Introducing Our New Executive Director:
PLC Welcomes Eric Masterson!

by Pat Nelson

Eric’s name might ring a bell with friends of NH Audubon -- where he has served in various capacities during the last eight years, most recently as Vice President of Development -- or with readers of his acclaimed birding column in The Monadnock Shopper News, but let’s start at the beginning….

Eric was born in Dublin and grew up in the suburbs – or as he defines it “in limbo between city life and country life.” He would have preferred either to suburbia, but the choice for country life won out at age 11 when a friend taught him how to identify birds. Since then, Eric has been fascinated by birds and is passionate about protecting habitat for all wildlife.

After high school Eric followed in his father’s footsteps and worked in the printing industry for 9 years, during which time he volunteered for a number of environmental organizations. Finally he “cracked” in 1995 and took a sabbatical before deciding to return to college to get a degree in zoology from University College Dublin. Two highlights during his sabbatical were driving across the Sahara Desert and meeting his future wife. Tricia Burt, an American on retreat in western Ireland, was also switching careers (from public relations to art) and they shared much in common. They married, and when Eric completed his degree, they moved to New Hampshire – within range of Tricia’s home state of Florida, but with a northern clime more like that of Ireland.

I asked Eric what prompted their move to the States. He explained that Ireland does not share the same rich tradition of not-for-profit organizations prevalent in the U.S. Opportunities to work for the environment in Ireland are fewer; the market is much smaller and most opportunities are with government agencies in Dublin or Brussels.

Eric says, “I am most satisfied when I excite folks about the natural world. It’s important to reach a broad audience, which I was able to do at NH Audubon. On the other hand, I am really looking forward to working with the highly focused mission of the PLC to protect open space in the watershed – for the benefit of people and our rural way of life as much as for wildlife. PLC’s work is really a gift to the entire community. I think we can accomplish a lot together.”

Eric continues, “It may not be designated as such, but living in this part of New Hampshire is like living in a national park. I’ve counted more than 200 species of birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles where I live. That’s remarkable, and in part is due to the health of our forests, rivers, and lakes. Protecting the landscape is an investment in our future that has an immediate payoff. PLC is a resource supported by the community for the community, and I am committed to helping the PLC secure an enduring natural legacy for the region.”