her home office in Hagerstown, MD. Since 2007, she has secured over $7 million in funding from Maryland Department of the Environment for the replacement of over 500 septic systems through the Bay Restoration Fund in five Maryland counties – Allegany, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery, and Washington. While working with WVDEP, Kristin co-authored three EPA approved watershed based plans that provided a strategy for reducing pollutants in streams where public health is at risk. Kristin holds an MS in Ecology from the University of Maryland and is a Certified Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her new role.
Upon her appointment, Kristin stated, “I have always been proud to be a part of the team that works to fulfill CVI’s mission to conserve and restore our natural resources. At CVI, our dedicated and talented staff is our most valuable resource. Being invited to lead them is truly a great honor. Moving forward, I am excited for the opportunity to carry on with the work that has always made CVI an exceptional organization, and I am grateful for the team that makes up our staff.”
While working closely with our board of directors, partners and funders, Kristin will promote our mission through leadership and management to ensure our high quality programmatic services continue into the future. Paul Magness, president of the board of directors looks forward to working with Kristin. “I am extremely grateful and excited for Kristin as we look to the future and how CVI will play a pivotal role in environmental stewardship in our local and regional communities.” Kristin will manage staff located in Davis, WV and Abingdon, VA.