Welcome to GVLT’s new Executive Director, Chet Work
3/11/2020 A note from GVLT Board Chair, Jon Catton.
Dear friends and supporters of GVLT,
On behalf of the Gallatin Valley Land Trust Board of Directors, I’m delighted to share that we have hired Chet Work as the organization’s next Executive Director.
Chet stood out from the pool of remarkable leaders we evaluated during a national search because of his exceptional knowledge, experience and vision, his track record of success, and his sterling reputation as a strategic leader and respectful collaborator. In short, Chet impressed us as ideally suited to lead our talented staff in writing the next chapter of GVLT’s wonderful story.
Chet brings a deep understanding and passion for our landscape. He has spent the last 20 years working in conservation, a majority of that time within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. For the last 10 years he has led two of the nation’s most successful land trusts as Executive Director, the Teton Regional Land Trust in Eastern Idaho and most recently the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County, California. In addition to his land trust leadership experience, Chet has worked as a land manager for The Nature Conservancy in Idaho and has completed an environmental education residency at the Teton Science Schools in Jackson Hole. Chet holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental Management from Duke University, as well as certificates in Nonprofit Management and Geospatial Analysis. His rich and varied career sets him up well to be an outstanding addition to the GVLT team.
Chet, his wife and three children are excited to join the Bozeman community. Chet’s wife is an accomplished wildlife biologist and the family enjoys hiking, mountain biking and fly fishing.
Beyond his resume, the board and staff felt immediate rapport with Chet. He has been a close friend of Penelope’s since they met 8 years ago during the Land Trust Alliance Executive Director “boot camp” program. During our extensive interviews and conversations, the GVLT staff and board were impressed with Chet’s energy, quick wit and sense of humor, long range vision, familiarity with the landscape and our challenges with growth, concern for working lands and critical habitat, and a passion for our outdoor quality of life.
The Board and staff agree that Chet is the leader who will build upon GVLT’s accomplishments, standing on the shoulders of everyone—including you—who have helped GVLT become an effective catalyst for conserving open and working lands, building community trails and maintaining our quality of life.
I can’t wait for you to meet him in person.
Chet will officially begin at the end of April. He and Penelope will overlap through the month of May to ensure a seamless transition.
We deeply appreciate how much you care about the work of this organization. We look forward to welcoming Chet into our GVLT family!
With warmest regards,
Jon Catton
GVLT Board Chair