NC - Federation founder Miller to step back, Davis new director

Todd Miller, founder and executive director of the North Carolina Coastal Federation, which publishes Coastal Review, announced Monday that he is stepping down and that the nonprofit organization’s board of directors had appointed Dr. Braxton Davis, director of the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management, to step into the role early next year.

The Coastal Federation is a nonprofit with 16,000 supporters working for a healthier North Carolina coast. Miller founded the organization in 1982. He is a founding board member with Restore America’s Estuaries, and serves on the Board of Visitors for the University of North Carolina Institute for the Environment and as a board member on the Leadership Committee for the Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership.

“With a mix of emotions, I find myself ready to set a new course in the remarkable voyage I’ve shared with the Federation since 1982. The time has come for me to pass the helm of this incredible organization to the next generation of leaders who will steer our mission to new horizons in the years ahead,” Miller said Monday in a message to staff, members and supporters.

The organization’s board approved the selection of Davis in a unanimous vote during a special meeting Dec. 4. The change in leadership is set for Feb. 1, but Miller stressed that he will continue to remain engaged in the Coastal Federation’s work, “and not going out to pasture.”

Miller is to serve as Davis’ senior adviser and as an “ambassador” for the Coastal Federation.

Miller said the transition will allow him to focus on the work he does best – championing the group’s causes and advancing its mission.

“I requested this change and wanted to do it while it was not a necessity or an unpredictable crisis situation — and we’ll be a stronger organization as a result,” Miller told Coastal Review.

‘Exceptionally well-qualified’

Miller described Davis as “exceptionally well-qualified to lead the Federation into a new era of innovation and impact. His extensive experience and unwavering commitment to coastal management, coupled with a proven track record at state and national levels, make him the ideal individual to navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”

Davis, who has been Division of Coastal Management director since 2011, told Coastal Review last week that after 12 years with division, he was ready for the next phase of his career and excited about the opportunity to join the Coastal Federation.

He described how the Coastal Federation had been a longstanding partner with the state’s coastal program and that he had worked directly with many of the organization’s staff over the years.

“I’ve always been impressed with the expertise and energy they bring to their work, and their engagement with diverse stakeholders. The organization has grown significantly over the years and is leading a wide range of projects, so I look forward to transitioning into my new role in early 2024 and hope to hit the ground running in support of the great work they are doing,” Davis said.