Lunz made key contributions to Land Trust success here
Last Thursday, the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust celebrated the retirement of development director Sharon Lunz. During her 17 years there, Sharon played a vital behind-the-scenes role in transforming CDLT from a just-barely surviving nonprofit to one with a multi-million budget and a positive impact on the two counties.
I had the privilege of working with her over the years and always found her to be a consummate professional, completely committed to creating better communities through collaboration, and someone who worked hard but made it fun.
I asked Chelan County Commissioner Bob Bugert, the former CDLT Executive Director, to reflect on Sharon’s impact at the organization. Here’s what he wrote:
“Sharon has a remarkably diverse skill set that was indispensable to the Land Trust. She’s innovative, well-spoken, and a consummate team player. Equally adept with a power saw, a spreadsheet, or a public presentation, Sharon carried out her work with contagious joy.
“She has the rare ability to visualize success, and to be highly infectious in sharing that vision. She recognizes that much gets done if you don’t have to be out front, getting the credit. She was great fun to work with, and we all saw her as a valued friend first, and co-worker second. She was a trusted confidant in many difficult issues that I faced.
“The Land Trust changed immeasurably during her tenure there, starting out as a small, bare-bones outfit in a cold backroom where the monthly payroll was barely met, to a mature professional organization with multi-million-dollar annual gross receipts. She adapted skillfully to each new development and initiative that the organization took on. Sharon started out with no background in philanthropy and development, and now–because of her–the Land Trust is seen as the premier model of how to generate donations, and make donors feel good about it.”
Chelan and Douglas counties are better places because of the work of the Chelan Douglas Land Trust in building community, and Sharon Lunz was instrumental in that success.
Thanks, Sharon, for your many contributions.
I asked Chelan County Commissioner Bob Bugert, the former CDLT Executive Director, to reflect on Sharon’s impact at the organization. Here’s what he wrote:
“Sharon has a remarkably diverse skill set that was indispensable to the Land Trust. She’s innovative, well-spoken, and a consummate team player. Equally adept with a power saw, a spreadsheet, or a public presentation, Sharon carried out her work with contagious joy.
“She has the rare ability to visualize success, and to be highly infectious in sharing that vision. She recognizes that much gets done if you don’t have to be out front, getting the credit. She was great fun to work with, and we all saw her as a valued friend first, and co-worker second. She was a trusted confidant in many difficult issues that I faced.
“The Land Trust changed immeasurably during her tenure there, starting out as a small, bare-bones outfit in a cold backroom where the monthly payroll was barely met, to a mature professional organization with multi-million-dollar annual gross receipts. She adapted skillfully to each new development and initiative that the organization took on. Sharon started out with no background in philanthropy and development, and now–because of her–the Land Trust is seen as the premier model of how to generate donations, and make donors feel good about it.”
Chelan and Douglas counties are better places because of the work of the Chelan Douglas Land Trust in building community, and Sharon Lunz was instrumental in that success.
Thanks, Sharon, for your many contributions.
