New Director Named to Forest Preserve District

The Lake County Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners named a new executive director Tuesday to lead the district—one of the nation’s top conservation agencies and the second largest forest preserve district in the state of Illinois.

Following an extensive recruitment and selection process, the board approved a contract with Alex Ty Kovach, of Akeley, Minn., to serve as the district’s next executive director, effective June 12.

Kovach succeeds Tom Hahn who retired March 29 after 14 years of service, nine in the top position. Deputy Executive Director Andy Kimmel will serve as interim executive director until Kovach officially begins work.

“We are excited about this new chapter as we welcome Ty to the Forest Preserve team. Ty’s career spans both the public and private sectors, and his proven leadership success will serve our agency well as he takes on his new role as executive director,” said President Ann Maine, Lake County Forest Preserves.

“We look forward to working together with Ty to advance our goals to open new forest preserves to the public, extend our trail system, and preserve and restore natural areas and wildlife habitat across the county in a financially-responsible way.”

As leader of the agency, Kovach will oversee management of more than 30,000 acres of land, 168 miles of trails, three public golf courses, public access to the Fox River, award-winning education programs and events, and facilities of special interest including Independence Grove, Ryerson Conservation Area, the Lake County Discovery Museum and Greenbelt Cultural Center.

Upon accepting the position, Kovach said, "The success of the Lake County Forest Preserves and the pride that the county residents have is so evident that from the moment I arrived there I knew I wanted to be part of it and do my best to continue to move the organization forward. I take a long-range view of landscapes and see the Lake County Forest Preserves as the custodian of a very important resource. We need to be thinking of future generations as decisions are made and resources are managed."

About Kovach

Kovach received a bachelor’s degree in industrial technology from Bemidji State University in Minnesota, and brings a diverse background of national and international leadership experience in both the public and private sectors.

Since early 2012, Kovach has been working internationally as chief executive officer for Cabo Delgado Investments Limited, which owns and manages a group of private islands and coastal forest land in the Republic of Mozambique in southeast Africa. Home to some of the most significant habitats and marine wildlife in the Indian Ocean, the island and coastal concessions total over 110,000 acres.

The cluster of islands and their associated reefs are protected in partnership with the World Wildlife Federation, and managed for ecotourism, wildlife conservation and community development. As head of the organization, Kovach developed and implemented strategies to finance the project, and established public and private partnerships to protect the land.

Kovach also currently serves on the board of directors for the Mukoque Construcoes Limitada, an organization that provides design, engineering and commercial construction services across Mozambique.

Prior to his work at Cabo Delgado Investments, Kovach worked five years as chief operations officer for the Mustique Company Limited on the 1,400-acre private island of Mustique, part of the island country of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the West Indies. Managing a staff of 800, Kovach led operation of the company and its subsidiaries, as well as a variety of conservation initiatives such as reforestation of the Grenadine Islands, reef protection and shoreline and beach restoration.

In the public realm, Kovach served 15 years, seven as operations manager, for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources managing strategic planning, policy and budget development and regional programs.

Submitted by the Lake County Forest Preserve District