Albert Joerger is a dedicated, passionate champion of intelligent conservation and sustainable development, and has devoted his academic and professional life to ensuring the long-term protection of landmark and environmentally sensitive land and waterways, both in the US and abroad. Widely-known for his innovative and collaborative leadership style, financial acumen, and extensive knowledge of land acquisition and conservation, sustainable residential and commercial site planning, he excels at negotiating inclusionary agreements that satisfy diverse stakeholders with often conflicting agendas. Albert’s two decade career to date includes leadership positions for private non-profits and public entities concerned with sustainable landmark environmental protection projects and initiatives that will positively impact critical ecosystems for generations to come. 

Albert’s most recent project has been a personal one, as he undertook the complete renovation and reclamation of a 202 acre farm owned by his family in upstate New York. Having restored all seven of the property’s homes, creating walking trails, planting an orchard, perennial beds, rose gardens and flowering trees, among many other improvements and green technology upgrades, the farm is now financially self-sustaining.

Albert is a current member of the National Council’s Land Trust Alliance, and has been a Governing Board member of the Southwest Florida Water Management District, where he held annual budgetary responsibility of $280M+. He has also served as a key member of the Environmental Transition teams for two Florida Governors, and was instrumental in Charlie Crist’s decision to save ‘Florida Forever’ a $300M statewide environmental protection program. Albert earned his BS, MLA and PhD from Cornell University, and has been at the forefront of strategic land conservation for more than 20 years. 

 

 

Experience

Principal

Longview Farm Restoration & Reclamation Project

2015 – 2017  - 2yrs

Trumansburg, NY

  • Multi-unit, Family-owned Rural Farm in Upstate New York
  • Assumed full fiscal and operational accountability for this 202 acre property owned by the Joerger family.
  • Had been operating at an unsustainable loss of $80,000 per year.
  • Incubated and executed a comprehensive plan to renovate the farm’s seven homes
  • Including the Estate at Longview Farm an eight bedroom Italianate property and several other significant buildings.
  • Successfully completed challenging physical renovations
  • Implemented Green Systems
  • Furnished from local and out of state antique estate sales
  • Created sustainable walking trails
  • Planted an orchard featuring 132 apples, pears, plums and cherries
  • Landscaped grounds including rose garden, perennial beds and flowering trees
  • Built a functional hen house
  • Created two wedding lawns
  • Designed, planned and installed a 25 meter pool, an outdoor amphitheater, a hot tub and children’s play house
  • In less than 18 months, achieved a 180 ° turnaround for the farms lon-term prospects for survival
  • Longview Farm is now a destination location for private and corporate events

President

The Joerger Group

2012 – Present  - 5 yrs

Sarasota, FL

  • Advising in fundraising, land conservation, conservation leadership, land planning, environmental policy, and real estate.
  • Specialist consulting group catering to private and public organizations concerned with conservation branding, financing, land conservation, leadership training and evolving environmental polices and regulations.
  • Spearheaded the vision and strategy for this award winning consultancy
  • Providing expert advice and services across a diverse range of large-scale planning, land acquisition and conservation, urban park development, and sustainable residential and commercial site planning projects
  • Conservation financing access to like minded public and private sector

 

Founder and President

Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast

2003 – 2011 - 8 yrs

Osprey, FL

  • Launched and directed operations and finance for land trust serving seven Florida counties
  • Raised $28 million through major donors, foundations, and state agencies
  • Protected more than 8,400 acres on 23 properties
  • Named acquisition agent, Sarasota County's Environmentally Sensitive Lands and Neighborhood Parks Programs
  • Championed $250,000,000 bond initiative

 

Instructor

Ringling College of Art and Design

2004 – 2005  - 1 yr

Sarasota, FL

  • Developed and taught Environmental Science and Ecology of Culture courses

 

Assistant State Director, NJ: Director, Skylands: Director of Protection & Project Review, NY

The Nature Conservancy

2000 – 2003- 3 yrs

LocationNew York & New Jersey

  • Directed programming, land protection, outreach, stewardship and research
  • Cultivated major donors, private foundations, and state agencies
  • Received more than $1.7M from the States of New Jersey and New York
  • Directed day-to-day finances and operations
     

Education

Cornell University

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Environmental Science

1992 – 1997

Major: Environmental Information Science
Minor: Conservation and Sustainable Development, Real Estate
Dissertation Topic: Tourism and Environmental Decision Making

 

Cornell University

Master's degree

Landscape Architecture

1989 – 1992

 

Cornell University

Bachelor of Science - BS

Resource Economics

1985 – 1989

 

Volunteer Experience

Member

National Council, Land Trust Alliance

2011 – Present - 6 yrs

Environment

 

Governing Board Member

Southwest Florida Water Management District

2008 – 2013 - 5 yrs

Environment

Accomplishments

 

Honors & Awards

Cornell Tradition Fellow
Cornell University

Landscape Design Competition: Winner
American Society of Landscape Architecture: NY Chapter

William Fredrick Dreer Award
Cornell University
 

Publications

Geographic Information Systems: Siting of Coastal Hotels in Costa Rica

Aug 1999 Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly
 

Sustainable Tourism: A Community Partnership Model for Sustainable Tourism Development

1999 Council for Australian University Tourism and Hospitality Education, 9th National Research Conference
Coauthors
 

Tourism and Environmental Decision-Making

1997  Cornell University
Ph.D. Dissertation