Alex Ireland, PhD
President & CEO at New Jersey Audubon- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Robert Booth
Alex ranks among the very best PhD scientists that our department has produced during my ten years at Lehigh University. The quality and creativity of his research and scholarship is truly exemplary, and has pushed the boundaries of our knowledge in creative ways. In fact, my interactions and work with Alex have been the highlight of my academic career to date. He is a remarkably skilled researcher, teacher, and communicator and will no doubt significantly contribute to and extend the mission the of any employer.
Patrick Drohan
Alex is a pleasure to work with. He is intellectually very gifted, has great maturity, a personality that is flexible and pleasant, and practices outstanding attention to detail and follow through. I can highly recommend Alex....he will be an asset for your environmental profession in many capacities.
Robert Booth
Alex ranks among the very best PhD scientists that our department has produced during my ten years at Lehigh University. The quality and creativity of his research and scholarship is truly exemplary, and has pushed the boundaries of our knowledge in creative ways. In fact, my interactions and work with Alex have been the highlight of my academic career to date. He is a remarkably skilled researcher, teacher, and communicator and will no doubt significantly contribute to and extend the mission the of any employer.
Patrick Drohan
Alex is a pleasure to work with. He is intellectually very gifted, has great maturity, a personality that is flexible and pleasant, and practices outstanding attention to detail and follow through. I can highly recommend Alex....he will be an asset for your environmental profession in many capacities.
Robert Booth
Alex ranks among the very best PhD scientists that our department has produced during my ten years at Lehigh University. The quality and creativity of his research and scholarship is truly exemplary, and has pushed the boundaries of our knowledge in creative ways. In fact, my interactions and work with Alex have been the highlight of my academic career to date. He is a remarkably skilled researcher, teacher, and communicator and will no doubt significantly contribute to and extend the mission the of any employer.
Patrick Drohan
Alex is a pleasure to work with. He is intellectually very gifted, has great maturity, a personality that is flexible and pleasant, and practices outstanding attention to detail and follow through. I can highly recommend Alex....he will be an asset for your environmental profession in many capacities.
Robert Booth
Alex ranks among the very best PhD scientists that our department has produced during my ten years at Lehigh University. The quality and creativity of his research and scholarship is truly exemplary, and has pushed the boundaries of our knowledge in creative ways. In fact, my interactions and work with Alex have been the highlight of my academic career to date. He is a remarkably skilled researcher, teacher, and communicator and will no doubt significantly contribute to and extend the mission the of any employer.
Patrick Drohan
Alex is a pleasure to work with. He is intellectually very gifted, has great maturity, a personality that is flexible and pleasant, and practices outstanding attention to detail and follow through. I can highly recommend Alex....he will be an asset for your environmental profession in many capacities.
Credentials
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Certified Ecologist
Ecological Society of AmericaAug, 2016- Nov, 2024
Experience
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New Jersey Audubon
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United States
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Environmental Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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President & CEO
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Jun 2022 - Present
I serve a state-wide non-profit organization composed of 50+ full time staff and hundreds of volunteers. Day in and day out, we seek to connect all people with nature and steward the nature of today for all people of tomorrow. We pursue this mission across our network of nature centers and unstaffed sanctuaries as well as our state-wide ecological, research, education, and advocacy programs.
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Acting President & CEO
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May 2022 - Jun 2022
Led a 125-year-old conservation organization dedicated to connecting all people with nature and stewarding the nature of today for all people of tomorrow through the first leadership transition in over a decade.
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Vice President of Stewardship
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Sep 2021 - Apr 2022
Led a department of 10 including technicians, project coordinators, foresters, and project directors, restoring and stewarding diverse habitats across New JerseyWorked collaboratively with senior leadership team to guide and manage an organization of 50+ staff, 30+ properties, and diverse programsEngaged with Board and Committees on strategic issues in conservation and organizational missionEngaged in fundraising, including proposal development for government agencies and foundations as well as donor cultivation and relationsManaged wide ranging property issues associated with a network staffed and unstaffed sanctuariesManaged departmental budgeting and financial tracking across numerous federal, state, and private grants Show less
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ExxonMobil
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Oil and Gas
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700 & Above Employee
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Section Head - Environmental Sciences
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Mar 2021 - Sep 2021
Led a global team of 14+ environmental scientists collaborating across 30+ projects to meet regulatory requirements while working to reduce the environmental risk of ExxonMobil products and operationsFostered transparent exchange of information and creates clarity at all levels of the organization; set performance expectations; provided timely and respectful feedback; removed barriers to progressEnsured technical quality of deliverables by actively working with the team, reviewing documents, and convening subject matter experts where required, consistent with corporate policiesOversaw development of proposals for research in ecological risk assessment, land management, and sustainability sciencesBalanced the organizational needs and staff training when matching individuals to work assignmentsDeveloped a strategic vision for the team to reduce fragmentation, enhance prioritization, and focus on value delivery in areas critical to the future of the corporation Show less
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Planning Advisor
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Jan 2019 - Feb 2021
Led strategic planning, budgeting, and financial stewardship for a technical organization with 100 staff and annual operating expenses (OPEX) of $45M.Developed annual OPEX plans and led a network of 10+ program managers in the development of annual program plans that estimated the cost and effort required to achieve technical deliverablesServed as a finance advisor to senior management; presented monthly and quarterly OPEX reporting relative to plan and suggested corrective actions; handled sensitive information with care and discretionAnalyzed long-standing business processes to discover simplifications that reduced the administrative burden on technical staff; initiated stakeholder engagement and proposed solutionsCreated business process simplifications eliminating monthly timekeeping for 80+ scientists and saved an estimated $0.5M per year by re-directing scientists to technical workIntroduced software solutions to replace antiquated spreadsheet processes for capturing program plan and deliverable data; saved an estimated $0.2M per year by reducing the burden on program managersIdentified unnecessary complications in billing to internal clients; conducted deep analyses to understand the historic basis and to illustrate obsolescence. Built the case for action and implemented the change Show less
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Senior Environmental Scientist
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Dec 2013 - Dec 2018
Served as internal consultant on 10+ ecological reclamation projects; developed science-based, actionable plans for land and water quality management; saved $1M via reduced operation and maintenanceCreated strategies to position surplus properties for conservation end-useDeveloped and presented annual proposals to secure endorsement and funding from senior management, averaging $0.6M annuallyManaged a 15+ project R&D program with an annual budget of $0.6M and 5+ collaborating scientists; developed innovative remote sensing and GIS approaches to monitoring ecosystem restorationPublished numerous scientific papers and presented at national conferences Show less
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Penn State University
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United States
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Higher Education
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700 & Above Employee
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Postdoctoral Scholar
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Dec 2012 - Dec 2013
Pioneered new methods to model the ecological potential of forested natural landscapes using ArcGIS; applied methodology to the state-owned forests of Pennsylvania; supervised master’s students Added to scientific understanding of wetland response to human and climatic disturbances through detailed analysis of sediments and plant communities Published 4 scientific papers and presented at numerous national conferences Pioneered new methods to model the ecological potential of forested natural landscapes using ArcGIS; applied methodology to the state-owned forests of Pennsylvania; supervised master’s students Added to scientific understanding of wetland response to human and climatic disturbances through detailed analysis of sediments and plant communities Published 4 scientific papers and presented at numerous national conferences
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Lehigh University
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United States
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Higher Education
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700 & Above Employee
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Postdoctoral Research Associate
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Jun 2012 - Dec 2012
Primary Roles: Independent Scientist Highlights: Conducted original research leading to two publications in high-impact international journals
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Teaching and Research Assistant, Adjunct Instructor
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Aug 2007 - May 2012
Primary Roles: Student; Scientist; Lab Instructor; Lecturer Highlights: Developed and funded (through successful proposals) an innovative research project; Developed and delivered an upper level undergraduate course; Published four articles in high-impact international journals
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The Harvard Forest, Harvard University
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Petersham, MA
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REU Summer Research Intern (summer 2006 and summer 2007)
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Jun 2006 - Aug 2007
Primary Role: Student Researcher Highlights: Conducted independent research, leading to two first-authored peer-reviewed publications in well-respected journals. Primary Role: Student Researcher Highlights: Conducted independent research, leading to two first-authored peer-reviewed publications in well-respected journals.
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PennWest Clarion
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Higher Education
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300 - 400 Employee
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Tutor
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Aug 2006 - May 2007
Provided individual and group tutoring in chemistry, biology, and geomorphology Provided individual and group tutoring in chemistry, biology, and geomorphology
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The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
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United States
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Environmental Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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Greenway Planning Intern
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Aug 2005 - May 2006
Primary Role: Local Coordinator Highlights: Conducted personal interviews with local business owners to collect survey data documenting perspectives on a proposed greenway project Primary Role: Local Coordinator Highlights: Conducted personal interviews with local business owners to collect survey data documenting perspectives on a proposed greenway project
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US Army
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United States
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Armed Forces
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700 & Above Employee
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Airborne Artillery
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2002 - 2004
Airborne Artillery (13B1P), Army Commendation Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Honorable Discharge from Active and Reserve Duties (E-4) Airborne Artillery (13B1P), Army Commendation Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Honorable Discharge from Active and Reserve Duties (E-4)
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Education
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2018 - 2022
Lehigh University
Master of Business Administration - MBA -
2007 - 2012
Lehigh University
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences -
2004 - 2007
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Biology, General
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