The third annual Conservation Awards recognizes influential environmental advocacy professionals working in Virginia’s partnership of 170+ organizations

Chesterfield, VA, Oct 7 – As Virginia’s conservation movement grows after decades of coalition-building, our environmental nonprofits are simultaneously seeing the departure of leadership and the rise of energetic and motivated young professionals dedicated to environmental protection. As a facilitator of strategic action for over 170 environmental nonprofit organizations, Virginia Conservation Network’s Conservation Awards recognized six environmental professionals at their Annual Meeting & Partner Retreat at Pocahontas State Park on Tuesday,  October 7th. Delegate Shelly Simonds and Department of Conservation & Recreation Director, Matt Wells, kicked off the Conservation Awards ceremony with an inspiring message. 

The Conservation Awards recognize and celebrate the achievements of individuals who have provided leadership and advanced the Virginia Conservation Network’s collective voice for water quality, land & wildlife conservation, land use & transportation, clean energy, climate change, and environmental justice issues. Awards were presented to professionals working within the Virginia Conservation Network across three categories:

• The Rising Star Award recognizes individuals in the early stages of their careers who are making significant contributions to Virginia’s conservation community.
• The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes those who have dedicated their career to Virginia’s conservation and environmental protection.
• The flagship Conservation Champion of the Year Award recognizes one key individual who has made significant accomplishments to protect Virginia’s environment and communities in the last year. 

See what colleagues said in their nominations of the following awardees:

Maribel Castañeda received the Rising Star Award from Alan Rowsome, a VCN Partner working the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust.

Maribel Castañeda received VCN’s Rising Star Award for taking on the Our Virginia Outdoors’ first leadership role. Through Maribel’s leadership in her first years, she has carried out OVO’s mission and structured a well-functioning group that runs multiple campaigns across the Commonwealth to promote the outdoors for all. Our Virginia Outdoors has become a respected voice in the legislature and is on the verge of an incredible conservation victory thanks to Maribel’s persistence and passion over the past two years.

Maribel is a passionate coalition builder with over a decade of experience in local and state government, working in areas such as education, community development, and constituent engagement. In her time with Our Virginia Outdoors, she has traveled to 18 different countries while leading the coalition–a testament to her commitment to work and that she can succeed in bringing people together from anywhere.

Karen Forget received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Skip Stiles, a previous recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Karen Forget came to Virginia like John Smith – on a sailboat. She lived on the boat for a few years in Hampton while working in Virginia Beach, where she taught—and later became head of school—at the Virginia Beach Friends School. After getting her Master’s in Science Education at William and Mary, Karen joined Lynnhaven River Now as a science educator before becoming head of the organization as its Executive Director.

Karen advocates for the environment in Virginia Beach by bridging ideological gaps to find common ground and work with nontraditional allies to get the work done. She is on a number of city-wide advisory boards, sitting right next to business and government leaders.

With the watershed fully contained within Virginia Beach, Karen began to move outside the watershed to the southern reaches of the city, again working in concert with a range of groups, including the Back Bay Restoration Foundation. She has helped strengthen advocacy in the “shared rivers” that flow into North Carolina, advocating for more water quality funding outside of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

This has led her to partnerships below the state line, since Virginia Beach’s shared watersheds are the headwaters of the Albemarle-Pamlico Sound. She has been a major force in a series of meetings to plan joint environmental efforts on both sides of the border, and she sits on the advisory committee for the Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Program (APNEP) advisory committee.

Karen has also served the entire state, bringing her approach to environmental advocacy to the Virginia Conservation Network’s board of directors, serving most recently as chair.

Karen has an amazing track record over the last couple of decades as a local, regional, and state environmental leader.

Trip Pollard receives the Lifetime Achievement Award from VCN Partner Danny Plaugher, who represents Virginia Transit Association and Virginians for High Speed Rail.

Trip Pollard has been a leader in Virginia’s land use and transportation policy sector and a mentor to many over the last few decades. Trip leads with a steady hand, and is “one of the few folks I’ve ever worked with that could see the forest through the trees,” Danny Plaugher shared while presenting Trip’s award.

Emphasizing Trip’s sound mentorship, Danny recollected, “after he recommended a different course of action and I landed squarely on my rear, he was always there: not with I told you so but a hand to help pick you up, and advice on a better course of action” when working diligently together to improve Virginia’s public transit systems state-wide.

In addition, Danny Plaugher collected and shared a handful of remarks from colleagues around the state to celebrate Pollard’s award:

“His influence has helped drive Virginia’s achievements in passenger rail—and Virginians for High Speed Rail’s success as one of its leading advocates.” – Meredith Richards, former Charlottesville City Councilor, VHSR President, VTA President, and current President of the Rail Passengers Association

“He commands respect for his quiet yet compelling demeanor.” – Dick Beadles, VHSR founder and former RF&P railroad CEO

“Trip has been one of the most effective transportation and land use activists for nearly 3 decades. He has been a true advocate for all that we hold dear and we are stronger for his engagement.” – Lisa Guthrie, former Executive Director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters and Virginia Transit Association and previous Lifetime Achievement Award recipient

“I love Trip. He’s the genuine article. I knew him back in the day, and you could see his deep commitment to making the world better even then. His dedication to protecting the environment and expanding transit leaves a legacy of not just a cleaner planet but a more connected Commonwealth.” – Delegate Paul Krizek, and Trip’s UVA law school classmate

“He didn’t run from my often overzealous levels of energy. He tolerated my spunkiness and instead helped me learn about Virginia’s transportation policy. I owe much of where I am today in my career to Trip’s initial support of my voice in crowded rooms.” – Blair St. Ledger Olson, Virginia League of Conservation Voter’s Director of Advocacy and Campaigns and previous Conservation Champion of the Year recipient

Faith Harris receives the Lifetime Achievement Award from Kim Sudderth.

Faith serves as the Executive Director of Virginia Interfaith Power & Light, collaborating among people of faith and conscience to grow healthy communities by advancing climate and environmental justice. Previously, she served as Assistant Professor of Theological Studies for The Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University (STVU), where she taught various theology courses, including Creation Care, Grassroots Organizing, and the Faith Community.

In addition to her impactful career, Dr. Harris has played an active role in her community for the last few decades. She has served as Co-Chair for the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, Richmond Chapter Lead for Organizing for Action, Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, Co-Chair for the Virginia Council on Environmental Justice, Board member for the Environmental Justice Collaborative, and the Advisory Board for the Katie Geneva Cannon Center for Womanist Leadership. She is a critical Partner of the Virginia Conservation Network, where she serves on several committees, including previously leading the Legislative Committee as Co-Chair.

Jay Ford received the Conservation Champion of the Year Award from Chris Moore, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and Mary Rafferty, Virginia Conservation Network.

Jay Ford was recognized as the Conservation Champion of the Year due to his exceptional leadership in advancing key environmental policies across the Commonwealth, from coastal resilience to clean water initiatives. The Virginia Conservation Network praised Ford for his “strategic, high-impact policy leadership,” citing his success in securing state funding for coastal resilience projects and agricultural conservation efforts. Ford’s work on recurrent flooding and sea level rise earned him a seat on the Joint Subcommittee on Recurrent Flooding, where he has helped develop science-based solutions to protect vulnerable communities.

In addition to his coastal policy work, Ford has been a strong advocate for Virginia’s agricultural sector through his efforts to sustain full funding for the Virginia Agricultural Cost-Share Program. This initiative supports farmers who implement conservation practices that improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. He also championed legislation to expand wetland protections, strengthen tree canopy preservation, and establish the Office of Commonwealth Resilience, while supporting measures to advance clean energy and reduce microplastics in public drinking water.

Ford’s recognition included several limericks written and shared by VCN Executive Director, Mary Rafferty, to celebrate the moment:

For the Chesapeake Bay, he’s an advocate
Native plants & mushrooms, he is Passionate
An active voice at DEQ
On legislators’ speed dial, too
His work for Virginia’s environment is never inadequate

Mary Rafferty received the sole “Virginia All-Star Leadership Award” from Nicole Vaughan on behalf of the Virginia Conservation Network team.

In recognition of her outstanding contributions to grow and strengthen the Virginia Conservation Network under her leadership over the past 10 years, staff surprised outgoing Executive Director, Mary Rafferty, with the inaugural Virginia All-Star Leadership Award to conclude the Conservation Awards Ceremony.

Mary Rafferty has over doubled the capacity of the Virginia Conservation Network in her tenure, with metrics that include staff size, number of Partners, amount of environmental issues covered, and more. Staff highlighted Mary’s strengths of mentorship, strategy, and adaptability through an ever-changing landscape to strengthen our Network to what it is today.

Not to be outdone by her supervisor, Nicole shared an impromptu limerick for Mary to conclude the Awards Ceremony:

Mary Rafferty is the best boss

She’s our community’s secret sauce

She wears all of the hats

and herds us cats

Virginia is sure to miss her loss

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Virginia Conservation Network is a partnership of over 170 environmental organizations working together to create a powerful, diverse, highly-coordinated conservation movement in Virginia.