Dieter Fenkart-Froeschl

As chief operating officer at the National Park Foundation, Dieter Fenkart-Froeschl serves as advisor and deputy to the president and CEO, effectively communicating and implementing the vision and goals as outlined by the CEO and the Board. Dieter plays an important role in advancing innovation and in the execution of the Foundation’s strategic business plan, while working closely with the National Park Service to ensure coordination and effective communication in support of shared goals and programmatic objectives.

Dieter’s responsibilities include strengthening and streamlining operations as well as the organization’s strategic focus to further the Foundation’s goal to increase philanthropic support of America’s national parks.

Prior to joining the organization, Dieter served as chief operating officer at the San Diego Museum of Art, senior director at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, senior program manager at the National Parks Conservation Association, and as an associate in the Corporate Finance department at Bank Austria Creditanstalt in Greenwich, CT.

Dieter has held various volunteer positions having served as treasurer and president for two cooperative housing units in New York City, and as treasurer and vice president of the Balboa Art Conservation Center and Balboa Park Online Collaborative, respectively in San Diego.

Dieter is originally from Austria and grew up in Brazil, Chile, and Austria before moving to the United States for college. He received a master's in business administration from Columbia Business school and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Economics from Brandeis University. Dieter is married to Sarah, and they are parents to Roman and Miles who are junior rangers at more than 50 national park sites. He considers hiking the Inka Trail, parts of the John Muir Trail and sections on the Continental Divide Trail some of his most memorable experiences.