Chesapeake Bay Trust President Jana Davis To Retire In September

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — One of Maryland’s most prominent nonprofits, the Chesapeake Bay Trust, has announced that its president, Dr. Jana Davis, will retire this September after a “transformative tenure.”

According to a press release provided to The BayNet, Dr. Davis’ leadership brought unprecedented growth, expanding both its reach and impact throughout the Chesapeake Bay, Coastal Bays and Youghiogheny River watersheds. During her tenure, the Bay Trust’s funding grew from $2.4 million in grant awards in 2005 to $39.8 million last year, empowering hundreds of community organizations, schools, homeowners associations, faith-based groups and other nonprofits to restore natural resources. This record year brings the Bay Trust to more than $250 million in awards since its inception, funding community-driven projects that have planted more than 9.6 million trees and native plants; removed more than 14.4 million pounds of litter, including plastics that harm our ecosystem and health; and engaged more than 3.4 million students, teachers and volunteers.

“The Chesapeake Bay Trust understands that meaningful environmental change happens when people are empowered to lead and sustain projects they dream up for their own communities,” Davis said in the release. “It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve alongside such an extraordinary staff, board, partners and grantees to support our local communities and protect our shared natural resources.”

The Board of Trustees has appointed longtime Bay Trust leader and Vice President of Outreach and Education Programs Kacey Wetzel as the organization’s next president.

Wetzel has worked at the Bay Trust for 18 years. She is part of the Leadership Maryland Class of 2025 and was named one of 100 Leading Women by The Daily Record in 2017. During her time at the organization so far, Wetzel has “played a central role in growing the Bay Trust’s funding portfolio, strengthening relationships with public and private partners and expanding programs that empower communities to protect and restore nature and their neighborhoods at the same time.”

Wetzel will take over as president following Davis’ retirement on Sept. 18.

The Chesapeake Bay Trust envisions a Chesapeake Bay where local watersheds are clean and healthy, waters are fishable and swimmable, and local communities benefit from the resources. The organization’s goal is to engage and empower communities to take action to protect the Chesapeake Bay.

Learn more at cbtrust.org

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