American Rivers Announces Two New Board Members as Organization Continues to Expand Impact
Contact: Hawk Hammer, National Communications and Media Director, Hhammer@americanrivers.org
Washington D.C. — American Rivers is today, pleased to announce the addition of two new board members, as we continue to grow and expand our impact across the country. The new members bring decades of conservation leadership, business acumen and regional expertise to our board.
“This is an exciting time for American Rivers, and we are thrilled to add two such accomplished leaders to our board,” said Tom Kiernan, president and CEO of American Rivers. “Their passion for our nation’s great outdoors, clean water, and healthy rivers shines through in their work and our organization looks forward to continued growth and impact with their added expertise.”
Maite Arce (Washington, D.C.) founded the Hispanic Access Foundation in 2010 transforming it from zero reach and budget to a national organization impacting 2.1 million people annually with a $10 million budget. Her journey is rooted in her immigrant story of adversity, love, support and progress, guided by the values instilled by her parents: work ethic, family devotion, service, and a drive for improvement. Through her efforts, she has built a network of 6,000 U.S. Latino faith leaders reaching 2 million immigrants.
Arce’s work has contributed to impactful public policies, including the Great American Outdoors Act, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and the designation of National Public Lands Monuments like Castner Range in Texas and the San Gabriel Mountains in California.
In recognition of her contributions, Arce was awarded a PhD in 2021 – Honoris Causa in Organizational Leadership from Logos Christian University. Her accolades include the 2023 Women Leaders of Faith on the Frontline Award from the U.S. Department of Health, the 2022 Environmental Leaders Award from The Center for Rural Affairs, and the 2021 Eagle Award from the Asociación de Ministerios Evangélicos Nacional.
Eric Ladd (Big Sky, MT) is the founder and CEO of Outlaw Partners, an award-winning experiential real estate, marketing, media, events and adventure travel company based in Big Sky and Bozeman, Montana. Through its various entities, Outlaw Partners creates meaningful connections, supports local community organizations and inspires action in service. He is committed to supporting organizations focus on preservation of public lands, rivers and wildlife.
Outlaw Partners’ award-winning media publications include Mountain Outlaw magazine, Explore Big Sky newspaper, Town Crier newsletter and VIEWS magazine, which have over 5,000,000 readers and subscribers. Outlaw also produces events in southwest Montana, including the Wildlands Festival and the nine-time PBR event of the year: the Big Sky PBR.
Ladd’s passion for wilderness, rivers and guiding began at the age of 15 and never subsided. Turning his passion into a business, he launched Boundary Expeditions in 2016. With his team of professional river guides, they operate exclusive, multi-day river rafting trips on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho.
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American Rivers is championing a national effort to protect and restore all rivers, from remote mountain streams to urban waterways. Healthy rivers provide people and nature with clean, abundant water and natural habitat. For 50 years, American Rivers staff, supporters, and partners have shared a common belief: Life Depends on Rivers. AmericanRivers.org