Three senior and well-respected conservation leaders will lead and nurture this effort. “We are especially fortunate to have leaders like Rick, Gary and Brian –three accomplished professionals in the conservation and land management business,” said Carlton Owen, CEO and President of the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities.
Rick Cantrell was contracted by the Partnership in November of 2012 to lead the day-to-day activities of the organization. Rick is the owner of BlackBriar Environmental LLC, an international natural resources consulting firm. Prior to establishing BlackBriar, Rick worked for 18 years for the Sustainable Forestry Initiative program in several key areas including the development, promotion and implementation of forest conservation measures in the SFI Standard. Rick has also worked in forest research, forestry extension, as a wetlands biologist and as a private forest management consultant.
Gary T. Myers, one of the longest serving leaders of a state conservation agency, has recently announced his retirement as the executive director of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and will join the Partnership as Co-Director. Myers has been associated with the TWRA since 1974 when he came to Tennessee following 11 years with the Colorado Division of Wildlife. He was named TWRA Executive Director in 1978 and just recently celebrated his 30th anniversary in this position. Widely recognized by his peers and conservation organizations throughout the country, Myers has received numerous honors during his acclaimed career.
Brian Dangler, The Conservation Fund’s Eastern Director of Acquisitions and Finance, joins the Partnership as co-director with Myers. Dangler has 20 years of experience managing forest lands with Boise Cascade and then International Paper (IP) in the northeast as well as leading major land sales and development projects for IP throughout the country. More information is available at www.usendowment.org.
Rick L. Cantrell
Gary T. Myers
Brian Dangler
Executive Committee – Peter Stangel (US Endowment), Ken Arney (USFS), Troy Ettel (TNC), Brian Dangler (TCF), Ann Duff (WestRock), Department of Defense (D0D) and (USFWS)
Chairman of the Steering Committee and the Partnership – Peter Stangel
