Projects
Western Maine Mountains Land Conservation: The WMM is one of the world’s largest temperate forests and one of America’s outstanding native fish and wildlife habitats. For decades, I have enjoyed fishing, hunting, and hiking there, and I am passionate about conserving it. A major part of my current work is with conservation organizations and funders on projects to protect and restore the region’s fish and wildlife habitat and bolster its biodiversity and climate resilience.
Building Resistance and Resilience in Native Fish and Wildlife: On a broader scale, I continue to pursue science and policy measures to conserve native fish and wildlife habitat in the Northern Forest region of the US. This opinion piece, which appeared in the Bangor Daily News, describes the nature of my work on climate resilience:
Philanthropic Advising: Working for donors, I identify and evaluate land conservation and programmatic investments.
Some land conservation and related project services which I have recently provided include:
Grafton Forest/Forest Society of Maine—advised a major private funder
Kennebago Headwaters/Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust—advised land trust and a prospective major funder
Quill Hill to Perham Stream/Trust for Public Land—advised a major funder
South Branch Easement/Trust for Public Land—advised a prospective major funder
Restoration Project Counsel/Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust
Strategic Adviser/Rangeley Regional Resilience
Past Projects
In my 18 years as Trout Unlimited’s CEO, I led many key efforts in fish and river conservation. Among my accomplishments are these two major science and policy initiatives:
Western Water Project — Instream Flows for Fish and Freshwater Ecosystems
In 1998, I launched the first-ever comprehensive program to reform state water laws across the Western US. The WWP advocates the needs of fish and aquatic ecosystems. What began as a pioneering foray in water law in Montana and Colorado is today a region-wide advocacy effort.
Conservation Success Index Landscape and Watershed-Level Planning
In 2003, I articulated a long-term vision for restoration of wild and native coldwater fish across their North American range. To measure success in attaining that vision and to guide habitat and population protection and restoration efforts, I worked with Trout Unlimited’s scientists to devise the Conservation Success Index. The CSI became the gold standard conservation planning tool for watershed-level fisheries protection and restoration projects and programs.
Areas of Expertise
Drawing on my wealth of experience in leadership, strategy, and fundraising, I can offer the following services to conservation organizations and philanthropists:
- Strategic Planning and Counsel — I facilitate organizations’ strategic planning — which threads together their missions, visions, and goals and devises effective ways to accomplish them. I advise clients on a range of initiatives and programs to accomplish their missions and attain their visions.
- Building Development Programs — I build programs at all levels including retail, direct-marketing, annual fund, major gifts and planned giving.
- Philanthropic Counsel — I work directly with donors, advising them on whether and how to invest in an organization or project. This type of work can involve extensive due diligence; I especially like to work with donors who are data-driven and are seeking to maximize the impact of their philanthropy.
Projects
Western Maine Mountains Land Conservation: The WMM is one of the world’s largest temperate forests and one of America’s outstanding native fish and wildlife habitats. For decades, I have enjoyed fishing, hunting, and hiking there, and I am passionate about conserving it. A major part of my current work is with conservation organizations and funders on projects to protect and restore the region’s fish and wildlife habitat and bolster its biodiversity and climate resilience.
Building Resistance and Resilience in Native Fish and Wildlife: On a broader scale, I continue to pursue science and policy measures to conserve native fish and wildlife habitat in the Northern Forest region of the US. This opinion piece, which appeared in the Bangor Daily News, describes the nature of my work on climate resilience:
https://www.bangordailynews.com
Philanthropic Advising: Working for donors, I identify and evaluate land conservation and programmatic investments.
Some land conservation and related project services which I have recently provided include:
Grafton Forest/Forest Society of Maine—advised a major private funder
Kennebago Headwaters/Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust—advised land trust and a prospective major funder
Quill Hill to Perham Stream/Trust for Public Land—advised a major funder
South Branch Easement/Trust for Public Land—advised a prospective major funder
Restoration Project Counsel/Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust
Strategic Adviser/Rangeley Regional Resilience
Past Projects
In my 18 years as Trout Unlimited’s CEO, I led many key efforts in fish and river conservation. Among my accomplishments are these two major science and policy initiatives:
Western Water Project — Instream Flows for Fish and Freshwater Ecosystems
In 1998, I launched the first-ever comprehensive program to reform state water laws across the Western US. The WWP advocates the needs of fish and aquatic ecosystems. What began as a pioneering foray in water law in Montana and Colorado is today a region-wide advocacy effort.
Conservation Success Index Landscape and Watershed-Level Planning
In 2003, I articulated a long-term vision for restoration of wild and native coldwater fish across their North American range. To measure success in attaining that vision and to guide habitat and population protection and restoration efforts, I worked with Trout Unlimited’s scientists to devise the Conservation Success Index. The CSI became the gold standard conservation planning tool for watershed-level fisheries protection and restoration projects and programs.
Areas of Expertise
Drawing on my wealth of experience in leadership, strategy, and fundraising, I can offer the following services to conservation organizations and philanthropists:
- Strategic Planning and Counsel — I facilitate organizations’ strategic planning — which threads together their missions, visions, and goals and devises effective ways to accomplish them. I advise clients on a range of initiatives and programs to accomplish their missions and attain their visions.
- Building Development Programs — I build programs at all levels including retail, direct-marketing, annual fund, major gifts and planned giving.
- Philanthropic Counsel — I work directly with donors, advising them on whether and how to invest in an organization or project. This type of work can involve extensive due diligence; I especially like to work with donors who are data-driven and are seeking to maximize the impact of their philanthropy.