Becky Cushing Mass Audubon Berkshire Wildlife Sanctuaries, Director 472 West Mountain Rd. • Lenox, MA 01240 • phone (413) 358-5284 [email protected] EDUCATION UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT (August 2011-May 2013) Burlington, Vt. M.S. Field Naturalist Program/Plant Biology MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE (February 2003- February 2007) Middlebury, Vt. B.A. Environmental Studies/Conservation Biology SEA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION (Spring 2005) Woods Hole, Mass. NATIONAL OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP SCHOOL (Winter 2002-2003) Baja California Sur, Mexico RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE MASS AUDUBON BERKSHIRE WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES Berkshire County, Ma. Director (May 2014-present) Oversee all aspects of Mass Audubon’s six wildlife sanctuaries in Berkshire County (Lenox, Richmond, Pittsfield, Sandisfield, Otis and Sheffield) which receive 25,000 visitors annually Engage key stakeholders to develop Mass Audubon’s 10 year Strategic Plan in Berkshire County Advocate for sound conservation practices and serve in an advisory capacity on local conservation and education projects Direct all aspects of Mass Audubon’s Berkshire Environmental Literacy Program, a science and nature program in 20 Berkshire County schools Represent Mass Audubon in a number of regional projects/partnerships, including Berkshire Taconic RCP, Berkshire Wildlife Linkages (Stay Connected), Yokun Ridge Trail/High Road project and EPA Housatonic River Citizens Coordinating Council Work alongside BSO/Tanglewood colleagues to develop “Tanglewood Takes Flight,” a free series of birding and music Direct “Wild Thing” 5k/10k Trail Run Fundraiser through Kennedy Park, Lenox Founded Berkshire Naturalist Club to facilitate exchange of natural history information among professional and naturalists Developed “Nature and Mindfulness” and Kripalu School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership curriculum working in partnership with the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health THE NATURE CONSERVANCY, VERMONT CHAPTER Montpelier, Vt. Field Assistant/Volunteer Coordinator (September 2013-May 2014) Developed land management plans for TNC-owned conserved lands, conducted legal monitoring, marked property boundaries, and maintained stewardship records (e.g., site inspections, trail work, and invasive plant management) Recruited, trained, and supervised interns and volunteers on a variety of stewardship projects, including Act 250 permits, technical reports, development of interpretive materials, and field work days ECOLOGICAL CONSULTANT (September 2011-May 2013) Burlington, Vt. Conducted natural resource inventories, developed management plans, and created outreach materials Sample of completed projects: “From Mount Mansfield to Molly Bog: A new management approach for UVM’s Natural Areas” Prepared for the Rubenstein School of the Environment and Natural Resources Fitzgerald Farm Wildlife Assessment (collaborative project) Prepared for the Vermont Land Trust “The impact of hiking, jogging, dog-walking and biking on mammals in Vermont’s natural areas” Prepared for the Rubenstein School of the Environment and Natural Resources UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT Burlington, Vt. Natural Areas Assistant Manager (May 2013-September 2013) Supervised interns, conducted field work, communicated with the public, researched historical records (e.g., deeds and tax maps), and developed a database of UVM Natural Areas reports, files, photos MASS AUDUBON Wareham, Mass. On-the-ground project manager (December 2009-July 2011) Developed infrastructure, permitting, and visitor services in preparation for opening new Great Neck Wildlife Sanctuary Directed groups including members of AmeriCorps NCCC, Student Conservation Association, and Wareham Land Trust to construct trails and install signage MASS AUDUBON ALLENS POND WILDLIFE SANCTUARY Westport/Dartmouth, Mass. Volunteer Coordinator (November 2007-July 2011) Recruited, trained, and managed volunteer groups and 500+ individual sanctuary volunteers to work on ecological, educational, and outreach projects Facilitated environmental education and stewardship opportunities for students through school visits and sanctuary field trips Organized annual Duck Derby fundraiser event which brought in a record $36,000 in profits in 2010, engaged 75+ volunteers, and attracted more than 400 sanctuary visitors Publicized programs and fundraisers through print, news, and online media Collaborated with community partners to offer environmental education and community outreach opportunities Osprey Project Manager (November 2007-July 2011) Monitored and maintained 98 osprey nesting platforms in Westport/Dartmouth area Coordinated the Osprey Platform Stewardship and Monitoring Project, including fundraising and website maintenance Conducted and assisted research projects, including tracking adults and juveniles using satellite transmitter technology, USFWS banding and color banding, and blood sampling VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE BERKSHIRE EAGLE ADVISORY BOARD (2018) Pittsfield, Mass. LAUREL HILL ASSOCIATION (2018) Stockbridge, Mass. HOFFMANN BIRD CLUB (2014-present) Berkshire County, Mass. PLAINFIELD CONSERVATION COMMISSION (2013-2014) Plainfield, Vermont VERMONT CENTER FOR ECOSTUDIES (2013-present) Vermont/New Hampshire Conducted grassland bird surveys and Mountain Birdwatch (high elevation) bird surveys as a volunteer PASKAMANSETT BIRD CLUB Dartmouth, Mass. President (2010-2011), Vice President (2009), member (2007-2008) MASS AUDUBON ALLENS POND WILDLIFE SANCTUARY Westport/Dartmouth, Mass. Steward/Beach Ranger (August 2007-September 2007); Shorebird Monitor (April 2007-August 2007) MASS AUDUBON WELLFLEET BAY WILDLIFE SANCTUARY South Wellfleet, Mass. Day Camp/Public Programs Staff (June-September 2004; June-September 2005) MASS AUDUBON COASTAL WATERBIRD PROGRAM Cape Cod, Mass. Shorebird Monitor (May-August 2003) AWARDS, CERTIFICATIONS, PUBLICATIONS, COURSES, AND SKILLS ROBERT & PATRICIA SWITZER FOUNDATION FELLOWSHIP (June 2012-June 2013) VERMONT BOTANICAL AND BIRD CLUB SCHOLARSHIP (June 2013) CERTIFICATIONS: Wetland identification and delineation: The Federal (Reg IV) Course (2012); Game of Logging Level 1, chainsaw course (2013); Wilderness First Aid; CPR PUBLICATION: Cushing, Rebecca and Brian Washburn. 2014. The role of Ospreys in Education. Journal of Raptor Research. RELEVANT COURSES/TRAININGS: Fundamentals of Field Science; Soil Morphology Classification and Land Use; Field Botany for Natural Resource Professionals; Applied Environmental Statistics; Professional Writing; Reading the Landscape; Wildlife Management; Silviculture; Natural Resource Inventory and Analysis; Tropical Botany (Costa Rica travel course); Vertebrate Natural History; Chemistry in the Environment; Aquatic Ecology; Wetland Ecology; GIS; Local Green Politics SKILLS: Computer software including MS Office, ArcGIS, and NED; raptor handling; wildlife tracking; plant identification; experience handling small motorboats and kayaks; backcountry camping and long distance hiking; Stephanie Bergman (860) 508-9570 * [email protected] Results-driven nonprofit administrator with a proven track record of improving and growing fundraising capacity. Skilled at building relationships with stakeholders through effective verbal and written story telling. Creative problem solver, who develops and implements innovative fundraising strategies. Professional Experience MASS AUDUBON BERKSHIRE WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES, Lenox, MA Development Manager April, 2018 - Present Help acquire sponsor support for Wild Thing 5k/10k Trail Race, our biggest fundraiser of the year Identify major donors and create cultivation strategy based on giving and personal history Meet with existing major donors to discuss organization and needs Create “the story” of the Berkshire Sanctuaries to carry through appeals, marketing and sponsorship opportunities Plan and implement donor recognition and cultivation events Plan 90th Anniversary year celebration with special sponsorship opportunities Creative event planning to bring in new audiences to Berkshire Wildlife Sanctuaries BLUE RIDER STABLES, Egremont, MA Interim Executive Director July, 2017 - January, 2018 Worked with Board of Directors on transition from founder led to director led organization Identified major donors and created cultivation strategy based on giving and personal history Met with major donors to discuss organization transition and support needs Wrote 2017 annual appeal letter, raised $85,000 Identified key areas of organization that need immediate attention to move toward sustainability Collaborated with Board Treasurer to develop responsible and realistic budget Operations Manager November, 2014 - July, 2017 Hired as first administrative employee to create organizational structure for 23 year old nonprofit Planned and implemented 25th Anniversary Gala, the first gala in organization's history, raising $45,000 Acquired over 200 new donors totaling over $85,000 in donations Wrote three annual appeal and membership letters, raising over $200,000 Planned and implemented all aspects of fundraising/friendraising events, raising over $80,000 Created major donor packet Wrote and reported on grants, raising $100,000 Redesigned website to include online web forms and payment/donation processing Liaised with constituent groups including board members, volunteers, donors, funders and clients FLYING CLOUD INSTITUTE, New Marlborough, MA November, 2009-November, 2014 Coordinator, Berkshire Environmental Educators Network (BEEN) Wrote and reported on grants supporting BEEN and Flying Cloud’s Science Technology