Jon is the Executive Director of Audubon Southwest where he oversees the staff and conservation work in New Mexico and Arizona. The non-profit organization is focused on conserving our water resources, protecting and restoring the habitats birds need, confronting the climate crisis, and educating the next generation of scientists and conservationists.
Whether guiding the conservation of playas or brush management in the grasslands, Jon says the tools and science developed by PLJV is helping Audubon “work smarter, not harder,” by improving the efficacy of their work and getting the most value out of conservation investments. One of his favorite things about PLJV is how the joint venture looks for innovative, new approaches toward some of the greatest conservation challenges. The partnership between PLJV and Audubon has been on the leading edge of advanced GIS applications, integrated bird monitoring, and incorporation of social science into conservation design and planning. He considers it a privilege to support this work.
Prior to joining Audubon, Jon served with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the Great Plains Landscape Conservation Cooperative where he was responsible for guiding multi-organizational development and implementation of applied research projects. Additionally, he has served with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Oaks and Prairies Joint Venture, working at a programmatic level to implement regional conservation efforts aimed at restoring declining grassland bird populations. Jon holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental population and organismic biology from the University of Colorado and a master’s degree in natural resource conservation from the University of Montana.
Away from work, Jon and his wife try their best to enjoy the intermountain west in as many ways possible — whether it’s snowboarding, backpacking, fly-fishing, trail running, or just enjoying good food and beer with close friends. They live in Placitas, New Mexico, with their seven pets, including a piebald pony named Lil Joe.