The Board of Directors of The Spartanburg Area Conservancy is pleased to announce that Andrew Waters has been named Executive Director. Mr. Waters will lead the organization in its efforts to protect and conserve land for Spartanburg area citizens, landowners, and visitors. Mr. Waters is an experienced non-profit executive with significant expertise in land conservation transactions and stewardship of conserved properties.
Board Chair Elena Rush said, "The Board of Directors looks forward to working with Andrew. He will be an effective leader of SPACE and a collaborator who will work to advance land conservation and continue our legacy of expertise and accountability.”
Before joining SPACE, Mr. Waters served as Operations Director with The Land Trust for Central North Carolina, based in Salisbury, NC where he was responsible for the financial and administrative management of the organization serving 10 counties. He authored their current Strategic Plan and was the primary outreach/communications contact on staff. He was also active in their stewardship responsibilities, land protection and development/fundraising committees.
Mr. Waters adds, “I’m honored and excited to assume this leadership role at SPACE, and want to thank both Mary and the Board of Directors for placing their trust and confidence in me. I look forward to continuing Mary’s legacy but also to bringing my own background and experience in land conservation and nonprofit management to this role. SPACE’s long history of success and their standing in the community convinced my wife and I this was a good fit for our family. We love Spartanburg and are excited about becoming a part of the Upstate. During my first months I hope to talk with as many of SPACE’s friends, supporters, and partners as possible and plan to use that feedback in crafting an agenda that will not only continue SPACE’s legacy of success but also expand the organization’s programs and capacity to meet the needs of the community and its conservation-minded landowners.”
He began his conservation career as Land Protection Director at Catawba Lands Conservancy in Charlotte. Mr. Waters is a graduate of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (BA) and UNC Greensboro (MBA). He is also a licensed real estate broker in North Carolina. Very active in community affairs, he served on the Rowan County Tourism and Development Board, the Rowan County Parks and Recreation Board of Advisors, and the Salisbury Public Art Committee. He lives in Salisbury, North Carolina with his wife and young son. They look forward to relocating to Spartanburg.
Mr. Waters replaces Mary Arrington Walter who is leaving SPACE in May to become Executive Director of the Pacolet Area Conservancy in Tryon, NC. For further information, please contact: Mary Walter, Acting Executive Director, spacemary1@bellsouth.net
Mission Statement
SPACE, the Spartanburg Area Conservancy, is a non-profit conservation organization whose purpose is to protect and preserve natural areas of ecological, historical, and aesthetic value to enhance the quality of life for all residents and future generations.
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