Hello Eastern Trail community,

I hope this email finds you in great spirits and that your summer plans include time on the Eastern Trail. I am writing today to share an important leadership update.

After three years of dedicated service, our Executive Director, Jon Kachmar, is resigning from the Eastern Trail Alliance, and his last day will be September 1st. While we are sad to see Jon go, we are grateful for his dedication, passion, and the positive impact he has had on our organization.

Jon’s tenure began during the early months of the pandemic when many of us took to the trail to exercise and reconnect with nature and each other in a safe way. With trail use at a new high, Jon led the way to ensure our programs, partnerships, and revenues were strong. He has significantly advanced trail expansion work to realize the vision of connecting South Portland to Kittery through an off-road trail, and he shepherded the Eastern Trail’s national recognition and 2022 induction into the Rails to Trails Conservancy's Rail-Trail Hall of Fame.

We are also excited about the opportunities this transition presents for the Eastern Trail Alliance. During this interim period, our dedicated staff and board members will work collaboratively to continue our programs and community engagement efforts. We will soon form a search committee tasked with hiring a leader who shares our passion for promoting safe outdoor recreation and connecting communities through one of the premier recreational assets in the region.

Please save the date, Saturday, July 29, and plan to attend the Eastern Trail Alliance Annual Meeting. We would love to meet you, share more updates with you, and have you join us in wishing Jon well on his next venture.

Thank you for your support and commitment. Let's embark on this exciting new chapter together.

Warmest regards,

Randi Hogan
President of the Board of Trustees
Eastern Trail Alliance

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