The Lake George Association named Brendan Wiltse as the group’s new executive director after a year of searching.

Wiltse, who grew up visiting the Queen of American Lakes, said the job was “too good to pass up.” Planning to relocate to within 30 minutes of Lake George, Wiltse is slated to start the new job by Jan. 2.

But the appointment leaves a vacancy in one of the most important positions when it comes to the health of Adirondack waters: director of the Adirondack Watershed Institute at Paul Smith’s College.

Dan Kelting, president of Paul Smith’s and a former longtime director of the watershed institute, told me the college planned to soon initiate a nationwide search for a new AWI leader.

“(AWI) is flagship of the college doing really important work throughout the region,” Kelting said. “We’ll be casting a wide net for a real superstar.”

What will they be looking for in a new leader? Kelting outlined the traits he said are critical to taking charge of AWI.

  • Scientific chops: AWI conducts its own research and assists other researchers working in the Adirondacks. It also runs one of the few certified labs in the park and works with student researchers. Kelting said experience and credibility as a scientists will be important.
  • Background in stewardship: AWI doesn’t just study Adirondack water. It takes an active role in protecting the region’s critical resource.
  • An ability to communicate and engage: AWI works with students, nonprofits, governments and local lake associations. So its new leader will need communication and collaboration skills to help expand these partnerships.

Read the full story here. 

Top photo: The Adirondack Watershed Institute, a program of Paul Smith’s College, will be searching for a new executive director. Explorer file art.

This first appeared in Zach’s weekly “Water Line” newsletter. Click here to sign up.

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