Neal Fishman, a former top official with state Coastal Conservancy, has joined the board of directors of the Sonoma Land Trust, the Santa Rosa-based land conservation group announced Thursday.
Fishman, a Penngrove native and recently retired Petaluma resident, worked more than 30 years with the state agency, including five years as deputy director.
The Coastal Conservancy funds coastal land protection, restoration and public access projects.
He also supervised an affiliated government body, the California Ocean Protection Council, and served as chief consultant to the state Senate Committee on Natural Resources.
During his tenure, Fishman helped craft several statewide park-bond ballot measures and oversaw a state program focusing on land protection around the San Francisco Bay. The program has helped fund the purchase of several Sonoma County preserves, including the Jenner Headlands, Tolay Creek Ranch, Sonoma Mountain Ranch and Estero Americano Preserve.
Fishman's addition to the board "will be invaluable in helping us access additional resources to protect our scenic landscapes," Sonoma Land Trust executive director Ralph Benson said in a statement.
The organization's 11-member board includes directors with backgrounds in business, medicine, planning, financial investment, public administration and real estate.
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