Sandy and her dog Grace at Brumley. Simply stated, Executive Director Sandy Sweitzer has delivered…
By Sandy Sweitzer, TLC Executive Director
“I know the perfect person for the job—you don’t need to interview anyone else!” is about the best thing a new Executive Director can hear. Ten years ago, and only six months into my role as Executive Director of TLC, a colleague eagerly shared this when I announced we were looking for a new Director of Development. Since the person would be replacing me after my promotion, my standards were of course incredibly high. He was absolutely right.
Christine Wilson has proven to be the ideal fit for a role that has grown and evolved over the past decade to keep up with her. Now the Director of Advancement, her technical expertise, strategic insight, and thoughtful leadership have fostered fundraising success that drives TLC’s land protection, stewardship, education, outreach, and communications efforts.
What sets Christine apart is that she authentically cares about her staff, colleagues, and donors. Although she initially questioned her readiness, I knew she could do the job well – possibly better than I had! It has been a joy to watch her learn, grow, and expand her team, her confidence, and her impact throughout the organization.
Early in her career, Christine took time off to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail with her husband Geoff, setting the course for a life spent appreciating nature and charting ambitious paths with determination. It’s no wonder she is the one we look to when we need to zoom out, think big, and climb up to take in the 6,600-foot view. She is always thinking about where we are now, where we should be going, and how to get there most effectively. In ten years, she has helped shape two strategic plans (helping surpass the goals in one a year early) and guided the organization through rapid growth.
There are countless ways Christine has helped TLC surpass strategic goals from careful budgeting and cross team collaborations to dramatically increasing River Society and Longview Society memberships. Although she will be the first to point out that she has not done this on her own, they were only possible thanks to her leadership and contributions.
Originally, Christine began with a team of three – communications, education and outreach, and philanthropy. She strategically grew each into thriving programs, mentoring early career staff and eventually supervising ten people. During a later realignment, she helped launch a standalone communications department and supported me in hiring and onboarding a new Director of Communications.
Her accomplishments have transformed TLC and our work across the Triangle. She managed the unforgettable grand opening of Brumley Nature Preserve in 2017. She inherited Wild Ideas and helped it flourish. When COVID-19 upended our routines, Christine quickly launched Conservation Conversations, engaging members while giving staff creative ways to work from home and stay connected, building a valuable archive of content in the process.
Christine’s love of a challenge, and a deadline, led her to partner with enthusiastic donors to create crucial matching gift opportunities. Earth Day and Giving Tuesday quickly raised the bar for both funds raised and content created. What began as a $10,000 goal grew to more than $170,000 raised last Giving Tuesday.
In collaboration with her staff, Christine helped articulate and implement the PINES Program (Pathways Into Natural and Environmental Sciences), now led by the Education and Outreach team. Twenty high school students have graduated from the program, which has expanded to include summer internships and stewardship work – stepping stones she first envisioned.
TLC’s transformational Force for Nature campaign began as Christine’s tentative idea in 2021 and grew into one of the most ambitious efforts in our history. When a feasibility study recommended a $30 million goal—five times larger than TLC’s last campaign—Christine didn’t flinch. She embraced the challenge with courage, analytical rigor, and unwavering belief in what TLC could accomplish.
Today, thanks to her vision and leadership, we are within $1.5 million of completing a $60 million campaign—an extraordinary achievement that has already transformed TLC’s ability to protect the Triangle’s land and water and engage more people. Christine’s determination, strategic brilliance, and infectious enthusiasm have elevated not only this campaign, but all of us.
Amid this professional growth, I’d be remiss not to mention how many of us have had the pleasure of watching Christine and Geoff raise two bright eyed, enthusiastic little girls who helped at events and even presented as part of Conservation Conversations. They are now smart, caring, and talented young women who continue to make their parents proud.
Ten years later, I remain grateful for that early recommendation. It was exactly right.
