January 19, 2024 (Washington, D.C.) –Taylor Schmitz, Director, Federal Relations at the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), has been named as the 2024 Chairman of the American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP). The AWCP is the nation’s leading coalition of sporting-conservation organizations working to advance the interests of sportsmen and women. CSF staff members serve on a variety of committees, councils, and coalitions and this appointment is another in a long line of examples of CSF’s leadership in the sporting-conservation community.
The AWCP, comprised of the nation’s top 50 sporting-conservation organizations, including founding member, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, is an effective and collective force dedicated to ensuring the vitality of America’s wildlife resources and providing for sustainable public use and enjoyment of those resources. This unique coalition represents the interests of America’s millions of hunter-conservationists, professional wildlife and natural resource managers, outdoor recreation users, conservation educators, and wildlife scientists. While the 50 partner organizations of the AWCP may have diverse primary missions, they all hold a shared commitment to advancing and promoting pro sporting-conservation priorities. In order to further this shared mission, AWCP members regularly interact and engage with federal agencies and members of Congress through sign-on letters and more.
Over the coming months, AWCP will be developing what is known as Wildlife for the 21st Century (W-21) which serves as the blueprint for AWCP’s collective priorities and visions for wildlife and sportsmen and women in the 21st century. AWCP revises W-21 every four years to help guide the incoming Presidency and the next two Congresses. Schmitz’s Chairmanship within AWCP will position CSF to continue to guide the direction of the Partnership through the development of W-21.
“In a time where it can be easier to focus on our differences rather than our similarities, the AWCP provides a catalyst for enacting change and offers a shared voice for the sporting-conservation community,” said CSF President and CEO Jeff Crane, who previously served as Chairman of the AWCP. “CSF is confident that Taylor will continue to be a strong voice for hunting, fishing, trapping, recreational shooting, and science-based wildlife management while serving as the Chairman of the American Wildlife Conservation Partners.”
As the trusted voice for America’s 55 million sportsmen and women, CSF has been leading the charge to protect America’s outdoor traditions in the policy arena for 35 years. By working closely with the AWCP, CSF can further its scope of influence in the policy arena.
“AWCP truly is a partnership that is unmatched in its vision, reach, and in delivering meaningful victories for wildlife, sportsmen and women, and other conservationists. I am honored to have been selected to serve as the Chairman of AWCP for 2024,” said CSF’s Director of Federal Relations and AWCP Chairman Taylor Schmitz. “During this time, AWCP will be developing Wildlife for the 21st, and I am looking forward to working with my colleagues to revise and update AWCP’s vision for wildlife conservation, access, and our sporting heritage for the next four years.”
In his role at CSF, Taylor works directly with the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC), the Administration, and federal agencies to advance bipartisan, meaningful solutions to issues of importance to sportsmen and women. His close work with the CSC and crucial expertise in sporting-conservation policy will prove undoubtedly beneficial in this role.
In addition to Taylor being named Chairman, CSF’s Senior Coordinator, Policy Communications Hannah Stubblefield has been appointed as Secretary of the AWCP. In her role at CSF, Hannah, an avid hunter, angler, and conservationist, is responsible for promoting CSF’s policy work through broad communication strategies as well as implementing and developing a variety of campaigns. This new role will provide CSF with the tools and resources to further develop AWCP’s campaigns and communication impact.
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