Hartford Business.com
May 17, 2008
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Eric Hammerling thought that his best bet after college would be to go to Washington, D.C. After all, the history major would be immersed in history-making every day.
He didn’t expect to find a new passion there, one that led him to take the position of executive director at the Connecticut Forest & Park Association, which begins in May.
Hammerling, 39, graduated from the University of Michigan in 1990 and became an environmental legislative aide to Congressman Silvio Conte upon graduation. The job brought him in contact with numerous issues including health care, women and the elderly.
“Conte was a real giant in Congress and I learned a ton from him, including how the legislative process works,” Hammerling said.
Later, the West Hartford resident joined the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation where he reported on federal agency environmental programs to Congress and made recommendations for funding of national park service programs.
He remained there until 1995, when he went to the University of California at Berkeley for a master’s degree in range management and environmental science. After graduation, he went back to the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation as regional director in their newly opened San Francisco office.
He stayed in California until 2000 before opening up the organization’s Northeast regional office in Boston.
“It was fortuitous because they were thinking about opening the office and I thought it would be a wonderful way to get back to my native Massachusetts,” he said.
When the foundation decided to move him again to New York City, Hammerling instead took on consulting and part-time work at The Center for Ecological Technology. In January 2003, he joined the Farmington River Watershed Association as its executive director.
“The size and history of the organization as well as its accomplishments are impressive,” Hammerling said. “But there are some things I hope to improve such as the [the foundation’s] technological capabilities and broadening the membership base. People need to know the important things the organization is doing for recreation, for health and well-being in the state.”
Emily Boisvert is a Hartford Business Journal staff writer.
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