Meet our Executive Director, Chris Franklin!

Royal River Conservation Trust (RRCT) is excited to launch our new blog post series interviewing each of our full-time employees! A small crew of three, get to know Chris, Hanae, and tish over the next few weeks and get a better understanding of what our leadership looks like and how the RRCT operates.

Starting with our Executive Director, Chris Franklin!

Chris was hired in March of 2025 and wears many hats in his role. He leads RRCT’s dedicated team, oversees day-to-day operations and represents the organization to stakeholders and the broader community. Chris is deeply involved with both the administrative functions of our trust and works tirelessly communicating with landowners and organizing new land acquisitions.

What does your everyday schedule look like? 

Meetings, meetings and more meetings!  Oh, and prepping for meetings!  While meetings are a bit part of our role as a “Catalyst” for environmental work in the watershed, I am also responsible for fundraising, our land acquisition program as well as overall management of our day-to-day activities.

Favorite part of the job?

Working with landowners whose vision for the future of their land is as conservation land, and our Board Meetings.  Our board is full of talented, really caring people who volunteer their time to make this organization stronger and to advance our mission.  There are a lot of other things they could be doing with their time but that they choose to spend it helping RRCT makes a huge difference in what we can accomplish.

What did you study and how were you inspired to work at a land trust?

New England born and bred, I attended the University of Colorado and received a degree in Environmental Conservation housed in the school’s Geography department.  I see geography as the intersection of people and place which has proven to be very relevant to my chosen career path. About the time I was in college, my grandparents in New Hampshire donated nearly 200 acres of fields, woods, and streams to the local watershed organization. The idea that these same woods where my grandmother taught us to fly fish, and the places my mom explored as a kid would be forever protected meant so much to our family and the community and has stuck with me since.

What were you doing before working for RRCT?

Immediately before RRCT, I was making gluten-free bagels out of a commercial kitchen in North Yarmouth.  It was a great experience, and the product was very well received, but as much as I loved running my own small business the opportunity to lead RRCT at such a consequential time was too great to pass up.

What’s your experience in the industry?

From 1991-1998, I worked in San Francisco for the renown environmentalist David Brower before heading to Alaska for a year with my now wife, Julie.  We moved to Maine in 2000 where I worked on short environmental campaign videos before being hired as the Executive Director of the Cape Elizabeth Land Trust in 2003 and stayed there for 13 years. After a year working on a national marine protected area campaign, I joined the staff of the Maine Farmland Trust for six years as a project manager working on land protection projects throughout Oxford, Kennebec and Androscoggin Counties.  Post pandemic, I launched the Badger Bagels business for a change of pace. Looking back, I see that project as my sabbatical! It’s good to be back.

Where did you grow up?

In Lincoln, Massachusetts, well before I knew what a land trust was though the Town in many was one of the early innovators of the land trust model.  A very similar upbringing to the greater Portland area, just further from the ocean.

What is your favorite RRCT property?

Thayer Brook Preserve in Gray is pretty spectacular.  Between the beaver pond, the glacial moraine and the birding there is a lot to see.  Well maintained trails but still feels you are deep in the woods.  Great all times of year.

Favorite native plant/animal sighted on an RRCT property?

I would have to say the eagles.  I like birding but I never go out looking for eagles, they seem to find you, and it always feels like a gift.

After the 9-5, what does your 5-9 look like? Weekends?

It’s not uncommon for me to have two- or three-night meetings a week so not always a 9-5 kinda job… BUT, free time –this time of year—is ideally spent in our garden, or fishing. Both pursuits help to clear my head.. and reward one’s patience.  Family time, playing guitar, biking, cooking, canoeing, swimming….. so many things to do and so little time!

Favorite spot in Yarmouth/ the Royal River watershed?

Skating under a full moon on the Royal River. A rare but unmatched experience in the watershed-full stop.

Rivers, mountains, or the ocean?

Yes, Please!  I don’t discriminate.

In five words, why RRCT?

Because the future matters.