Founder and Principal
Ernie Shea is the Founder and Principal of Natural Resource Solutions (NRS), LLC, a conservation and natural resource policy and program consultancy.
Shea has over 45 years of experience at the global, national, state and local level where he has designed and facilitated initiatives to enhance the effective functioning and ability of agricultural landscapes to sequester carbon, protect water quality, improve public health, and ensure a growing and resilient food system.
Early in his career, Shea worked for the State of Maryland where he held a number of senior leadership positions including Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Agricultural Development and Resource Conservation with responsibility for soil and water conservation, land preservation, domestic and international marketing and other service-oriented programs designed to strengthen the state’s agricultural industry.
From 1986-2004 Shea served as Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD). As CEO of NACD, Shea represented and facilitated the effective functioning of the association consisting of nearly 3,000 local units of government, 17,000 public officials and 7,000 employees with combined annual budgets exceeding $1billion.
Among his current activities, Shea serves as President of Solutions from the Land (SfL), a not-for-profit organization that incubates and supports farmer-scientist led, multi-stakeholder platforms that inspire, educate, and equip agricultural partners to innovate and lead efforts to sustain productivity, enhance climate resilience, and contribute to local and global goals for sustainable development. SfL brings agricultural thought leaders to the forefront of conversations about the food system, the environment and the future.
He also facilitates the 25x’25 and North American Climate Smart Agriculture Alliances and coordinates “smart agriculture” work programs in Ohio, Iowa, Florida and the Delmarva Peninsula. He serves as Vice President of the Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology and is involved with the Chesapeake Bay cleanup effort focusing on agricultural, conservation and bioenergy projects.
Ernie and his wife Karen reside in Lutherville, Maryland where they enjoy sailing on the Chesapeake Bay, gardening and spending time with their three grown children and eight grandchildren.
Staff
As an executive assistant, Shannon provides administrative support to the President as well as event coordination, bookkeeping, and maintenance of websites and databases for NRS and its clients. She also supports the many volunteer leaders that guide and direct our conservation and renewable energy alliances and programs. Shannon has worked as an Executive Assistant for over two decades to a number of CEO’s and Senior Executives. She attended Green Mountain College in Poultney, VT.
Project Support
Courtney Girgis, freelance writer and owner of Rooted Communications, helps NRS share the stories of farmers and scientists who are innovating solutions to some of the world’s greatest challenges through agriculture.
Girgis grew up on her family’s corn, soybean and cattle farm in northwest Missouri. She found a passion for agricultural communications early, through her time in FFA, and earned her bachelor’s degree in science and agricultural journalism from the University of Missouri in 2014.
With more than a decade of experience writing and editing for agricultural nonprofits and publications and a master’s degree in creative writing, Girgis stays true to her mission to help share the perspectives of farmers of all types and operational sizes. She hopes her writing adds to public understanding of the complexities of and opportunities in agriculture.
She and her husband, Antwan, are raising their young family on a small acreage outside of Oklahoma City.
Reg Modlin is currently a Senior Advisor for NRS after retiring from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. In a career spanning 43 years, his responsibilities included heading the area responsible for all matters involving safety and environmental regulatory affairs for FCA US LLC. His responsibilities included policy development to guide creation of legislation and regulations in the NAFA region, vehicle emissions certification, fuel economy strategy and reporting, vehicle safety compliance demonstration, and resolution of compliance issues with EPA and NHTSA, and others. Over the course of his career, he held leadership roles with the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, Electric Drive Transportation Association, USCAR/Freedom Car/USDRIVE, Engine Manufacturers Association, California Fuel Cell Partnership, and others. Throughout his career, he integrated his continuing interest in alternative fuels. To this end, he helped to lead efforts through USCAR/USDRIVE that resulted in DOE projects pursuing High Octane Fuels. He supports NRS in promoting long-term advocacy of various stakeholders towards policies and technical developments in the interest of a sustainable transportation sector. He currently lives in Palm Desert, California with his wife, Kathleen.
