[Seattle, WA] The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition, which brings together more than 280 nonprofit and corporate partners, announced the appointment of Andrea McNamara Doyle as its new Executive Director.
Andrea joins the Coalition after serving as its Interim Executive Director since mid-November.
“We’re thrilled to announce Andrea McNamara Doyle as our new Executive Director,” said Joe Mentor, Wildlife & Recreation Coalition Chair. “The Board recognized the great work Andrea has already done as Interim Director and agrees that she is the right person to help the Coalition move forward successfully for the future. Her enthusiasm and ability to bring together our broad coalition of independent organizations has been truly remarkable.”
Under McNamara Doyle’s leadership, the Coalition led the efforts to pass legislation modernizing the 25 year-old Washington Wildlife & Recreation Program (WWRP) – our state’s premier conservation and recreation grant program. The resulting bill, which was signed into law by Governor Inslee on March 31, increases access to the WWRP grant program for underserved communities and nonprofit nature conservancies, and promotes greater stewardship and maintenance of public lands.
“I am honored to be entrusted with the Coalition’s bipartisan legacy of preserving our state’s most cherished places and quality of life” Andrea said, “I look forward to working with all of our diverse members to ensure continued, robust funding for Washington’s great outdoors.”
Prior to joining the Coalition, Andrea served as Executive Director of the Public Disclosure Commission, and brings 20 years of experience as a non-partisan leader in Washington state. Her past experience includes public service as senior counsel, policy adviser, and committee coordinator for the Washington State Senate, and as a Governor-appointed board member of the Pollution Control and Shorelines Hearings Boards. Andrea has also worked in private law practice as an environmental, natural resources, and land use attorney.
“Outdoor recreation supports nearly 200,000 jobs and over $21.6 billion in economic expenditures in Washington state,“ said Marc Berejka, Government and Community Affairs Director at REI and the Coalition’s Policy Committee Chair, “Andrea has worked and recreated in all 39 counties and has experienced first-hand the value of conservation and outdoor recreation across the state – she’s a perfect fit as the Coalition’s new Executive Director.”
The Coalition itself was founded 26 years ago in a historic bipartisan effort by former Governors Dan Evans and Mike Lowry.
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