Dr. Jennie Stephens is the Executive Director for the Center for Heirs’ Property Preservation. At the center, she’s responsible for overall strategic planning, revenue generation, financial & staff management, and program operations. Dr. Stephens has dedicated more than 25 years in the non-profit industry and is very passionate about building relationships with people who have experienced a history of abuse when it comes to their land and their rights. Find out more about the important work she does on this week’s episode! Landowners are skeptical (and rightfully so) to work with organizations. It takes time to build a good reputation.
Key Takeaways:
[1:40] A message from Leadership Nature.
[2:25] A quick intro about Dr. Stephens’s background.
[4:20] How did the Center For Heirs Property Preservation first get started?
[7:45] How has the Center evolved since its creation in 2005?
[12:00] The Center was one of the first three to be funded. We are now up to eight new legal centers throughout the U.S.
[14:10] How does Dr. Stephens help her clients?
[15:50] What kind of barriers do clients typically face that prevents them from moving forward?
[17:55] A lot of times, you’re asking heirs to make a business decision when they don’t even know who the other shareholders are.
[19:35] Dr. Stephens shares a couple of examples of how they were able to get over hurdles and build a good reputation for their center.
[21:50] Dr. Stephens and her team have resolved over 216 cases since the creation of the Center.
[23:25] When land gets lost, it doesn’t just impact the family, it impacts the community fundamentally.
[24:40] Dr. Stephens shares both a legal and a forestry case that was resolved at the Center.
[29:35] What kinds of partners have supported and helped the Center?
[34:30] What advice does Dr. Stephens have to include more diversity within the forestry community?
[37:20] Dr. Stephens shares some final words of wisdom about land retention.
Mentioned in This Episode: