Doug Coleman announces retirement
March 12, 2025
To the Wintergreen Community,
I am writing to inform you that Doug Coleman, Executive Director of The Nature Foundation at Wintergreen (TNFW), has notified the Board of Directors that he will retire from TNFW later this year. This announcement marks a significant milestone in the history of The Nature Foundation at Wintergreen.
Doug was hired by Wintergreen nearly 50 years ago to advise the Resort on environmental and conservation matters. He was instrumental in founding TNFW as a separate nonprofit organization in 1993 and has served as Founder, Biologist, and Executive Director since then. His work has preserved Wintergreen’s unique ecosystems and fostered a deeper appreciation for nature among thousands of TNFW members, volunteers, life long learners, and visitors, helping to fulfil the original vision for Wintergreen. Under Doug’s leadership, TNFW has supported our local schools, students, and interns through hundreds of science-based educational programs; sponsored meaningful environmental research that informs conservation of Wintergreen’s forests and open spaces; and has been recognized with national awards.
Doug Coleman
The Board-appointed Search Committee is currently undertaking a national search to recruit a talented and qualified candidate passionate about environmental stewardship and community engagement to serve as the next executive director. The selected candidate will be capable of leading and growing a dynamic, member-based organization that delivers on its mission and preserves Wintergreen’s natural heritage for generations to come. Evaluating and interviewing candidates will begin later this spring, with the goal of hiring a new executive director this summer.
On behalf of the Board and Wintergreen community, I express our deepest gratitude to Doug for his extraordinary contributions to TNFW, the Wintergreen community, and the Central Virginia Blue Ridge region. As we embark on the next chapter in the history of TNFW and Wintergreen, we are excited about the opportunity to build upon a strong legacy.
Brent Douglass, President
TNFW Board of Directors