Washington, D.C. – The nation’s leading voice for the national parks, the nonprofit National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) announced Theresa Pierno has been promoted to executive vice president. Previously, Ms. Pierno served as NPCA senior vice president for regional operations.

“Theresa brings a proven track record of successful leadership and management to this position,” said NPCA President Tom Kiernan. “In her four years at NPCA, she built an extraordinary field team and effectively led our Restoring Healthy Parks campaign. I am confident that she will see continued success in her new role.”

As executive vice president, Ms. Pierno will provide strategic direction for the organization’s national programs and policy initiatives, as well as communications, membership outreach, and government affairs activities.

Previously, as NPCA senior vice president for regional operations, Ms. Pierno strengthened the organization’s regional and field capacity to effectively engage and partner with park advocates, local governments, and organizations nationwide. She also led NPCA’s Restoring Healthy Parks campaign—inspiring congressional action to improve national park air quality and wildlife protections, and to address the effects of global warming on national parks.

“I am thrilled and honored to start a new journey at NPCA as executive vice president,” said Pierno. “I look forward to working side-by-side with our talented staff as we continue to advocate for national park restoration as we approach the centennial of the National Park Service in 2016.” 

Before joining NPCA in 2004, Ms. Pierno served as a vice president for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and as Maryland executive director since 1999. She also served on the executive staff at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and was elected in 1990 to the Harford County Council in Maryland, where she was the lead sponsor for several land-use and environmental legislative initiatives.

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