Earthwatch Institute -Maynard MA - 17 July 2006 - Geoffrey Klein has joined the Earthwatch Institute as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer. "Geoffrey has a first rate background in business," said Earthwatch CEO & President Ed Wilson; "He complements my skills by specializing in planning, finance, sales and IT, and will be working with the executive team as Earthwatch continues to grow."
Earthwatch is an international non-profit organization that brings science to life for people concerned about the Earth's future. Earthwatch's mission is to engage people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment. Year 2006 marks the organization's 35th Anniversary.
Earthwatch supports scientific field research by offering volunteers the opportunity to join research teams around the world. This unique model is creating a systematic change in how the public views science and its role in environmental sustainability. Earthwatch recruits 4,000 volunteers a year and raises $15 million a year to support 140 projects around the globe. Earthwatch is supported by a staff of over 150 people in the Maynard, Massachusetts headquarters, plus offices in Oxford, England, Melbourne, Australia, and Tokyo, Japan. In 2006, Earthwatch will sponsor research projects in 48 countries and 16 US states. Since its founding in 1971, more than 81,000 volunteers have contributed over $57 million and 10.8 million hours to essential fieldwork.
Prior to joining Earthwatch Institute, Mr. Klein was a Principal and Chief Operating Officer of GroupComm Systems, Inc., formerly The Holt Company, in Newton MA. Mr. Klein had also served as Executive Director for IT Strategic Planning at UMass Memorial Healthcare in Worcester MA. Geoffrey Klein is a graduate of Rutgers College, with an MBA from Boston University. He is a member of the Northeastern Family Institute, and a soccer coach in Canton, MA., where he lives with his wife, Judy, and two sons.