Genesee Sun

Genesee Valley Conservancy Welcomes New Executive Director

GENESEO — After a nationwide search, the Genesee Valley Conservancy welcomed conservation professional Sally Walker as its new Executive Director at the start of 2012. Walker replaces GVC Executive Director Eric Grace, who moved to Idaho after successfully leading GVC for 14 years.

Walker previously served for 7 years as Executive Director of the Pacolet Area Conservancy (PAC) in Tryon, NC. Under her guidance, PAC nearly tripled its land protection, doubled its staff, increased its public presence threefold and forged valuable partnerships and alliances throughout North Carolina. Walker was tapped for the North Carolina Land Trust Council Steering Committee and NC Public Affairs Chairpersonship, in addition to serving as Steering Committee Member and Public Relations Chair for the successful Blue Ridge Forever 50,000 Acre Initiative. She collaborated with many local, regional, state and federal conservation-minded organizations to further the protection of mountains, forests, waterways, farmland, greenspace and overall flora and wildlife habitat. As a land trust representative, Walker has delivered preservation presentations to groups ranging from Rotary to the NC Family Nature
Workshop and Southeastern Equestrian Summit. In addition, she has appeared as a regional conservation spokesperson on public radio and ABC affiliate WLOS-TV in Asheville, NC.

“The Board of Directors of the Genesee Valley Conservancy is pleased and proud to welcome Sally Walker as its new director” stated GVC Board President Myrtle Merritt. “With her leadership we look forward to broadening our mission and goals ‘To protect the habitat, open space, and farmland of the Genesee Valley region’."

“I was attracted to the fertile Genesee Valley landscape and waterways, the quality of commitment to conservation, and the friendly small town environment here,” says Walker. “I am looking forward to building upon the exceptional preservation work already accomplished by GVC.”  

The Genesee Valley Conservancy has helped protect more than 13,600 acres of natural resource and agricultural lands in the Genesee Valley region. From the overall pool of 1,723 land trusts actively working throughout the US, GVC is one of just 135 land trusts having achieved prestigious national accreditation from the Land Trust Alliance Accreditation Commission. To learn more about GVC, visit www.geneseevalleyconservancy.org or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Contact GVC’s new Executive Director directly by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at 585.243.2190.