Marion Klein: A new chapter after 12 years of regional management!

The long -time regional manager Marion Klein retires. Since 2013 she worked full-time as a regional manager of the Lahn-Dill-Bergland and managing director of the nature park of the same name. At the age of 66, she can now look back on a successful career. Marion Klein lives on her Hollerhof in Römershausen and proudly talks about her earlier work and her team.

The position of a regional manager places high demands on time and strength that Marion Klein can no longer apply. In 1997 she and her partner acquired the half -timbered courtyard in Römershausen to create a beautiful environment for her horses. Her interest in the position as a regional manager was awakened in 2004 by participating in a seminar of the then regional manager Ernst-Ludwig Wagner. The association Lahn-Dill-Bergland, which includes 18 municipalities of the Lahn-Dill district and Marburg-Biedenkopf as well as associations, companies and private individuals, has been part of the EU Leader program for the development of rural areas since 1997.

leader program and projects

In their function, Klein met cities and municipalities to apply for leader funding. Among the projects she looked after, the stage construction and event technology for the Biedenkopf Castle Festival was the first project of the 2014-2022 funding period. Klein emphasizes the patience that is necessary for working in regional management. An outstanding project during her term was the skate and bike park, the implementation of which took five years. The financial situation of the municipalities has also significantly influenced the duration of the funding projects, with the highest amount of funding of 172,895 euros for the expansion of the foyer of the Herborn culture barn.

Klein was also active in the training of “village activists”. The association Lahn-Dill-Bergland, which bears the Leader region and the nature park, benefited from its commitment in the training of new nature and landscape guides. Even after retirement, she plans to offer workshops, such as scoured workshops and introductions in permaculture. In her new phase of life, she wants to spend more time with her Icelandic horses and still keeps regional development in mind. In doing so, she regretted not being able to experience some projects such as the nature park Center on Lake Aartal.