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December 18, 2008
The International Wolf Center's Board of Directors this week announced the selection
of Mary Ortiz as its new executive director, starting January 1.
Ortiz, who began work with the Center as a volunteer in 1987, has since
served as the organization's associate director and director of
communications and marketing. She was also selected as interim executive
director following the departures of former executive directors Marc
Anderson in October, 2008, and Walter Medwid in 2007.
"Mary is an excellent leader who knows the Center inside and out, and was
unanimously selected by the board as the best person to guide us into the
future," said Board Chair, Nancy jo Tubbs of Ely.
Based in the organization's Twin Cities office, Ortiz helped raise funds at
the state legislature in 1991 to build the Ely Interpretive Center, which
opened in 1993. She developed the Center's membership and development
programs, created and managed its quarterly magazine, International Wolf,
and as director of communications and marketing has worked closely with the
organization's many audiences-members, donors, wolf issue stakeholders,
staff and board members.
"Her years of experience with the Center and her commitment to the mission
of the organization make Mary Ortiz uniquely qualified to head a strong
leadership team, including Ely Interpretive Center Director Sharee Johnson,"
the board said in its hiring statement.
"Like all nonprofits, we face challenges in these tough economic times, but
the Center has a sterling international reputation, the support of many in
the wolf world and local communities, and a staff known for its creativity,
dedication and resilience," Tubbs said. "I believe that we will transition
to new leadership without missing a beat."
The nonprofit Center served about 42,000 visitors in Ely the past year and
has about 9,000 members. The building, owned by the state and managed by the
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, is currently undergoing a
$350,000 state-funded renovation of its entrance and lobby areas. The
Center's national education efforts include work with the Southwest Wolf
Information Network on potential wolf recovery there, real-time distance
learning programs for schools around the country and an award-winning Web
site at wolf.org, which hosted more than 700,000 unique visitors in the past
year.
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ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER- The International Wolf Center, founded in 1985,
is known worldwide as the nation's premier source for wolf education. The mission of
the Center is to advance the survival of wolf populations by teaching about the wolf's
life, its relationship to wildlands and the human role in its future. The Center
educates through its Web site, www.wolf.org, its ambassador wolves, museum exhibits,
on-site adventure and outreach programs and International Wolf magazine. Its flagship
educational facility in Ely, MN, 1396 Highway 169, Ely, MN 55731. (Phone: 218-365-4695)
is the future home for the new pups. The Center's administrative and outreach offices
are at 3410 Winnetka Ave North, Minneapolis, MN 55427.
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