The Board of Directors and staff of RE Sources for Sustainable Communities are pleased to announce the successful recruitment of nationally known conservationist and sustainability leader, Bob Ferris, to fill their vacant executive director position.

“We are pleased that Bob has accepted this position at this critical time for RE Sources and the region,” said Hilary Culverwell president of the RE Sources board. “Bob has the experience and vision to lead the organization to the next level and move Northwestern Washington State further along the path towards sustainability.”

Ferris is a 20-year veteran in the environmental and sustainability communities contributing seminal work in areas ranging from wolf restoration and agricultural policy to renewable energy and economic revitalization. He has held senior or CEO positions at the Wildlife Habitat Council, Defenders of Wildlife, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Community Environmental Council, Yestermorrow Design/Build School, and the Center for a New American Dream. He is also an accomplished writer with a book on natural building, numerous scientific and policy documents as well as dozens of opinion pieces in national and regional publications. Ferris holds degrees in environmental studies and biology from the University of California at Santa Cruz and zoology from San Jose State University.

“I am excited about taking over an organization as diverse and effective as RE Sources.” said Ferris. “The more I see of RE Sources’ family of programs and of the people associated with this diverse organization, the more excited I am about getting started.”

Ferris’ initial efforts will focus on refining the organization’s emerging strategic plan to ensure emphasis on the most critical issues across the fullest spectrum of sustainability. He will also work with RE Sources managers on current programs—The RE Store, North Sound Baykeeper, education programs, and the Sustainable Living Center—to make sure they operate at optimal levels and strengthen their contributions to the wellbeing of Bellingham and the surrounding region.

“The Board believes that Bob’s broad experience with allied issues such as transportation, sustainable planning, the new economy, and runaway consumerism will add new dimensions and perspectives to our programs and operations as well as open the door for additional partnerships with players already active in these areas,” said Charlie Maliszewski vice president of the RE Sources board.

Ferris grew up in the West and one of his earliest memories was coming to the Seattle World’s Fair which was followed by berry picking forays into the open fields of Bellevue and learning to water ski and fish on Lake Chelan. He is joined by his wife, Carlene Marie Ramus, who is a green architect, landscape designer, and artist. Their goal is to build a beautiful and sustainable home in Bellingham in the coming year.

“Coming to Bellingham feels like coming home,” said Ferris, “and I am excited about being an active participant in this community and region and working cooperatively with conservation and sustainability advocates with a stake in our new home.”

RE Sources is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization (http://www.re-sources.org) that was originally founded in 1982 as Bellingham Community Recycling. Since that time the organization has grown and broadened its program scope to include two The RE Store locations (Bellingham and Seattle www.re-store.org/index.php), an extensive Youth Education program (www.re-sources.org/programs/the-education-team), a full-spectrum water quality and aquatic habitat program anchored by the North Sound Baykeeper (www.re-sources.org/programs/baykeeper), and an emerging set of sustainability programs such as be cool (http://imcool.info/) run out of the Sustainable Living Center located atop the Bellingham The RE Store.

Pictures are available. More information on Bob’s career can be seen at http://www.linkedin.com/in/bobferris and some of his current musing can be viewed at the Greenopolis website (http://greenopolis.com/user/bobferris) or at his blog (http://bob-ferris.blogspot.com). If you would like to schedule an interview or receive addition biographical detail, please contact Crina Hoyer at (360) 733-8307 or end_of_the_skypeCrinaH@re-sources.org.