News

A message from the President of our Board of Directors

The year 2021 will be the eighth of my term as President. I am immensely proud of all that the HLT has accomplished over that time, and I am excited of what is to come in the years ahead.

We’ve grown in stature as an organization, and when we speak, and more importantly act, people take note. 

We’ve expanded our outreach efforts and grown our support base among the county’s citizens, business, and communities. We’ve accelerated the pace of our land projects and forged new partnerships.  Most importantly, we’ve preserved some ecologically and historically irreplaceable properties.

None of these successes are down to me. First and foremost it’s the thanks to our exceptional Executive Director, our growing office staff, and core of volunteers. But it’s also thanks to our members, sponsors, and supporters who are like the wind in the sails of our organization, that keeps us moving forward.

Just as I was able to build on the success of the presidents and board members before me, I know that those who come after me will do the same, and the future of our organization is bright. 

So as this will be my eighth year as president, I’ve decided that I will be following on in the tradition of presidential succession first established by George Washington, and stepping aside after this year. It’s my intention in announcing this now to allow for a year of transition and succession planning so that we don’t miss a beat as on organization. 

To that end, I am pleased to announce that the Board has nominated Turney McKnight to serve as the Vice President and President-designate for next year. 

Turney was one of the HLT’s earliest board members, and is by some distance the longest-serving board member in our history. He is a retired attorney who tends to his beef cattle farm on Harford Creamery Road. 

He serves as President of the Sumner T. McKnight Foundation, and is a past Trustee of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Some of his other titles include father, horseman, waterman, bluegrass guitar player, and author.

I have no doubt that the HLT will be in safe hands with Turney at the helm. And of course I’m always around to help and am happy to stay on the board for as long as the other board members wish.

-Ben Lloyd, HLT President 2013-Present