Lancaster Farmland Trust is pleased to announce the promotion of Jeff Swinehart to chief operating officer, effective January 1, 2019. The promotion is part of a strategic transition in responsibilities and leadership of the organization over the next few years.
In his 18-year tenure at Lancaster Farmland Trust, Swinehart has held several positions, most recently serving as deputy director since 2006. As COO, Swinehart assumes greater operational and management responsibilities, while continuing to work alongside executive director Karen Martynick.
Swinehart graduated with a master’s degree in public administration from Pennsylvania State University and has a B.S. in geography, plus minors in geology and regional planning from Mansfield University. Jeff is a member of the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association Policy Committee, serves as vice-chairman of the Manheim Township Planning Commission, and is a member of the executive committee of the Lancaster Clean Water Partners.
At a recent board of trustees’ meeting, board chair Caroline Morton congratulated Swinehart on behalf of the entire board. “We are so pleased to have [Jeff] as our new COO and look forward to creating an exciting future for the organization with [him].”
Filling the opening created by Jeff’s promotion is current land preservation coordinator Jeb Musser. Musser has worked for Lancaster Farmland Trust for nearly six years in the land preservation department under Swinehart. Now Musser becomes the director of land protection, a title change and a department name change, as the organization strives to bring its conservation efforts to the forefront alongside preservation.
Jeb earned his B.A. in geography and environmental studies from Millersville University and a certificate in GIS from Pennsylvania State University. Jeb also received a certificate in drones for land trust monitoring and management from Duke University and is an FAA certified part 107 pilot.
“In 2019, Lancaster Farmland Trust will renew its focus on stewarding the land we have already preserved, and prioritize new preservation projects which align with their conservation goals. Jeff and Jeb are well poised to help the organization achieve these goals and I look forward to working alongside them in their new roles,” said Martynick.
