Board members of the Endless Mountains Heritage Region recently confirmed the appointment of Annette Schultz (above) as Executive Director, effective June 1.
The Endless Mountains Heritage Region (EMHR) has selected Annette Schultz as the new Executive Director of the agency. Schultz brings more than 25 years of planning experience to the board, including extensive work in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware on trails and greenways initiatives and will begin work on June 1.
Schultz returns to Pennsylvania by way of her recent work with the RBA Group, and engineering and planning firm in New Jersey, where her accomplishments included development of the Passaic County Heritage Toursim Plan, a county-wide initiative linking visitor attractions with scenic and historic roads in Passaic County.
Earlier in her career, she was instrumental in the development of the first five miles of the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Trail. A nationally-certified planner, Schultz has worked on the PA State Greenways Plan, NJ State Trails Plan Update, and the East Coast Byway Corridor Management Plan.
In addition to the high caliber of projects Schultz has completed, EMHR Board President Sandra Wilmot related that Schultz’s selection was based on her ability to work with other agencies and “a broad spectrum of personality types.” Wilmot added that she was impressed by Schultz’s attitude that all problems and goals offer a challenge.
“A job that does not challenge your abilities is not satisfying or enjoyable, and Annette loves a good challenge,” Wilmot remarked, noting as well that those who had previously worked with Schultz “were so excited that the Endless Mountains Heritage Region might have the opportunity to benefit from her leadership.”
As executive director, Schultz will be charged with improving the overall function of the EMHR office in Towanda, revising the management action plan, reviewing previous rounds of grant funding, increasing contact with EMHR members, procuring new income sources, reviewing bylaws and personnel policies, re-establishing a working relationship with the Endless Mountain Visitors Bureau, and continuing ongoing work with partner agencies and project partners.
“Whether it’s promoting local farms with our ‘Buy Fresh, Buy Local’ program, improving boat access to the Susquehanna River, developing community trails or preserving historic sites, EMHR activities are designed to benefit and strengthen communities,” said Schultz. “It will be an honor to continue this good work and to discover new opportunities and partnerships for heritage development.”
As a former regional director of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council’s Northeast PA office, Schultz conducted a visioning project and held a series of public meetings along 90 miles of the North Branch of the Susquehanna River to raise awareness of its recreational potential. In her new capacity, she will work with EMHR Greenway Coordinator David Buck on such endeavors.
Wilmot also expects Schultz to more directly involve EMHR’s directors, give committees specific goals to accomplish, and increase promotion of EMHR throughout the four-county area.
“The first and primary audience and beneficiaries of heritage development, conservation and promotion are the people who live and work in the region,” Schultz stated. “The projects of the Endless Mountains Heritage Region enhance and raise awareness of the region’s unique and defining features, places and stories.”
The Endless Mountains Heritage Region primarily serves Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna, and Wyoming counties. To learn more about the agency and its initiatives, interested readers can log on to www.endlessmountainsheritage.org.