HOLLIS – The Beaver Brook Association Board of Directors appointed Thom Davies of Hollis as its new executive director effective June 1.

Davies replaces Fred Lyford, who successfully led the organization for the past two years. Davies has lived in Hollis since 1989, and brings 35 years of business management experience combined with a commitment to conservation issues to the position.

Davies had a successful career in pharmaceuticals, health care sales and management before his retiring in 2010.

Actively involved in the Hollis community, Davies sits on the Hollis Land Protection Study Committee, serves as the Hollis Conservation Commission treasurer, and is a supervisor of the voting checklist. In addition, Davies is a trustee of the Hollis Congregational Church UCC and serves on the Hillsborough County Association UCC Committee on Church and Ministry. Davies and his wife Tonda are parents of two adult children.

“Beaver Brook thanks and expresses sincere gratitude to Fred Lyford, our retiring executive director, for his two years of commitment and service to the organization. Because of his leadership, Beaver Brook is in a better position,” said Drew Kellner, president of the Beaver Brook Board of Directors. “We are now excited to be welcoming Thom Davies who is well regarded in conservation and who holds deep roots in the community to the role executive director. Thom’s enthusiasm, business experience, and passion for conservation will serve Beaver Brook well.”

Davies said Tuesday that he is also looking forward to his new position, saying he hopes to help promote all that Beaver Brook has to offer within the community.

“I’d certainly like to see Hollis save as many special places as we can and Beaver Brook is certainly a very special place,” he said.

In order to continue the organization’s mission, Davies said he has set his sights on increasing the amount of support it receives from the community and surrounding areas.

“It’s a gem here in town, but there’s still a lot of people who don’t realize what Beaver Brook has to offer and why they should support it,” he said.

Beaver Brook Association is a nonprofit educational organization founded to promote understanding of interrelationships in the natural world and to encourage conservation of natural resources through education and land stewardship. It relies on contributions from community members and visitors to maintain its land, trails and historic buildings used for educational programs.

Each year, Beaver Brook attracts more than 10,000 people of all ages to its programs and property.

For more information, visit www. BeaverBrook.org or call 465-7787.