ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Delta Conservation District is heading into 2024 with new leadership.
The Conservation District Board announced that Heather LeDuc has accepted an offer for the position of district manager, following the retirement of former CEO and manager Rory Mattson at the end of 2023.
According to board chair Joe Kaplan, LeDuc knows the district well.
“She was the district manager from 2020 – 2022, during the pandemic,” Kaplan said. “She ended up leaving the position because Rory decided not to retire. Once Rory’s retirement was imminent, she decided to apply for the position.”
LeDuc has a background in human resources and conservation. Kaplan says her experience makes her well-equipped to fill Mattson’s shoes.
“He was with the district for 35 years, so we really do need someone who can manage a staff effectively but also interact with the board and promote our principles of accountability and transparency,” said Kaplan. “She’s going to provide great leadership for our district, and we look forward to our next chapter.”
The board’s goals for the year include supporting LeDuc in her new role and focusing on the district’s core offerings.
“That’s conservation, technical assistance, agriculture, sustainable forestry, forest management plans,” Kaplan said. “We have a really great, professional staff that have been providing these services for a long time to the public. I think some of their work in the past has maybe been overshadowed… so we really hope the district manager provides the support and leadership so that the district can prosper in those offerings and hopefully add some new elements.”
Some of those new elements Kaplan would like to see include education, outreach, and programs addressing the threat of invasive species.
