News

The Sound Rivers Board of Directors would like to announce that Sound Rivers Executive Director Heather Deck is taking a long overdue break to restore, rejuvenate and reflect on her decades of service protecting the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico from polluters, bad legislation, failing infrastructure and many more environmental ills.

A few months ago, the board awarded Heather a 90-day sabbatical, which starts Dec. 20. In the interim, current board treasurer and past Pamlico-Tar River Foundation Executive Director David Emmerling will be guiding the Sound Rivers ship, and the Sound Rivers team is also stepping up to support him and the organization as a whole.

“Over the course of the last 21 years, as a Riverkeeper and now as executive director, Heather has made invaluable contributions to advance the mission of Sound Rivers. Earlier this year, Heather identified the need for a sabbatical that would enable her to serve the organization with renewed energy and focus,” said Sound Rivers Board President Catherine Kastleman, explaining that Heather’s 90-day sabbatical closely mirrors the sabbatical experience provided to other nonprofit leaders through the Z. Smith Reynolds sabbatical program. “The executive director role requires long hours, including many nights and weekends away from family. It also requires a level of creativity and daily problem-solving that would be draining even if Heather had not recently guided the organization successfully through a global pandemic and into a period of consistent growth and stability.” 

In the years to come, many challenges and opportunities lie ahead — this gift of time allows Sound Rivers’ leader a chance to regroup so that she can more effectively tackle them. The Sound Rivers board and staff wish Heather a restful, peaceful and inspiring experience over the next three months.