New board members and chair announced for Sussex County Land Trust

Sussex County Land Trust board members recently elected Casey Kenton as the conservation group’s new chairman. He succeeds Dennis Forney in the position. 

“As a native, Casey has a lifelong love for Sussex County and is passionate about preserving open space and maintaining the county’s unique quality of life,” said Forney. “He has served on our board for a number of years and represents a new generation of leadership. The board is grateful that Casey has stepped up to take on this important responsibility.”

Kenton said he was honored to take on the new role. “I look forward to serving as the new chairman and carrying on the mission and objectives of the Sussex County Land Trust. There is opportunity and growth on the horizon, and the time is now to strategically leverage the balance between economic development and quality of life here in Sussex County.”

The members also elected C. Russell McCabe as vice chairman and Blake Carey as treasurer. Forney remains on the board as secretary.

McCabe retired as state archivist for Delaware, has deep Sussex County roots and shares his extensive knowledge of Sussex and Delaware history with the board.

Carey, a Sussex County attorney and member of a longtime Sussex County agricultural family, is among three new members of the land trust board. The other new members are Lewes attorney Heidi Gilmore and Ron Vickers. Gilmore has served as a real estate attorney in the community since 2000. She practices with Baird Mandalas Brockstedt LLC and devotes some of her free time to supporting the needs of nonprofit organizations in the area. Vickers recently retired after years of working for the state in natural lands acquisition and open space conservation.

Sussex County Land Trust is a nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to protecting natural, cultural, agricultural and recreational resources through land preservation, stewardship and education for today and tomorrow. Founded in 2001, SCLT over its 17-year history has partnered with Sussex County Council, the state and nonprofit conservation agencies on 18 different projects, and has raised over $4 million in private funds to leverage the protection of 5,784 acres of open space.

Other board members include Sussex County Council members I.G. Burton and George Cole, James Fuqua, Everett Moore, John Schroeder and R.C. Willin.

For further information, go to www.SCLandTrust.com or contact Executive Director Mark Chura at 302-542-3305.