WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 12, 2021) –
The National Wildlife Refuge Association has named Natalie Fath, Visitor’s Center Manager and Volunteer Coordinator at National Elk Refuge near Jackson, Wyoming as the 2021 National Wildlife Refuge System Employee of the Year. This award recognizes the outstanding work of the men and women employed by the NWRS and is awarded to a current refuge employee whose accomplishments are judged to be the most outstanding of the candidates nominated.
Ms. Fath is well known as a kind and considerate employee who does everything in her power to make the refuge volunteer experience delightful. She communicates almost daily about refuge activities to keep volunteers and staff informed. Natalie gets to know each volunteer and their skills and talents, and then creates a work environment that taps their strengths, so that everyone might contribute in unique ways. Her ability to allow each person to use their distinctive gifts and feel valued is why volunteers have continued to serve this refuge for many years.
This year, Natalie was remarkably effective in creating flexible procedures which would allow the volunteer group to respond immediately to visitor center requirements no matter what procedural changes might or did occur throughout the season. Visitor Center operations were based on the requirements of Teton County as well as the requirements for The Department of U.S. Fish and Wildlife and because of Covid 19; a significant amount of her planning had to do with contingencies that might or might not have occurred during the season.
Natalie has demonstrated innovation in many ways including her efforts this past season to provide an environment to operate the National Elk Refuge Visitor Center during the Covid Pandemic, although USFWS Region office did not permit the Visitor Center to operate. In response to Covid-19 pandemic protocols, she orchestrated the rental of a large 40’ by 40’ outdoor tent to conduct operations. She developed procedures and protocols to protect volunteers working yet allow visitor assistance to occur. In addition, Natalie shows great innovation and organizational skills in a variety of tasks under her supervision.
The National Elk Refuge is located in the heart of the 22-million acre Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the National Elk Refuge provides critical habitat for a number of species, including elk, bison, pronghorn, swans, eagles, and trout.
All of the 2021 National Wildlife Refuge Association Refuge Awards winners will be celebrated at a reception and dinner on November 16th, 2021 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. The event will also be streamed live on Zoom, Facebook, and YouTube allowing everyone to celebrate the accomplishments of the awardees.
The 2021 Refuge Awards program will be MC’d by Wayne Hubbard. Mr. Hubbard is the host and producer of the award-winning program: Urban American Outdoors, which is the first multicultural outdoors TV show in the country, which has been on air weekly since 2003.
Since 1994, the National Wildlife Refuge Association has honored the outstanding accomplishments by refuge managers, refuge employees, volunteers, Friends groups, and refuge advocates through our Refuge System Awards program. The National Wildlife Refuge System depends on the dedication of individuals and groups like this year’s award winners to manage, protect, promote, and enhance the world’s largest network of lands and waters set aside for wildlife conservation.
For more information please visit https://www.refugeassociation.org/awards.
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As the leading independent voice advocating on behalf of the National Wildlife Refuge System, the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge Association is to protect, promote and enhance America’s wildlife heritage through strategic programs that serve the System and wildlife beyond its boundaries.
For more information, visit www.refugeassociation.org or contact Courtney Lewis, National Wildlife Refuge Association, 202-577-3200.