Loring Foundation hires Pochman as first director
BY PETER B. BRACE INDEPENDENT WRITER
Thas he Linda Loring Nature Foundation lured former Maria Mitchell Association executive director Kathryn "Kitty" Pochman out of retirement and last week named her to be its first executive director and guiding force behind a planned environmental education center geared to children.

Kathryn "Kitty" Pochman ROB BENCHLEY/The Independent

"She's marvelously experienced and her experience is dead on in the areas we need assistance in," said board member Stephen Langer who, with other members of the board, culled through dozens of applicants and interviewed eight finalists. "We felt fortunate that she was available when we were looking for the executive director. Importantly, she knows the island intimately well."

When Pochman starts her job on Aug. 7, she will be the Foundation's first employee. Her charge of implementing Loring's plan for a nature center that will open in time for next summer includes setting up the physical office space, connecting with her professional peers and formulating a strategic plan.

Just a year-and-a-half removed from retiring as the Maria Mitchell Association's executive director of 13 years, Pochman is ready to return to her professional roots.

"Everybody is so enthusiastic about having her. I think she will fill the bill perfectly." - Linda Loring

"It sounded like a fantastic opportunity," said Pochman. "It's so exciting what Linda Loring has done with her property and the vision she has for her nature center is one that I wanted to be involved in.

"I have been spending a lot of time with my family and I will certainly continue to do that. I had 18 months when I could relax and reconnect with myself and my garden and my friends. I just felt it was time to get involved with the community again."

Pochman's know-how will be called upon during the design of Loring's nature center, that includes the construction of a barn to serve as an educational building, the cutting of nature trails throughout the property, birdviewing blinds around the North Head of Long Pond, a parking area and the renovation of a house on the property for employee housing - and, if Loring chooses to do so, a helicopter pad reserved solely for Air Force One should the President of the United States need an out-of-the-way place to land on the island, per the stipulation of her conservation restriction agreement with the Nantucket Land Council.

Loring formed a board consisting of herself and six directors in 1999 for the sole purpose of operating the Linda Loring Nature Foundation, Inc. She is now able to work on bringing her ideas to fruition because the Nantucket Land Council successfully raised $14 million to buy the development rights to the nine parcels of land that make up the 270 acres in the form of a conservation restriction that it will hold and manage.

The board's choice of Pochman made Loring feel at ease about her nature center's blossoming into what she envisions it will be.

"I think that she's going to be just wonderful," said Loring. "She knows all of the people on Nantucket. I think she will really be able to find the specific monies we need. Everybody is so enthusiastic about having her. I think she will fill the bill perfectly. It's wonderful to have someone who knows the island and who knows the needs of a brand new outfit like ours. We are just very fortunate to have somebody

like that." I