Keynote Address - Tuesday, Oct. 7 / 1:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes… Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going in Partners In Flight
EJ Williams, American Bird Conservancy
Emily Jo Williams (EJ) contributes to wildlife conservation as the Migratory Bird Campaign Director for American Bird Conservancy where she is working to develop initiatives to stop the decline of migratory birds and build constituencies and capacity to enable conservation throughout the full life cycle of migratory birds. Prior to joining ABC, she served as the Migratory Bird Chief/Assistant Regional Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Southeast Region and was responsible for programs including migratory bird Habitat Joint Ventures; permits; implementing national and international bird conservation plans including Partners in Flight and the North American Waterfowl Management Plan; harvest regulation; and outreach such as International Migratory Bird Day and Junior Duck Stamp contests. EJ’s career also includes serving as Executive Director of The Longleaf Alliance, Assistant Regional Director for Migratory Birds and State Programs, USFWS, in the Southeast and Mountain Prairie Regions, and 14 years with the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division, first as a Regional Biologist in northeast Georgia and then as the state Partners in Flight Coordinator. Her accomplishments include contributing to the leadership of 8 Migratory Bird Habitat Joint Ventures; development of a swallow-tailed kite initiative that evaluated status and developed management recommendations to engage private landowners in conservation of the species; an international bird conservation partnership with the Cayman Islands that led to protection of key habitats for resident birds and wintering migrants; a statewide bird monitoring program; supporting state wildlife agencies through grant programs and promotion of State Wildlife Action Plans; and protection and management of significant lands for wildlife conservation.
She holds Bachelor’s and Masters of Science degrees in Wildlife Biology from the University of Georgia, is a Certified Wildlife Biologist and graduate of the National Conservation Leadership Institute, and served in various capacities for The Wildlife Society. EJ is married to John Murphy, a Detective with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department. She and John share their home and lives with Labrador retriever and hunting companion, Brac, German Shepherd search and rescue dog, Panzer, and ever fun and entertaining Norwich terriers, Max and Izzy.
EJ Williams, American Bird Conservancy
Emily Jo Williams (EJ) contributes to wildlife conservation as the Migratory Bird Campaign Director for American Bird Conservancy where she is working to develop initiatives to stop the decline of migratory birds and build constituencies and capacity to enable conservation throughout the full life cycle of migratory birds. Prior to joining ABC, she served as the Migratory Bird Chief/Assistant Regional Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Southeast Region and was responsible for programs including migratory bird Habitat Joint Ventures; permits; implementing national and international bird conservation plans including Partners in Flight and the North American Waterfowl Management Plan; harvest regulation; and outreach such as International Migratory Bird Day and Junior Duck Stamp contests. EJ’s career also includes serving as Executive Director of The Longleaf Alliance, Assistant Regional Director for Migratory Birds and State Programs, USFWS, in the Southeast and Mountain Prairie Regions, and 14 years with the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division, first as a Regional Biologist in northeast Georgia and then as the state Partners in Flight Coordinator. Her accomplishments include contributing to the leadership of 8 Migratory Bird Habitat Joint Ventures; development of a swallow-tailed kite initiative that evaluated status and developed management recommendations to engage private landowners in conservation of the species; an international bird conservation partnership with the Cayman Islands that led to protection of key habitats for resident birds and wintering migrants; a statewide bird monitoring program; supporting state wildlife agencies through grant programs and promotion of State Wildlife Action Plans; and protection and management of significant lands for wildlife conservation.
She holds Bachelor’s and Masters of Science degrees in Wildlife Biology from the University of Georgia, is a Certified Wildlife Biologist and graduate of the National Conservation Leadership Institute, and served in various capacities for The Wildlife Society. EJ is married to John Murphy, a Detective with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department. She and John share their home and lives with Labrador retriever and hunting companion, Brac, German Shepherd search and rescue dog, Panzer, and ever fun and entertaining Norwich terriers, Max and Izzy.
Plenary Session - Wednesday, Oct. 8 / 8:00 am - 9:30 am
Overview of Conservation Business Planning: A Funder’s Perspective
Guy Foulks, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Guy is the current coordinator of the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA) grant program. He has worked for the Migratory Bird program of the US Fish and Wildlife Service since 2001 and has been involved with the NMBCA program since its first year of funding in 2002. Additionally he has administered numerous North American Wetlands Conservation Act grants, worked as the National Joint Venture Coordinator for a couple of years and is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer from Guatemala. He holds a Master of Environmental Management degree and a BA in Biology.
Guy Foulks, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Guy is the current coordinator of the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA) grant program. He has worked for the Migratory Bird program of the US Fish and Wildlife Service since 2001 and has been involved with the NMBCA program since its first year of funding in 2002. Additionally he has administered numerous North American Wetlands Conservation Act grants, worked as the National Joint Venture Coordinator for a couple of years and is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer from Guatemala. He holds a Master of Environmental Management degree and a BA in Biology.
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The Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Business Strategy: Developing Broad-scale Coordinated Conservation from the Ground Up
Caleb Spiegel and Troy Wilson, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Caleb Spiegel is Assistant Coordinator of the Atlantic Coast Joint Venture, and has been a Wildlife Biologist in the Division of Migratory Birds at the USFWS Northeast Regional Office since 2010. He specializes in building and helping coordinate diverse partnerships to conserve bird populations and their habitats through targeted grant programs, conservation planning, and research. Caleb began his career as a wildlife biologist nearly 20 years ago, working on several avian and sea turtle research projects across the globe, before obtaining a Master’s degree in Wildlife Science at Oregon State University in 2008. Caleb has a particular interest and experience in shorebird and seabird conservation, and helped develop the Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Business Strategy. Troy Wilson is Assistant Nongame Coordinator for the Southeast Region's Migratory Bird Program (since 2010) and has been Co-Chair for Southeast Partners in Flight since 2011. He works with a variety of partnerships and working groups focusing on waterbird and shorebird conservation at regional, national, and international levels. He has also been working to develop and promote the Eastern Avian Data Center, a regional node of the Avian Knowledge Network. Troy has been with the Service since 2002 and was previously a Transportation Liaison in the Division of Ecological Services in Ohio and North Carolina. While getting his Master's degree at The Ohio State University he worked for the USGS Gap Analysis Program developing terrestrial vertebrate models for Ohio GAP. |
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The Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Initiative Takes Flight—Moving Beyond Business Planning for Migratory Birds
Ian Davidson, National Fish & Wildlife Foundation
More than 30 years’ experience working throughout the Western Hemisphere on bird and biodiversity conservation. Served as the Regional Director for BirdLife International in the Americas based in Quito, Ecuador for a decade and later as the Executive Director for Nature Canada, a membership based not-for-profit engaged in nature conservation issues across Canada. As Chair of WHSRN and member of both the Waterbird Council and Partners in Flight, he is very keen on moving bird conservation to the ground and throughout their full lifecycle. He is a strong supporter of the Joint Venture model and together with colleagues in North and South America, helped establish the Southern Cone Grasslands Alliance that engages ranchers and conservationists to safeguard pampaean birds whilst sustaining people’s livelihoods. At NFWF, he oversees the Foundations investments in bird conservation including a nascent shorebird conservation initiative along the entire Atlantic flyway.
Ian Davidson, National Fish & Wildlife Foundation
More than 30 years’ experience working throughout the Western Hemisphere on bird and biodiversity conservation. Served as the Regional Director for BirdLife International in the Americas based in Quito, Ecuador for a decade and later as the Executive Director for Nature Canada, a membership based not-for-profit engaged in nature conservation issues across Canada. As Chair of WHSRN and member of both the Waterbird Council and Partners in Flight, he is very keen on moving bird conservation to the ground and throughout their full lifecycle. He is a strong supporter of the Joint Venture model and together with colleagues in North and South America, helped establish the Southern Cone Grasslands Alliance that engages ranchers and conservationists to safeguard pampaean birds whilst sustaining people’s livelihoods. At NFWF, he oversees the Foundations investments in bird conservation including a nascent shorebird conservation initiative along the entire Atlantic flyway.
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Overview of PIF V Conservation Business Plans
David Younkman, American Bird Conservancy David has more than 30 years senior management experience working in conservation and environmental organizations. David worked for two decades at The Nature Conservancy, beginning as the Ohio State Director and leaving as Vice President for Resources of the Latin America and Caribbean Program. David also served as the Executive Director for American Oceans Campaign and the Western Regional Director of the National Wildlife Federation. He ran Strategic Consulting, a successful consulting practice, for five years, and taught graduate level coursework at UCSD. David is an avid sailor and has a Master's of Science in Landscape Architecture and environmental design from UW-Madison. |
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