On this day 104 years ago, the National Park Service (NPS) was established. It is an important milestone and we owe a debt of gratitude to the foresight of those who established the NPS and to our incredible colleagues who continue the good work that was envisioned.

As the new President & CEO of Yellowstone Forever, I am honored to be working alongside our partners here at Yellowstone to protect and preserve the world’s first national park for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.

I began my new role here on August 17, but my connection to—and passion for—Yellowstone National Park goes back much longer. I was the first Executive Director of the former Yellowstone Park Foundation, one of the predecessor organizations to Yellowstone Forever. During my tenure, I worked closely with the Yellowstone Association, and know firsthand how important our dual mission of education and philanthropy are to the future of the park.

I am thrilled to join the amazing and equally passionate Yellowstone Forever team. I am impressed by their talent and dedication, and excited to work together to provide the margin of excellence that is befitting of Yellowstone National Park.

I look forward to working closely with Superintendent Cam Sholly to ensure we continue to fund critical projects in the park that need support. In the coming weeks, I will work with the board, advisory council, staff, and park to develop a plan for the organization’s future, ensuring Yellowstone Forever is both sustainable and fiscally responsible. This includes a plan to restart the Institute and our educational programming, which was temporarily suspended in June 2020.

I will be in touch again soon and look forward to sharing timely updates with you about the park, the Institute, and our work to fund priority projects. In the meantime, I want to personally thank you for your continued support, and I look forward to working with you to preserve and protect Yellowstone National Park.