The Catalina Island Conservancy’s President and CEO, Ann Muscat, bounced back from recent criticism by a few of its officers who have left the organization when the non-profit’s board of directors voted on Monday to announce they have complete confidence in her.
The vote, which was 8-7, came on the heels of reports of dissent among some in the Conservancy’s ranks who disagree with her managerial style.
The Catalina Island Conservancy’s President and CEO, Ann Muscat, bounced back from recent criticism by a few of its officers who have left the organization when the non-profit’s board of directors voted on Monday to announce they have complete confidence in her.
The vote, which was 8-7, came on the heels of reports of dissent among some in the Conservancy’s ranks who disagree with her managerial style.
Muscat detractor Carlos De La Rosa, the Conservancy’s former chief conservation and science officer, said in a written statement to the media that the organization had lost its way under her leadership.
Muscat has led the Conservancy toward developing more tourism of Catalina and some say away from its original mission of conservation of the 88 percent of the island under the Conservancy’s care.
Muscat explained that the Conservancy had held numerous planning sessions in which it redefined what it would try to accomplish as it moved into the future.
“The mission of the Conservancy is to care for Catalina’s ecological health so it can be enjoyed by people,” Muscat said. “It is also to provide education and recreation. We are always looking to find the appropriate mix. We don’t want to sacrifice ecology, but I think there is a way to have both people enjoying the Island as well as protecting the natural resources.”
Muscat said she did not think that the goals were mutually exclusive of each other. She also questioned De la Rosa’s criticism.
“Carlos was involved in creating our master plan,” she said. “He had every opportunity to give input and he never once said we were going off in the wrong direction.”
Muscat said she and the Conservancy’s board welcome input from its staff as well as its volunteers and from scientists and conservationists all across the country.
Muscat’s salary also became an issue in the reports on dissention.
It was reported that Muscat, who holds a Ph.D., earns $286,000 a year. However, she said that figure was not quite accurate. However, she said that her salary is comparable to other people in her position.
“The board is responsible for setting my salary,” Muscat said. “They set the benchmark for the salaries and we are competitive in the market (to) make sure it is appropriate and not too high or too low so that we attract the right people.”
Muscat’s salary was an issue for Avalon Mayor Bob Kennedy.
“It’s a big chunk of change,” Kennedy said.
“The Conservancy’s goal is to preserve the Island,” Kennedy said. “Are they doing that or are they spending all their money on salaries? She is an Island stakeholder and she should be interested in the desires of her fellow stakeholders. We as a city honor and respect her wishes. She should reciprocate. She does, when it benefits her.”
Muscat said she was somewhat taken aback by Kennedy’s remarks.
“My intention is to reach out to Bob and see what sort of issues we can work out together,” Muscat said. “I hope he would welcome that interaction and I hope we can have it in the future. I have never had any negative interaction with Bob in the past.”
John Cotton, chairman of the Conservancy’s Board of Directors, on Wednesday said the Board had confidence in the entire Conservancy team.
“The Catalina Island Conservancy and its Board of Directors take very seriously the important role we play to protect and conserve the Island’s natural ecosystem, while promoting economic vitality, sustainability and quality of life for the Island community,” Cotton said. “As a Board, we recognize the challenges–both internally and externally–that come with growth and bold plans. We have complete confidence in Ann Muscat’s leadership and the Conservancy’s immensely talented team…We look forward to continuing our mission and vision started some 40 years ago to balance conservation, education, and recreation.”
