MADISON – WI Land+Water today announced Matt Krueger as the new Executive Director of the Association, following the retirement of former Executive Director Jim VandenBrook. Krueger comes to WI Land+Water after nearly a decade with the River Alliance of Wisconsin, where he most recently served as River Restoration Director.

“I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to advance conservation in my new role at WI Land+Water,” said Matt Krueger. “At this current moment where we face significant challenges in both conservation and agriculture, I am confident this Association will be part of the solution going forward.”

While at the River Alliance of Wisconsin, Krueger developed innovative solutions to watershed conservation challenges and built diverse partnerships between citizens, counties and agencies, farmers, and businesses. Krueger holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Communications and a Master’s of Science in Water Resources Management from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Krueger lives in Madison with his wife, daughter, and dog, and enjoys fishing, hunting, bird watching, and hiking in the beautiful woods and water of Wisconsin.

Jim VandenBrook retires from WI Land+Water after serving six years as Executive Director. Under VandenBrook’s leadership, the association successfully merged the Wisconsin Association of Land Conservation Employees (WALCE) with the Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association (WLWCA). The merge combined the two associations, representing both county Land Conservation Departments and Committee supervisors, rebranding itself as WI Land+Water.

“It has been a real privilege to represent the local resource professionals who do the real work of land and water conservation in Wisconsin,” said Jim VandenBrook. “Best wishes to Matt and a fond farewell to the fantastic staff at WI Land+Water. The future of conservation in Wisconsin is getting brighter.”

VandenBrook also spearheaded WI Land+Water’s flagship initiative, The Food, Land & Water Project, successfully bringing together stakeholders from a wide array of industries and public entities to address Wisconsin’s most important resource problems. This collaborative, statewide approach has built a roadmap to improving surface water quality, groundwater quality, groundwater quantity, and the future of working lands. Both the comprehensive research and strategies are published in the report Food, Land & Water: Moving Forward.

Jim VandenBrook began his career in Wisconsin conservation as a County Conservationist in Vernon and Trempealeau Counties. VandenBrook then served the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) in various capacities for 26 years, as well as a member of Wisconsin Land Information Board and the Dane County Regional Planning Commission. An avid, athletic outdoorsman, VandenBrook skied 34 American Birkebeiners, the Norwegian Birkebeiner, two Iron Man competitions, and biked across Switzerland. He looks forward to traveling with his wife and dog in their airstream in the coming months.

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