Denholtz Properties CEO Steven Denholtz
By Joshua Burd
The Monmouth Conservation Foundation has bolstered its board with the addition of Denholtz Properties’ Steven Denholtz and Dan Dirscherl of Ares Management.
The Middletown-based organization, an independent nonprofit land trust, said Denholtz and Dirscherl bring invaluable business acumen and financial insight to a group of trustees that plays a key role in its mission. It also said their commitment of time, energy and resources will only strengthen a platform that has preserved more than 9,400 acres of green space in Monmouth County since its inception in 1977.
“We are deeply grateful for the expertise and dedication that Steven and Dan bring to MCF’s board as we pursue our initiatives to create parks, preserve open spaces, protect farmlands, promote environmental education, safeguard water resources and conserve wildlife,” said Bill Kastning, the organization’s executive director.
Denholtz is CEO of Red Bank-based Denholtz Properties, one of the state’s most prominent real estate development and investment firms. The New Jersey native holds a juris doctor from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics from Northwestern University, having also contributed to Monmouth University’s Kislak Real Estate Institute and the boards of Hackensack Meridian Health, the state Economic Development Authority and the Count Basie Center for the Arts.
“Monmouth Conservation Foundation has spent nearly 50 years conserving and protecting our irreplaceable open lands, ensuring that Monmouth County remains a great place to live, work and play,” Denholtz said. “As a Monmouth County resident, I am honored to join their board to continue this proud tradition and safeguard our natural environment for generations to come.”
Dirscherl, who is returning to his Garden State roots after a 15-year hiatus, is a managing director in Ares Management’s credit group, has settled with his family in the Locust section of Middletown, according to a news release. MCF noted that the University of Notre Dame graduate has a keen appreciation for nature that was shaped by his childhood experiences in central New Jersey and his travels abroad.
“My decision to join MCF’s board stems from a deep-seated commitment to preserving the green spaces that make Monmouth County a vibrant community,” Dirscherl said. “I am eager to contribute my financial expertise and community ties to further MCF’s mission of conservation.”
Recent accomplishments by MCF, in collaboration with federal, state, county and municipal partners, include:
- Preservation of 255 acres in Colts Neck and Howell, made possible through an inaugural grant from the U.S. Navy and Naval Weapons Station Earle, in collaboration with Monmouth County and local municipalities
- Receipt of a three-year, $500,000 Environmental Protection Agency Brownfield Community-Wide Assessment grant to facilitate the transformation of Red Bank’s former landfill into a waterfront park
- Acquisition of ownership of the 90-acre Scudder Preserve in Middletown, enabling the organization to demonstrate sustainability practices and enhance conservation education opportunities
