Kate Saunders: vice president for development.

• Position: FIVE QUESTIONS FOR... - Interview

A lifelong environmentalist, Kate looks forward to helping CLF raise the resources necessary to protect New England.

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What drew you to CLF?

I've always admired CLF and seen it as a real force in New England. But when I met John Kassel and CLF's leadership team, I was struck by the scope of work and how 1 such a lean organization could make such a difference. After learning about the CLF programs, I felt personally challenged to help the organization garner more resources to do its tremendous work.

Sometimes people say that they've been training all their lives for a certain job. Was this the case with you and CLF?

I was fortunate to grow up in a family of people who love nature and care deeply about protecting it. These topics were normal dinner table conversation, and hiking, canoeing and being outdoors were what we did on weekends and during vacations. And now as a mother, these values take on an even deeper meaning. So it's no accident that I've followed a career path that's allowed me to pursue my own passion for conservation and ultimately led me to CLF. In the past, I've worked for Mass Audubon and The Trustees of Reservations in Massachusetts.

What are your early impressions of CLF?

CLF advocates bring incredible talent and sophistication to their jobs of protecting the environment in New England. We are truly on the cutting edge of policy development and environmental advocacy. It's invigorating to be in an organization that has the courage to stand up to polluters, as well as the determination to pursue workable solutions to really challenging environmental...