Explaining his commitment, Haffner noted, “I am truly honored to serve as Board Chair of the Cincinnati Nature Center. My parents were very involved in the early years of the organization and to see the progress made over the last five decades is amazing. We have several significant projects underway as we enter our 50th anniversary in 2017. The highlight is the new Center for Conservation & Stewardship to be housed in the former Groesbeck home, which will become a regional Center for excellence in land conservation.”
The historic Groesbeck Estate is currently under renovation. The estate’s rebirth and the launch of the Center for Conservation & Stewardship marks a pivotal time in the Nature Center’s development toward providing a leading regional approach to land conservation and stewardship. The Center will focus on objectives in five areas including: 1) enhancing Nature Center lands as a model native ecosystem, 2) increasing conservation efforts in the region, 3) educating about benefits and methods of conservation, 4) carrying out research on the local ecosystem, and 5) protecting greenspace in the region.
“Bill Hopple, Executive Director of Cincinnati Nature Center, and his Leadership Team have articulated a compelling vision for this project and the Board is pleased to champion the effort. We appreciate the community’s support for the Center and look forward to celebrating Cincinnati Nature Center’s milestone anniversary together,” said Haffner.
Haffner is an attorney with the law firm of Calfee, Halter & Griswold, LLP representing clients in matters pertaining to general corporate issues, mergers & acquisitions, commercial and public finance, and government affairs. He received his B.A. in Government from Dartmouth College and his J.D. from the University of Cincinnati. Prior to joining Calfee, Haffner was an attorney and Sr. Vice President at Great American Insurance. He was a member of Leadership Cincinnati Class 39 for 2015-2016 and is a Director of Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services. He and his wife Karri are the parents of twin teenagers Grace and Gus.
Cincinnati Nature Center preserves over 1,600 acres of protected and managed forests, grasslands, farms, ponds and streams for the purpose of visitor experience and education. With twenty miles of award winning trails on two picturesque properties in Milford and Goshen, the Nature Center provides spectacular experiences for people of all ages in all seasons.