Meet the Indian River Land Trust’s senior leadership team. The nonprofit organization protects, improves, provides access to, and promotes the preservation of waterways, open spaces, and green places in Indian River County.
Executive Director Ken Grudens joined IRLT in 2004 and has led the organization in acquiring 1,300 acres and 12 miles of lagoon shoreline. Grudens, after earning a master’s in landscape architecture and planning, began his conservation career 32 years ago in New York’s Hudson Valley. “From the moment I was introduced to the world of land trusts, I was hooked,” he says.
Director of Land Stewardship Dave Fuss joined IRLT in 2019 and leads its efforts to restore and improve the wildlife habitat and water resources the Land Trust acquires. Fuss, raised in Williamsburg, Virginia, holds a master’s in marine resource management. “I gravitated toward the importance of protecting our water at an early age,” Fuss says.
Director of Philanthropy and Marketing Melissa DePriest joined IRLT in 2021. She leads the organization’s efforts to raise critically needed funding to support its conservation mission. DePriest, a Treasure Coast native, holds a master’s in public administration, and is a certified fundraising professional. “I want to ensure that our region’s natural resources are protected forever,” she says.
INDIAN RIVER LAND TRUST (IRLT)
3150 CARDINAL DRIVE, SUITE 201, VERO BEACH
772-794-0701
IRLT.ORG
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