Partnership Luncheon to Feature PA DCNR Secretary
Renovo – Pennsylvania’s Secretary for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) will make a visit to Clinton County this month.
DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn will speak at a Clinton County Economic Partnership (CCEP) “Lunch & Learn” luncheon on Friday, April 21, at the Sportsman’s Restaurant in Renovo. The Secretary also plans to tour several areas in Western Clinton County, and welcome the more than 1,300 participants in the 11th annual Hyner View Trail Challenge on Saturday, April 22.
“More than half of the land in Clinton County is owned by DCNR, so the state is an important employer, partner, and resource,” said Partnership President and CEO Mike Flanagan, noting Clinton County is home to five state parks and portions of six state forests, and maintains a multitude of hiking, bicycling, ATV, snowmobile, and equestrian trails, and the Sproul State Forest District Office in Shintown.
Flanagan said Secretary Dunn’s remarks at the April 21 luncheon will focus on DCNR’s strategic initiatives and agency programs that support rural communities in the PA Wilds region of northcentral PA.
Dominion Energy has signed on as a sponsor for the luncheon, which is open to CCEP members as well as the public. Registrations are requested; the cost for Partnership members is $10, and $15 for non-members. People interested in participating should contact the Partnership at 570-748-5782 or tourism@clintoncountyinfo.com.
Secretary Dunn became sixth secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in June 2015 and has helped position Pennsylvania as a leader in land conservation, outdoor recreation, green practices and public land management.
During her tenure the department created the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps to connect youth and young adults with job opportunities relating to the outdoors and the environment. In fact, the Outdoor Corps program currently is accepting applications for a summer youth crew to carry out conservation projects in the Renovo area this summer.
Under Secretary Dunn’s direction, Pennsylvania continues efforts to address the impacts of climate change, including helping the commonwealth reduce and adapt and implement a plan to reduce its impacts on state forests and parks. She also has directed the agency to provide leadership on planting forest buffers along streams to improve water quality.
Prior to becoming secretary, Dunn had served as the president and chief executive officer of PennFuture, a statewide environmental advocacy. Dunn also served as DCNR’s Deputy Secretary of Conservation and Technical Services from 2007-2013, where she led DCNR’s conservation landscape program and oversaw the community conservation partnerships grant program, which provides $30-$60 million annually for conservation and recreation throughout the commonwealth. Other leadership posts at DCNR included director of the Bureau of Recreation and Conservation as well as director of the Office of Education, Communications and Partnerships.
Other leadership roles include serving as the executive director of Audubon Pennsylvania from 1997-2003 and as the Pennsylvania program director for the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay for 10 years.
Over the years Dunn has been recognized with numerous awards for her leadership in conservation including: the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay’s Frances E. Flanigan Environmental Leadership Award; Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs and Pennsylvania Wildlife Federation Conservationist of the Year; Cumberland County Conservation District Conservationist of the Year; the PA Recreation and Park Society Local Government Award; and the PA Association of Environmental Professionals Karl Mason Award.
Dunn holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in biology from Shippensburg University. She and her husband, Craig, reside in Cumberland County. When not championing the efforts of DCNR, Dunn enjoys the natural and recreation resources DCNR works hard to protect and promote through hobbies that include birding, canoeing, fishing and hiking.
The Clinton County Economic Partnership hosts forums such as the April 21 Lunch & Learn to provide its members and the community as a whole, the opportunity to learn more about topics of local, regional and statewide interest. These forums also provide participants the chance to ask questions and offer input.
The Partnership is the economic development, chamber and tourism entity for the county. It has more than 300 dues-paying members. For more information on the Partnership, visit www.ClintonCountyInfo.com.
