By Thomas Patti, Communications Coordinator
In July, Wildlands bid farewell to our beloved Office Manager, Wendy Jones. After six years deftly balancing her Wildlands role with an assessor position for the Town of Plympton, Wendy has opted for a simpler work life, becoming the full-time Principal Assessor with the Town of Whitman. We will miss Wendy’s kind and calming presence around the office, and wish her the best in this next chapter of her career!
“My favorite part of working at Wildlands was not only the pleasant environment, but working with dedicated staff, volunteers, and board members who are committed to accomplishing rewarding work in land protection,” Wendy said. “It may sound a little corny, but it’s true! Also, each property has its own unique attributes and challenges, and the Wildlands staff is adept at handling all situations. Sometimes you never know what kind of call or email you receive from the public—and there are some interesting ones!”
Wendy’s path to Wildlands was long and winding, yet fueled at every step by a passion for learning and a commitment to her family. After an early foray into the legal field, Wendy pivoted to public television, where she worked for 15 years on PBS science documentary programs like Scientific American Frontiers and Audubon. After traveling extensively for a project with Harvard University, Wendy prepared for a closer-to-home career while juggling the roles of mom, student, and professional. She began managing a commercial property on Cape Cod and working toward an appraiser license, which led her to become a Massachusetts Accredited Assessor (MAA). Somehow, these various experiences brought Wendy to Wildlands—and we couldn’t be happier that they did.
“For the past six years, we have all marveled at Wendy’s masterful ability to carry out two part-time jobs, each with a considerable workload and tremendous responsibility,” said Wildlands President Karen Grey. “She never missed a beat. Wendy is dedicated and conscientious and has always dropped whatever she is doing to help any one of us in need. With Wendy, it is not what she does, but how she does it. We will miss her tremendously.”
We couldn’t let Wendy go without a feast. Last month, Wildlands staff convened after work in the Conservation Barn to share laughs, memories, and well wishes with Wendy over tacos and cake. In recognition of her dedication to the Trust, Wendy received a Yeti cooler, stocked with wine.
Thank you, Wendy, for your immense contributions to Wildlands Trust!