Conservation Northwest protects and connects old-growth forests and other wild areas from the Washington Coast to the British Columbia Rockies, vital to a healthy future for us, our children, and wildlife. Since 1989, Conservation Northwest has worke
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Inside Conservation Northwest Erin Moore Publications manager, erin@conservationnw.org fourteen years for a wild northwest A passion for the wild Talented and much loved, Jodi Broughton has stepped down from Conservation Northwest after being a vital part of our team for 14 years. As business and membership director, she worked closely with executive director Mitch Friedman to make the organization a regional conservation and advocacy force to be reckoned with. Jodi fell in love with the Northwest's wild places when her family moved to Washington from Texas in 1979. After completing her environmental policy degree from Huxley College and Western Washington University in 1997, she spent a few summers working for the US Forest Service before joining Conservation Northwest as newsletter editor. Then, in 1999, Jodi hit the ground running as volunteer and grassroots or- Lynx released following radio collaring. © Karl Vogel "Jodi was the yin to my yang for over a decade, providing a balance that was part of our success. Losing her is a big change, but it's nice to see her smile a bit more stress-free since she's left." —Mitch Friedman 18 Spring-Summer 2013 ganizer for the home-grown campaign, the Loomis Forest Fund. "During that time we lived and breathed the Loomis," she said. "Being a part of it was an amazing experience." In single year, the fund raised $16.5 million to protect 25,000 acres of the Loomis State Forest in northeast Washington. The Loomis is home to a large proportion of the lynx remaining in our state. "Even though the campaign lasted a short time, it had long-lasting effects for lynx and inspired thousands of people from around the US to protect them," she said. "It was what hooked me into fundraising for conservation." In 2002, Jodi joined the senior management team. Her strengths lay in her ease and ability with staff: positive, organized, and deadline oriented, Jodi also had a keen sense of Conservation Northwest—where we come from and where we need to go. She was adept at many skills and filled in for several staff sabbaticals. "From development to membership to communications, I kept the conservation trains on track and running on time. I had to learn how to do a wide variety of tasks to keep things moving forward," she said. Despite the high pace, Jodi was able to stay cool headed enough to focus her energy on big projects, such as the 2004 renaming of Northwest Ecosystem Alliance to Conservation Northwest. She enjoyed chances to be creative in her job, from helping with newsletter and web content, to writing grant proposals and member letters, to naming and spearheading our annual auction and fundraiser, Hope for a Wild Future. Jodi was a strong team member throughout many successes, starting with the Loomis Forest Fund Jodi. Erin Moore and including connecting habitat through The Cascades Conservation Partnership, reintroducing fishers to the Olympics, protecting the Lake Whatcom watershed, and celebrating the return of wolves to Washington. An amazingly diverse group of people support Conservation Northwest and Jodi believes it is their commitment that makes the work we do possible. "I've been particularly touched by personal notes of encouragement that members sometimes include with their gifts," she said. "During the stressful times of 'fighting the good fight,' these notes have kept our staff spirits high." "It will be hard not coming in to my 'family' after 14 years!" she admitted. "We have an amazing staff and I'll miss being part of a team, but I'm excited to have the new energy of Chris Marx to take our group into the future." Still, Jodi is looking forward to leaving the desk job behind for awhile. She can't wait to bust out the hiking boots for long trips she hasn't generally had time for. "I will be taking a break for the next six months to travel and do many home projects before figuring out my next career move." We will miss Jodi as a steady manager, a principled and able conservationist, and a fantastic friend. We look forward to hearing where the next steps in her new journey take her. Thanks to communication intern Mallory Millay for her contribution to this article. conservationnw.org