Doug Nicholas a Good Fit for TLC

by Sidney Cruze
(from TLC News, June 1999)

TLC is happy to welcome a new communications coordinator, Doug Nicholas, to its growing staff.

Lucky for TLC, Doug brings a wealth of communications skills to his position. He moved to the Triangle from Connecticut, to go to graduate school at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at UNC-Chapel Hill in 1991. Not long after that, he got involved with the Sierra Club and then became editor of Footnotes, the NC chapter's newsletter. Most recently, he worked in the communications office at the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).

Doug also has an appreciation for open space that is based on experience. He describes living in the Northeast where "the development was done; the land was chopped up and open spaces were few and far between." After moving to North Carolina and seeing so much open space so close to urban areas, he saw an opportunity for development to be done differently.

"I'd like to see more smart development where cities grow organically and development is clustered. It just makes sense for an urban area like the Triangle."

Doug is glad to be working for TLC because it allows him to get involved in educating the public about the benefits of open space. "With TLC I can educate the public about their choices," he says.

Doug's goal is to be a strong connection between TLC and the media. He wants to make sure that Executive Director Kate Dixon has the most opportunities possible to tell the TLC story. He's excited about helping to generate interest in TLC campaigns so TLC can raise the money it needs to protect land. Plus he wants to empower volunteers and board members to accomplish the goals they set for TLC.

Doug describes TLC volunteers and board members as "fantastic," both cooperative and willing to do what has to be done. He says, "I know that TLC is driven by its volunteers, and by contributions. I hope I can help cultivate successful campaigns and committed volunteers."

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