Executive Director
International Wildlife Media Center & Film Festival

Professional Experience

2001 - 2013

International Wildlife Media Center & Film FestivalExecutive Director (Missoula, Montana)

• Chief Executive Officer of the International Wildlife Media Center; oversees and coordinates the premier wildlife film festival, the annual International Wildlife Film Festival and the Montana CINE International Film Festival
• Directs all development and fundraising including grant writing and major donor cultivation and events
• Oversees and supervises staff for Post Festival Tours, Montana Film Academy, educational outreach and media/communications
• Provides media programs and curriculum to organizations and agencies, local community groups and schools worldwide

1998 - 2001

Natural Resources Consulting, Founder/Consultant(Missoula, Montana)

• Independent consulting for conservation & not for profit organizations
• Specialization in development; board relations; growth management

1998 – 2000

Camp Fire Boys & Girls, Executive Director (Missoula, Montana)

• Chief Executive Officer responsible for all fundraising & management
• Expanded Child Care program; developed Environmental Ed. Program
• Rebuilt relationship between local council & national organization
• Supervised/fundraised for renovations of Camp Watanopa & Planning

Wilderness Watch, Executive Director (Missoula, Montana)

• Managed growth and development of national wilderness group
• Supervised all development (fundraising); grants and grant writing, donor outreach
• Supervised staff, interns, volunteers and field monitoring teams

Wildlife Conservation Society, Head of Conservation Communications (New York, NY)

• Oversight of all communications, public relations and media outreach for the international programs of this international conservation organization
• Developed conservation stories, produced films about programs, and supervised all media relationships with conservation and field staff; key staff person for national/international media, story placement and story development
• Developed strategic and fundraising plans in collaboration with other departments

Broadcast Journalist, Television Correspondent & Producer (New York/Miami)

• Investigative news reporter, specializing in wildlife, environment and policy issues for network and local television news and news magazines.

Key Achievements

International Wildlife Media Center & Film Festival

Eliminated large deficit; achieved balanced budget within one year. Expanded from annual film festival to year round international programs: Directed capital campaign to raise $400K+; coordinated purchase of historic theater (Roxy) to serve as permanent headquarters. Launched new annual film festival (Montana CINE) and conceived/developed Tarkio Retreat, global initiative of the International Wildlife Film Festival: Forging New Partnerships in Media & Conservation

Natural Resources Consulting, Inc.

As a result of our efforts, Blackfoot Challenge (Blackfoot Valley, Montana) was named one of 12 leading watershed organizations in the U.S. by CWAP; received $25,000 grant to support grassroots efforts.

Wilderness Watch, Inc.

In three years, tripled membership; doubled annual budget income stream. Media coverage included NY Times, Utne Reader, National Geographic. Planned and supervised 1^st annual Wilderness Conference in Missoula. Developed first wilderness education program.

Wildlife Conservation Society

Developed new media initiatives to support field conservation projects and built close relationships with BBC, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, Public Broadcasting and others.

Initiated media project with Discovery Channel to raise $100,000 for the WCS field program in Manu, Peru.

Placed lead stories in major publications and broadcast networks including, NY Times, Time Magazine, Newsweek, Charlie Rose Show/PBS, ABC and CBS Television.

Network Television: Emmy nominations and awards

Education

High School - Bronx High School of Science - New York

College - New York University; BA/Major - Journalism; Political Science

Graduate Work Toward MS Degree - Fordham University - Zoology

Advanced Studies - New School for Social Research, Focus: Media

Extracurricular activities and interests

Equine Activities; Horse Rescue/Adoption

Former Board Member-Missoula County 4H

Leadership in horse and dog projects

Former board member, Rotary Club International

Former member, Steering Committee – Wilderness Conference, UM

Photography; Freelance Writing

International Travel – Europe, Caribbean, Central & South America

Languages

Spanish & Beginning Italian

EXTERNAL LINKS: Internatonal Wild Life Films