Jeff McCreary, Director of Operations, Western Region at Ducks Unlimited, has served on the Pacific Birds International Management Board since 2013, and most recently served as the U.S. Co-Chair. Karyn Gear, North Coast Regional Manager at California State Coastal Conservancy, served nearly two decades on the board, most recently as the U.S. Vice-Chair.
A Note from Jeff
In the bird world, autumn is a time of transition, movement, and change. It is a time when many of our feathered friends are moving or have already arrived at the wintering grounds. Before we know it, it will be time to celebrate and anticipate the coming renewal that lies just around the corner. This year it is true not only for the birds, but several of the people at Pacific Birds.
This winter we begin the next chapter of Pacific Birds’ leadership with a new Chair, Nanette Seto. Nanette enters her role with the vitality of a burgeoning partnership full of ambition and purpose behind her. Glenn Lamb enters as Vice Chair, sharing his extensive experiences with the Pacific Birds’ leadership team. Exciting times are indeed just around the corner as this partnership begins to lay plans and act on them.
We are fortunate to have keen minds from dedicated conservationists in our midst. Our newest board members are a breath of fresh air, a sign of the coming spring, and whose contributions will shape our future. Further, let us be sure to recognize that over the last two years, despite COVID, Pacific Birds’ veteran board members did tremendous work to build a solid foundation that renewed this partnership and from which we are launching forward. A few of us though are migrating onward leaving the details of the future to others.
This October was the last meeting for Karyn Gear as the demands of her professional life dictate a transition away from Pacific Birds’ board membership. I can’t say “Thank You” strongly enough to Karyn for her contributions to build and strengthen this partnership. We are so much better off because of you and the standard of excellence you held us to!
As for myself, I will be stepping away from the board in 2023. My purpose as Chair was to rally the Board to bring Pacific Birds into a new era of effectiveness and relevancy. Through many long, sometimes challenging discussions, lots of collaboration, and many, many hours of teamwork we did it! What an amazing difference I see over the past few years. Astounding!
Pacific Birds is in a strong place. With the leadership of Nanette, Glenn, Monica, as well as the rest of the Board and staff our future is very bright. To paraphrase Dr. Suess: Oh, the Places “we” will go!
Thank you especially to Karyn for serving as Vice-Chair, Monica, and the Pacific Birds veterans to get us here. And thank you to Nanette, Glenn, and everyone else for taking us forward!
