New communications director starts work

Chuck Laszewski is the new communications director for Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota. His first day was Aug. 16.

Laszewski, who takes over the job vacated by Brett Feldman when he was named executive director, spent the past four years as the communications director for another environmental non-profit, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy. Prior to that he spent 27 years as a newspaper reporter, most of them at the St. Paul Pioneer Press. He also is the author of a biography, Rock ‘n’ Roll Radical: The Life and Mysterious Death of Dean Reed.

"We are extremely excited to have Chuck on the Parks & Trails team," Feldman said. "His distinguished career as a reporter and as a communications professional makes him the ideal person to take our organization to the next level. Chuck's lifelong commitment to protecting the environment and his sincere appreciation for outdoor recreation means that not only do we have the right person for the job, but we also have someone who can hit the ground running."

In his position at Parks & Trails, Laszewski will be responsible for all external relations, including action alerts, newsletters, annual report, working with the news media and working on public events.

Laszewski is preparing for the onslaught of traffic because he lives across the street from the north entrance to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in Falcon Heights with his wife Cindy. They have two adult children.