NRDC Hires New Staff and Makes Personnel Moves to Advance Top Legislative Priorities

WASHINGTON (November 6, 2009) – The Natural Resources Defense Council today announced several staffing moves to bolster its legislative team.

Scott Slesinger will serve as NRDC’s Legislative Director. For the past 11 years, Slesinger, an attorney, had been the Vice President for Government Affairs at the Environmental Technology Council, an association that represents companies that recycle, destroy or dispose of hazardous wastes. Previously, Slesinger worked with the Senate Budget Committee, as an environmental aide to Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), as counsel to the House Subcommittee on Water Resources, and at the Environmental Protection Agency.

Antonia Herzog has been promoted to Assistant Director of NRDC’s Climate Center. Herzog has been with NRDC since 2002, working as a staff scientist and, more recently, as a senior program advocate in the Climate Center. In her new position, she will help manage the Climate Center’s program activities and continue to be part of the legislative team.

Franz Matzner is moving from NRDC’s general legislative office to serve as Legislative Director of the Climate Center. After successfully advancing NRDC’s overall programmatic agenda as Acting Legislative Director, Matzner now will focus on advancing climate change legislation. Previously, Matzner served as Forests and Public Lands Advocate at NRDC, and as Senior Policy Analyst for Agriculture and the Environment at Taxpayers for Common Sense.

Following is a statement by Wesley Warren, Director of Programs, NRDC:

"With so many issues moving on so many fronts, including climate legislation, we are thrilled to have assembled such a deep and experienced team. The combination of knowledge, skills and experience of Scott, Antonia, and Franz is a tremendous asset toward achieving our legislative goals.”