For Immediate Release: Thursday, September 8, 2022
Contact:
Jonathan Oppenheimer, External Relations Director, (208) 345-6933 x 226
Idaho Conservation League launches new Wildlife Program, welcomes new staff members
BOISE, ID – The Idaho Conservation League (ICL) is pleased to welcome six new staff members to the organization and announce the launch of a new Wildlife Program.
Two new staff members joined the organization’s growing climate team. Brad Heusinkveld has stepped into the role of Energy Associate, where he advocates for responsible energy transitions and climate resilience before utilities and state agencies. Brad will work to ensure the clean energy transition is swift and benefits the public to the greatest extent possible. Brad earned a J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School, where he focused on environmental, water, and energy law and policy. He also has experience as a chemist in New Mexico for an environmental consulting group and with EPA Region 10’s Emergency Response Division.
Linda Engle also joined ICL’s climate team as a Climate Associate. Linda will work to achieve a carbon neutral Idaho by collaborating with team members, stakeholders, decision makers, and others to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Idaho, particularly in the transportation realm. Linda comes to ICL with prior experience at Citizens’ Climate Lobby and the Portneuf Resource Council.
ICL’s successful development team also welcomed two new staff members, Diana Burrell and Karen Hostetter. Diana is ICL’s new Development Director and will work with members, donors, and grantors to fuel ICL’s mission. Diana has worked with several state-wide nonprofit organizations in Idaho, including the Idaho Trails Association where she served as Board President for a number of years. Karen joins ICL as Grants Manager; after more than a decade of experience in grant management with the Idaho State Department of Education and the City of Boise’s Parks and Recreation department.
Alexander Hon has stepped in as the organization’s new Marketing Manager, a role in which he will work to grow ICL’s reach with creative content and marketing material. In his prior position as Senior Marketing Producer at KTVB, Alex earned several Idaho Press Club awards and an Emmy nomination for his work.
As ICL’s staff continues to grow, so does the organization’s focus on wildlife. ICL has been an advocate for Idaho’s wildlife since its founding in 1973, but recognizing the increasing urgency and national attention surrounding threats to wildlife, especially related to habitat loss and climate change, ICL is elevating our engagement in this arena with the launch of a new Wildlife Program.
This new program reflects the growing threats to Idaho’s wildlife and its ability to persist in the face of rapid ecological change. ICL has brought on Jeff Abrams to serve as the organization’s first-ever Wildlife Program Associate. Jeff will serve as ICL’s lead for advocating for all wildlife occupying our state, and will work to promote and protect these critical species. He brings two decades of fisheries research, resource management, and community relations experience, which will help build this program and promote proactive steps Idahoans can take to conserve our state’s at-risk species.
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