American Whitewater Announces New Executive Director, Clinton Begley
After conducting a nationwide search and interviewing several highly qualified candidates, American Whitewater announced today that Clinton Begley will be its new Executive Director. The Team at American Whitewater, including our Board of Directors and Staff, were recently able to meet the finalists for the position, including Begley, and there was unanimous support for his selection.
Clinton has a passion for whitewater paddling and river stewardship, and has a long history of support and involvement with American Whitewater. He has had a personal and enduring connection to several river stewardship projects across the country, including spending the last 7 years working on land and river stewardship issues in the Willamette River Basin of Western Oregon as the Executive Director of the Long Tom Watershed Council in Eugene. Clinton has always been most interested in the human dimensions of natural resources, and how people’s personalities, values, and motivations to experience the outdoors guide their activities and stewardship behaviors.
He’s been a volunteer and American Whitewater Streamkeeper since 2004, helping to add and update reaches to the National Whitewater Inventory, participated in letter writing to elected officials, testified in a state committee on behalf of American Whitewater priorities, and has helped organize local AW fundraisers and events. We’re delighted that Clinton is already so deeply ingrained in our community.
Clinton will begin his Executive Director role on August 1st and plans to travel to American Whitewater events this summer and fall to meet up with our staff, volunteers, members and supporters in their home regions. Stay tuned for more information on his professional and personal background in coming weeks. We’re all excited to welcome Clinton aboard and are looking forward to working with him!