“Ron brings a wealth of knowledge and experience engaging elected officials on conservation issues,” said Tom Kiernan, president of the nonpartisan national parks group.

Sundergill will work to build local awareness of national park issues and develop public and congressional support for the federal funding and protections needed to preserve and care for national parks in California and across the nation. Research has shown that national parks operate, on average, with only two-thirds of the needed funding—a system-wide shortfall in excess of $600 million annually.

Prior to joining NPCA, Sundergill served as president of the Leadership Institute for Ecology and the Economy in Santa Rosa California, a non-profit organization that educates leaders working to create sustainable public policy. He also represented the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) before the U.S. Congress and the Executive Branch on a wide range of issues, including renewable energy, federal energy budget priorities, and tax policy. Prior to joining UCS, Sundergill served as the Director of Legislation in the Maryland Department of Human Resources.

Sundergill served as president of the Frederick County, Maryland, Board of County Commissioners from 1990 to 1994. This was an elected position representing 150,000 residents. He was also responsible for the management of the county during the time period, serving as the county chief executive and board chair. Prior to his work as an elected official at the county level, Sundergill worked for the U.S. Catholic Conference’s Campaign for Human Development (CHD) where he directed a business capitalization program targeted to support cooperative business ventures and cooperative housing in low-income communities in the United States. While employed at CHD, he co-founded the National Network of Grantmakers. Sundergill holds a B.A. in political science from Hood College in Maryland.

“I am delighted to join NPCA—the recognized leader of national park advocacy,” Sundergill said.

NPCA’s San Francisco office is located at 150 Post Street, Suite 310. Until recently, the organization’s Pacific Regional Office had been located in Oakland, California.

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