Peninsula Open Space Trust Promotes Noelle Chambers Thurlow to Vice President of Conservation

Peninsula Open Space Trust Promotes Noelle Chambers Thurlow to Vice President of Conservation

Curt Riffle set to retire after four years at POST

 Palo Alto, Calif. – July 7, 2020 — Today, the Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) announced the promotion of Noelle Chambers Thurlow from senior director land programs and transactions to vice president of conservation. Thurlow is replacing Curt Riffle who is retiring from the position.

Thurlow has been with POST’s land team in various roles since 2005. Most recently, she oversaw the landmark conservation of more than 900 acres in north Coyote Valley, a deal that was more than two decades in the making and involved a complex partnership with the City of San Jose and Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority.

“We are extremely excited to promote Noelle from within the POST organization. After fifteen years of her dedicated and outstanding accomplishments, she is more than prepared to take the reins from Curt,” said Walter T. Moore, president of Peninsula Open Space Trust. “It’s a true passing of the torch as Curt steps back from his remarkable career in land conservation. POST is fortunate to have had the benefit of his experience these past four years. We trust we will continue to see him out on the hundreds of miles of trails he has helped preserve over his long career.” 

About Noelle Chambers Thurlow

Thurlow joined POST in 2005 as conservation project manager. She is an expert in land trust transactions and open space stewardship. While at POST, Thurlow has managed numerous successful projects including more than 100 property transactions and conservation easements. Prior to joining POST, she worked at the Willistown Conservation Trust in Pennsylvania and The Nature Conservancy. She currently serves as treasurer on the board of TOGETHER Bay Area, a regional coalition of nonprofits, public agencies and Indigenous Tribes working together for climate-resilient lands.

Thurlow earned her bachelor of science degree from the University of California at San Diego and her master’s degree in environmental management from the Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences at Duke University.

About Curt Riffle

After a career overseeing conservation philanthropy at The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Riffle joined POST in 2016 as vice president of land. While retiring from his duties at POST, Riffle will continue to serve as a publicly elected director representing Ward 4 of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen), where he currently serves as that board’s vice president. Riffle was first appointed to the Midpen board in 2006.

About Peninsula Open Space Trust

POST protects open space on the Peninsula and in the South Bay for the benefit of all. As a private nonprofit land trust, POST has been responsible for saving more than 79,000 acres over the last 40 years. POST works with private landowners and public agencies to connect people and nature. Visit openspacetrust.org for more information.