Leadership Changes at the Columbia Slough Watershed Council
Board of Directors Announcement of Executive Director Resignation
It is with a mix of sadness and gratitude that the Board of Directors announces Cathy Kellon’s departure as Executive Director of the Columbia Slough Watershed Council.
On behalf of the Board, I want to offer our sincere congratulations and best wishes to Cathy in her new endeavor as Oregon Fish & Wildlife Policy Analyst for the Northwest Power and Conservation Council.
Cathy brought strategic vision, strong leadership, and technical expertise to the Council. During her tenure she thoughtfully and methodically helped to modernize our operations, address much needed office improvements, and chart a course for better aligning the Council’s values and programming in order to realize its mission. Her kindness, willingness to listen, learn, innovate, find humor in tough situations, and support of staff’s professional growth has reshaped how we work, including deepening the Council’s commitment to equity and inclusion.
Our staff and Board are working closely with Cathy to ensure a smooth transition for the Council and partners. Her last day is July 31st and Max Samuelson, Stewardship Director, will serve as Acting Director until the Board appoints an Interim Director. It is our priority to find the best individual to support our talented staff and lead the organization as Interim during the search for the next Executive Director. We appreciate and welcome your support as we take these next steps.
Please join me, and the entire Board of Directors, in thanking Cathy for her service. She will be greatly missed by staff and Board members, and partners alike. It is thanks to her leadership and accomplishments that we look ahead to the next chapter of the Columbia Slough Watershed Council with hope and excitement.
If you have any questions or concerns during this transition process, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly at adam@earth-engineers.com.
Sincerely,
Adam Reese
Chair, Board of Directors
Cathy Kellon’s Personal Announcement of Resignation
Dear friends of the Columbia Slough Watershed Council,
I am stepping down as Executive Director at the end of July to take a position with the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. The decision did not come easily. When I joined the Council in January 2019, I knew that I’d be joining a community of dedicated and caring individuals, but I must admit now that I didn’t really know how leading a small nonprofit would change me. So while I will continue in the conservation field I care so much about, I will leave a bit of my heart behind with the Slough and Council.
It has been a busy few years, punctuated by a global pandemic, and it has been my privilege to lead the Council through an important stage in its evolution. We have continued our ongoing work to heal damaged fish and wildlife habitat, help neighbors to safely spend time in nature, and ensure students get to learn about the place that they call home. In addition, together, the Board, staff, and I have:
advanced our efforts to provide free, welcoming, and accessible programming, guided by our belief that everyone deserves to experience the solace of time in nature and to not be burdened by an unhealthy environment;
strengthened the organization’s operations, governance, and finances to support our mission-driven work;
fixed a very leaky office roof, among other facilities improvements;
integrated our Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion action plan into all of our programming and operations;
increased wages and benefits for staff while establishing compensation plans and streamlining work loads, making a career in a watershed council a more attractive and viable option;
eaten a lot of pizza;
initiated strategic planning for the Council’s future through an equity lens;
adapted all programming to safely meet community needs during COVID-19;
practiced how to take the work seriously but not ourselves;
built a new website;
and much, much more!
In short, the Council is well-positioned for greater impact in the watershed. The people of the Council have shown themselves to be adaptable, creative, curious, and forward-thinking. In the face of uncertainty and change, they have stayed true to the Council’s north star: a dedication to ensuring that the Columbia Slough is for all of us, from people to plants. I am excited to watch its continued evolution as an equity-centered community environmental organization.
To support the transition, our Stewardship Director, Max Samuelson, is serving as Acting Director until the Board appoints an Interim Director. It is the Board’s priority to find the best individual to support our staff and work as Interim Director during the search for the next Executive Director.
Thank you for your warmth, patience, support, and trust these past years as I endeavored to serve the Columbia Slough community and watershed. I look forward to continuing to be a part of the watershed community, and I hope to see you out on the Slough! You can look for me in a kayak, searching for that elusive Middle Slough sturgeon...
All my best,
Cathy P. Kellon
Executive Director
Columbia Slough Watershed Council