RESTON, Va. – The National Wildlife Federation honored Brad Powell, board president of the Arizona Wildlife Federation, with its Charlie Shaw Conservation Partnership Award. The award celebrates Powell’s success growing the Arizona Wildlife Federation’s capacity and influence in the region and his leadership in redesigning how affiliates collaborate to achieve the Federation’s shared conservation goals.
“Brad has spent his career developing and marshaling relationships with everyone from hunters and anglers to congressional leaders and strengthening the Federation’s institutions so that we can achieve substantive victories for wildlife, land, waters, and people,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “With a command of the challenges and issues the Federation faces, Brad has set the national agenda for our advocacy in the years to come and continues to work tirelessly in Arizona to see this vision become a reality.”
“It’s a great honor to receive the Charlie Shaw Conservation Partnership award. There is no higher honor than to be recognized by your peers for work that you are truly passionate about,” said Powell. “Cooperation and strong partnerships are essential for organizations like the Arizona Wildlife Federation, the National Wildlife Federation, and its affiliate family to achieve long-term success in wildlife conservation.”
While at Arizona Wildlife Federation, Powell has grown the organization’s capacity from one part-time staff member to multiple full-time staff members and a significant annual budget. In addition to establishing Arizona Wildlife Federation as a regional conservation authority, Powell helped develop the National Wildlife Federation’s strategic plan, increasing affiliate capacity, effectiveness, and coordination across national and regional conservation issues. Powell also co-chaired the Federation’s Hunter/Angler Working Group, which convenes sporting affiliates to draft Federation-wide policy resolutions on sporting matters.
The Charlie Shaw Conservation Partnership Award honors individuals who have demonstrated a true appreciation for the value and potential of the National Wildlife Federation-affiliate partnership. Powell was honored during the National Wildlife Federation’s annual meeting and 85th anniversary celebration, which was held for the second time as a virtual event this year.
This special achievement award was created in Charlie Shaw’s memory to honor individuals whose actions reflect the spirit of his work — first as executive director of North Carolina Wildlife Federation and later as a National Wildlife Federation regional executive. Shaw loved the National Wildlife Federation. In his eyes, the Federation was not simply a relationship between “national” and each affiliate partner. Shaw rightly saw one big family — many different conservationists all working together toward the goal of protecting wildlife and habitat.
The National Wildlife Federation Conservation Achievement Awards began in 1966. Since then, the National Wildlife Federation has celebrated individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to protecting wildlife through education, advocacy, communication and on-the-ground conservation. Previous honorees have included former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, First Ladies Lady Bird Johnson and Michelle Obama and other national leaders, including U.S. Sen. John McCain and filmmaker Robert Redford.
