Lang
2/21/25
The Johnson County Conservation Board has named a new executive director.
The board appointed 51-year-old Brad Freidhof to the position earlier this week. Frieidhof has been acting conservation director since June of last year, when former director Larry Gullett was placed on paid administrative leave. Gullett died in September.
Freidhof has been with Johnson County Conservation since 2002.
The full news release from the county announcing Freidhof’s hiring can be found here:
Freidhof Selected as the New Johnson County Conservation Director
The Johnson County Conservation Board announced that Brad Freidhof has been selected
for the position of Executive Director. He will succeed Larry Gullett who passed away on
September 6, 2024, following a courageous battle with cancer. Gullett served as the
Johnson County Conservation Executive Director for 11 years.
Freidhof has 27 years of experience in the conservation field. He began his career as the
Pocahontas County Conservation Board Naturalist in 1997. In 2002 he was hired by
Conservation Director Harry Graves to become the Johnson County Naturalist and served
in that role until 2014. Freidhof was then selected to fill the role of Conservation Program
Manager for Johnson County. This position allowed Brad to continue a supervisory role
with the education program but also allowed him an opportunity to write and administer
grants for trail development and other special projects. Brad has a long history with the
Johnson County Conservation Board and was involved in the passage of 2008 and 2024
Conservation Bonds.
The Johnson County Conservation Board, established in 1964 by the citizens of Johnson
county, manages a variety of natural resources and outdoor recreation areas throughout
the county including native prairies, river access areas, small community parks, and the
1,062 acre F.W. Kent Park. Brad Freidhof will be the fourth Executive Director in the
history of the Johnson County Conservation Board with Rod Dunlap serving as the first
Director from 1970 to 2001, Harry Graves serving from January 2001 to June 2013,
Larry Gullett serving from July 2013 until September 2024.
Brad brings strong communication and community outreach skills to the position. He is
experienced in working with community organizations, government agencies and the
public to create and nurture conservation programs. He has written and administered
successful grant applications from federal, state and non-profit sources, resulting in more
than $6 million in outside funding for the Johnson County Conservation Board and looks
to continue those efforts.
Freidhof looks forward to continuing the legacy the Johnson County Conservation Board
has created, focusing on ecological protection and restoration, connecting people to the
land, and linking communities.