The Beaufort County Open Land Trust is excited to welcome Patricia R. Kennedy as the new Executive Director of the trust.  Mrs. Kennedy will replace current director Ann Bluntzer, who is relocating to Texas, beginning September 1. Mrs. Kennedy will be leaving the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy, where she has served as the executive director for the past eight years. While at the conservancy, she has led the environmental team working to develop, implement and manage programs relating to the environment, land stewardship and protection.
<a href="http://www.beaufortislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Patty-Richards-head-shot.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-2673" title="Patty Richards head shot" src="http://www.beaufortislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Patty-Richards-head-shot-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>Mrs. Kennedy began her career working in the environmental field in 1991. She has spent the last 10 years consulting with regulatory agencies, corporations and policy makers on environmental issues. She graduated from Boston College.
Prior to joining Palmetto Bluff, Mrs. Kennedy was the South Coast Director of the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League, a nonprofit organization working to secure the natural and cultural resources of the Lowcountry.  Mrs. Kennedy has also served on the Board of Trustees for the Beaufort County Open Land Trust for the last seven years.
The trust is thrilled to have Mrs. Kennedy’s extensive environmental and land protection knowledge and experience to help lead the organization as it celebrates its 40th anniversary.