Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Tom Dallessio as its new Executive Director, ushering in an exciting next chapter as the organization prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary and continues its mission to preserve and protect open space, farmland, and natural habitats throughout Monmouth County.
A nationally respected planner, policy expert, educator, and nonprofit executive, Tom brings more than 40 years of leadership experience to MCF, spanning public, private, nonprofit, and academic sectors. He will oversee all aspects of MCF’s work, including land preservation, stewardship, education, fundraising, organizational leadership, and strategic partnerships, while leading the organization into new phases of growth and impact.
“Throughout the search process, we sought a visionary leader with the experience to advance MCF’s mission while positioning the organization for its next chapter of growth,” said Tracy Cole, MCF Trustee and Chair of the Succession Planning Committee. “Tom’s distinguished career spanning planning, public policy, nonprofit leadership, and higher education made him a standout candidate, and we are excited to welcome him to Monmouth Conservation Foundation.”
A licensed professional planner, Tom is a Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners, a Certified Public Manager, and a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of the Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. He is a Lecturer at Rutgers University’s Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning & Public Policy, where he teaches courses in comprehensive planning, transportation, and land use administration.
Tom’s previous leadership experience includes serving as the Environmental Health & Sustainability Team Lead for Plan4HealthNJ, and as Executive Director of the Musconetcong Watershed Association, where he led efforts to protect and restore one of New Jersey’s most treasured waterways. Earlier in his career, he led three additional nonprofit organizations and served as Senior Policy Advisor to two New Jersey Governors, helping co-author landmark legislation that set out to preserve an additional one million acres of open space, farmland, and historic resources across the state. He also played a key role in developing New Jersey’s first and second State Development and Redevelopment Plans and served as the Governor’s appointee to the State Planning Commission.
Today, Tom serves as Vice President of Policy for the New Jersey chapter of the American Planning Association and is a recipient of the B. Budd Chavooshian Award for Outstanding Professional Planner.
“Tom Dallessio’s exceptional leadership, expertise in conservation planning, and commitment to protecting open space make him the ideal person to guide MCF through our new chapter,” said Jack Tassini, President of Monmouth Conservation Foundation’s Board of Trustees. “As we prepare to celebrate our 50th anniversary next year, we look forward to working with Tom to build on nearly five decades of conservation success. Open space and our natural world are inspiring to many and essential for quality of life for all. Monmouth County’s voters have shown strong support for acquisition and protection of open space, MCF thanks our public officials – especially Monmouth County’s commissioners – for their action in this regard, and MCF looks forward – with Tom Dallessio’s leadership – to work with our public officials to protect our beautiful county.”
As Executive Director, Tom will lead MCF’s efforts to preserve at least half of the approximately 20,000 acres of undeveloped land remaining in Monmouth County while strengthening the organization’s other initiatives, including easement stewardship, expanding educational programming, and growing public engagement. Under his guidance, MCF will advance the long-term vision for Scudder Preserve, the organization’s first conservation property, which serves as a living classroom for environmental education and habitat restoration.
“I am honored to join Monmouth Conservation Foundation at such an exciting moment in its history,” Tom reflects. “MCF has built an extraordinary legacy of protecting the places that make Monmouth County unique, and I look forward to working with the Board, staff, volunteers, partners, and supporters to build on that legacy.”
