North Carolina Coastal Land Trust Names Jesica Blake as Next Executive Director 

Nationally Recognized Conservation Leader Will Succeed Harrison Marks Beginning October 1

The Coastal Land Trust announced on July 1, 2026 that Jesica Blake, Associate Director, has been named its next Executive Director, effective October 1, 2026. Blake, who joined the organization in 2002 as its first stewardship staff member, will succeed Harrison Marks, who will transition to a Senior Advisor role, continuing to support the organization and provide leadership for specific projects. The board of directors announced the selection with full unanimity and described the transition as a reflection of the organization’s strength and the depth of its leadership bench.

“Jesica brings a rare combination of deep institutional knowledge, strategic leadership, and credibility in the conservation community,” said Bob Emory, President of the Coastal Land Trust Board of Directors. “She has dedicated her career to protecting the places we all love, and the board is confident that her experience, judgment, and passion make her the right person to lead the Coastal Land Trust into the future.”

Blake has spent more than two decades growing with the Coastal Land Trust. After joining as the organization’s first dedicated stewardship professional, she expanded her responsibilities across stewardship, organizational strategy, and people operations before becoming Associate Director. As the key contact for many of our donors and partners, Jesica will be highly successful in continuing to build support and expand the capacity of the Coastal Land Trust. She holds the Land Trust Alliance Advanced Practitioner designation, among the highest professional credentials in the land trust field, and has represented the Coastal Land Trust nationally as a presenter, contributor, and elected member of the Terrafirma governing members committee.

“I am deeply honored to be entrusted with this role,” said Blake. “The Coastal Land Trust has been my professional home for more than two decades, and I understand its mission, its people, and its potential at every level. I look forward to building on the extraordinary foundation Harrison and this team have created, and to doing whatever it takes to protect the lands and waters of coastal North Carolina for generations to come.”

Marks, who joined the Coastal Land Trust as Executive Director in fall 2022, will serve as Executive Director through September 30, at which point he will transition to a Senior Advisor role, continuing to support Jesica and provide leadership for specific projects. He joined the organization at a late stage of his career and is credited with strengthening key relationships, deepening the organization’s conservation impact, and positioning the Coastal Land Trust for its next phase of growth.

“It has been a privilege to serve the Coastal Land Trust in this role and to work alongside such a talented and committed team,” said Harrison Marks, Executive Director of the Coastal Land Trust. “Jesica has been central to this organization’s success for many years. She understands the mission at every level, has earned the trust of colleagues and partners across the region and beyond, and is exceptionally well prepared to lead the Coastal Land Trust forward.”