The first annual Conservation Awards recognizes influential environmental advocacy professionals working in Virginia’s partnership of 160+ organizations

Wetlands Watch staff pose for a picture celebrating their retired Executive Director’s Lifetime Achievement Award

From left to right: Gabi Kinney, John Bateman, Skip Stiles, Mary-Carson Stiff

Richmond, VA, Sept 29 – 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 160 environmental nonprofit organizations, Virginia Conservation Network’s first annual Conservation Awards recognized six environmental professionals at their Annual Meeting & Partner Retreat at Pocahontas State Park on Wednesday, September 27th, for their contributions to Virginia’s environmental protection. Delegate Suhas Subramanyam kicked off the Conservation Awards ceremony with an inspiring message, and Delegate Lee Ware wrapped up with hopeful, forward-looking remarks. 

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 their early careers who are making significant progress in 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 made a significant accomplishment to protect Virgnia’s environment and communities in the last year. 

Shawn Soares’ mother, Nimmi, accepts the Rising Star Award on behalf of Shawn from Delegate Suhas Subramanyam

Shawn’s kind, gentle, and insightful nature was immediately apparent when he joined VCN as the Clean Energy & Climate Justice Policy Manager in January. He was a rising star in the climate movement, but his incredible commitment to bettering Virginia went beyond his climate advocacy. In his former roles as Outreach Director for the late Congressman McEachin, Governor Northam, and Delegate Subramanyan, Shawn worked to ensure the betterment of the Commonwealth for others. We are all devastated that his potential as an advocate and community leader was cut so short.

On May 4th, 2023, we learned of the tragic loss of our Clean Energy & Climate Justice Policy Manager, Shawn Soares. Shawn was committed to devoting his career to bettering the Commonwealth and was a rising star in the climate movement. We are dedicating this year to him and are committed to working in his honor moving forward.

Maya Alexander receives the Rising Star Award from her supervisor and Executive Director of Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley, Kate Wofford

Without a doubt, Maya Alexander is a rising star in the conservation community in Virginia. In only one year as Community Engagement Manager for Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley, Maya has made significant new connections for the Alliance and our conservation partners in the Valley, and she has strengthened existing relationships. She conceived of, organized, and implemented a very successful partnership event in Harrisonburg called “The Outdoors is YOURS.” The evening program was held at the historic Lucy Simms Center and featured Ester Nizer and Nathan Burrell discussing their personal experiences as people of color involved in outdoor recreation, state parks, and public lands, with a powerful introduction from Harrisonburg’s Mayor Deanna Reed. As part of the community engagement for the future Shenandoah Rail Trail, Maya delivered nine community information meetings in each town along the trail corridor handling herself beautifully, both when the crowd was supportive and even when there were disruptive attendees. Since then, Maya took the initiative to go to Pilgrim’s Pride poultry processing plant in Timberville during a plant shift break to talk with workers through a Spanish translator, as part of her effort to make sure ALL community members are engaged in early stages of rail trail planning. Currently, Maya is producing a webinar program to honor Mr. Walter Brown, one of the last Black families on their family land in Augusta County. The program will feature Ebonie Alexander of the Black Family Land Trust and Dr. Jewel Bronaugh, the first person of color to serve as Deputy Secretary at USDA.

Maya finds sincere connections with people, regardless of their background. She serves as a mentor in the Choose Clean Water Coalition’s Young Professionals of Color program and she was just accepted into the Leaders of Color Circle at Center for Nonprofit Excellence.

Skip Stiles addresses the crowd at VCN’s Annual Meeting & Partner Retreat

Skip Stiles has led Virginia’s efforts to prepare for the impacts of climate change for twenty years, as a Board Member and the first Executive Director of Wetlands Watch. He has championed wetlands protection through years of tireless advocacy at local and state decision making boards, the Virginia General Assembly, and in Congress. Skip worked in Congress for 22 years, helping pass the nation’s very first climate change legislation. In Virginia, Skip served on the first Climate Commission under former Governor Tim Kaine. Under Governor Northam’s administration, Skip helped pass legislation that requires climate change consideration in the Tidal Wetlands Act, the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act, and in septic regulations. The High Water Watch notification system, developed by Skip, saved many cars and homes from flood damage in coastal Virginia. Skip also designed Wetlands Watch’s sea level rise phone app, which has helped community members of all ages participate in data collection that helps inform flood risk modelers and decision-makers in Virginia and beyond. The Catch the King annual crowd-sourcing data collection event that utilizes the phone app was recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records. Skip has received countless awards for his environmental leadership, most notably the Erchul Environmental Leadership Award (2021), the Coastal Climate Champion Award (2015), and the William H. Savedge III Environmental Achievement Award (2012).

Peggy Sanner receives the Lifetime Achievement Award from Chesapeake Bay Foundation colleague, Ann Jurcyzk

Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Virginia Executive Director, Peggy Sanner, has played a pivotal role in building partnerships and advancing legislative and regulatory policy in Virginia during her 13 years working at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Ms. Sanner has educated Virginia Conservation Network members, elected officials, decision-makers, and the general public about water quality and habitat issues throughout her tenure at CBF. Legislative highlights that Ms. Sanner spearheaded include accelerating fencing cattle out of streams, banning phosphorus from lawn fertilizer, establishing a comprehensive nutrient trading program, expanding tree cover, securing additional wastewater treatment plant upgrades, and transferring menhaden fishery management from the General Assembly to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, to name but a few. Additionally, Ms. Sanner has led collaborative efforts to ensure historic levels of funding for state clean-water programs to reduce pollution from wastewater, stormwater, and agriculture. Ms. Sanner has been a leading advocate for the environmental community in the development and maturation of Virginia’s clean water regulatory programs.

Lisa Guthrie receives the Lifetime Achievement Award from Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director at Partnership for Smarter Growth

Lisa Guthrie led the Virginia League of Conservation Voters for over 12 years before becoming the head of the Virginia Transit Association where she served for nearly a decade. before retiring. With over 20 years of experience in our environmental community and service at multiple organizations, few folks have had the same impact as Lisa. Every year she helped craft legislation and shepherd it through the General Assembly often with next to no help and never a single complaint. Her quiet but tireless efforts always focused on the issues and how to improve people’s lives and never steered into pointless partisanship.

Jessica Sims receives the Conservation Champion of the Year Award from her colleague at Appalachian Voices, Peter Anderson

Jessica Sims, Virginia Field Coordinator at Appalachian Voices, has passionately led the grassroots fight against the Mountain Valley Pipeline and has stewarded grassroots action at every stage of this topsy-turvy campaign. Additionally, she brings passion, strategy, and energy to many other energy-related and conservation fights in the Commonwealth. Without Jess’s advocacy and hard work, the Mountain Valley Pipeline fight would not have been as successful as it has been. Jess will surely be an instrumental force in future energy democracy fights and will be a major influence in Virginia’s continued fight against fossil fuels.

In recognition of the Conservation Champion of the Year, Peter Anderson, Appalachian Voices, shared glowing remarks detailing Jessica’s passion and dedication: 

“It’s hard to couch Jessica’s impact into the conservationist of this year because she’s been doing this for many years. So, of course, we know she was a major part in the victory to stop the Atlantic Coast Pipeline…. The pipeline work is difficult, but Jessica is a leader and so successful in this work because of her passion, because of her drive, and because of her trustworthiness. Someone I was talking to today said, ‘Jessica is the glue that holds these coalitions together.’ 

“I think we can all learn from her, and I’m so proud to give this Conservationist of the Year Award to Jessica Sims,” concluded Anderson as he called Sims to the stage.

Colleagues nominated leaders working within the Virginia Conservation Network. Virginia Conservation board members and staff considered dozens of nominations before carefully choosing recipients working on environmental issues across the Commonwealth. 

The Virginia Conservation Network was initially founded as the Conservation Council of Virginia in 1969 and has been growing a powerful, diverse, and highly focused network ever since. Despite its long history, the idea for annual awards took off after the sudden and tragic death of Virginia Conservation Network’s Climate & Energy Policy Manager, Shawn Soares. The Network sought ways to honor Shawn’s legacy and commitment to the Commonwealth. While nothing will be enough, the team celebrated his memory by dedicating the Rising Star Awards to their late colleague and friend for the years to come. 

You can read more about the Conservation Award recipients and their accomplishments on the Virginia Conservation Network’s website at vcnva.org/conservation-awards.

Delegate Lee Ware concludes the Conservation Awards ceremony with an inspiring message

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Virginia Conservation Network is a partnership of over 150 environmental organizations working together to create a powerful, diverse, highly-coordinated conservation movement in Virginia.