A New Path Forward

How do you build upon a powerful history of conservation that includes the greatest wildlife restoration story of the last century?

It’s a tough task, but the NWTF, behind the strength of its dedicated membership, volunteers, partners and staff, is aligning itself to do just that.

With the May 12 announcement that Becky Humphries, NWTF CEO since 2017, will retire in February 2023 as the organization celebrates its 50th anniversary, the NWTF will look to two strategic minds to lead the organization into the next half-century of conservation delivery and hunting heritage preservation. The NWTF National Board of Directors appointed Jason Burckhalter and Kurt Dyroff, two of the organization’s top staff executives, as co-CEOs, in May, while Humphries will serve with them during the transition until her retirement in February.

“Building on Becky’s accomplishments and to prepare the NWTF for the future, the National Board of Directors decided, after careful consideration, to tap the unique experiences and energy of not just one but two of the organization’s top executives,” said Bryan Perry, president of the NWTF Board of Directors. “Kurt and Jason have established proven track records as effective, forward-thinking senior executives and strong collaborators in managing the organization’s key operations. We believe Jason and Kurt will make an effective team to lead the NWTF.”

Under the NWTF’s co-CEO model, Dyroff will lead the organization’s mission-related activities, including conservation, finance and accounting, and general business support (legal, human resources and land holdings). Burckhalter will oversee membership and fundraising-related duties, including field operations and development, marketing and communications, information technology and facility management. Humphries will continue as part of the NWTF leadership team, overseeing government affairs until her retirement when those duties will transition to Dyroff.

In a joint statement, Burckhalter and Dyroff outlined their priorities for the organization:

“We look forward to building upon the NWTF’s nearly 50 years of success. The future is bright and reminds us how the NWTF achieved it: our mission and people. The NWTF will increase focus on our membership and member experience and bolster research and habitat delivery in areas experiencing wild turkey population decline. Our mission, as ever, is to ensure robust wild turkey populations, while benefiting healthy forests, waterways and communities, and championing the soul of the American hunting lifestyle. This requires a nimble organization, built on a solid financial foundation, capable of retaining and attracting the best and brightest minds.”

Investing in the Future

For just the fifth time in the NWTF’s nearly 50- year history, the CEO position will change hands, and this transition will be unlike any other, an example of the innovative, visionary thinking the organization will need going forward.

Burckhalter has been the NWTF’s chief information officer for the past three years and before that served as its vice president of finance and previously as controller. Prior to joining the NWTF in 2013, he held various executive roles with for-profit entities, including as CIO/COO of a national multi-site operation. Burckhalter is a graduate of Lander University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in finance/economics. He received an MBA from Augusta University and an accounting degree from Auburn University.

“Kurt and I both managed multiple disciplines for the NWTF,” Burckhalter said. “This gives us a 360-degree view of the organization and will allow us to make balanced decisions and ensure we’re doing what’s best for the mission. “In addition, we want to invest in our people and our systems that allow our staff and volunteers to better do their jobs with more thorough training.”

Dyroff has been the NWTF’s chief business and finance officer for the past three years, and previously held positions as director of business development, acting chief of conservation, and as western director of conservation operations.

Before joining the NWTF in 2014, he served in various conservation-focused executive capacities at Ducks Unlimited for nine years. Dyroff is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering with a minor in environmental engineering.

“Our priorities for this coming year are all about mission and the people, our membership and improving our membership experience,” Dyroff said. “In order to get there, we’re going to need to have increased focus and investments in research for wild turkey populations that are in decline in certain areas, increased focus on landscape-scale habitat delivery, as well as investments in our Education and Outreach programs.“That means we’re going to have to invest in the organization, have robust IT systems and management of data, so that we’re making informed decisions and becoming that forward-thinking organization that builds upon our last 50 years and does even more and has an even brighter future for the next 50.” Investing in its mission and its people – the NWTF has strived to do that for decades."

Thanks to Humphries, Burckhalter, Dyroff and the support of the NWTF family, the organization came out of the past two years on solid financial ground with a renewed focus and a rebranded image for the future. The path is now clear to realize the full potential of the organization’s commitment to its mission.

“For me, it has been a humbling and incredible experience just to be a part of the NWTF family,” Burckhalter said. “To now have the opportunity to help lead this great organization with Kurt and set it up for even greater success is truly exciting.”

Mission and Membership

Reinforcing the NWTF’s commitment to conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of our hunting heritage, and to our membership and member experience. The NWTF will invest in additional research and habitat delivery to combat decline of the wild turkey population. This will ensure robust populations, while benefiting healthy forests, waterways and communities – essentially championing the soul of the American hunting lifestyle. This effort will include stewarding and expanding the large-scale conservation delivery approach, with an emphasis on delivering this message to a more diverse demographic and implementing new communication tools to do so.

Finances

Building on strides made during the past two years to establish a solid financial foundation so the organization can realize its fullest potential. This includes an increased focus on establishing sufficient liquidity, building cash reserves and establishing an endowment to ensure the long-term sustainability of the organization.
Robust Data and Systems

Implement a Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) system and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system to provide better tools to staff and volunteers. More modern systems will allow us to streamline processes, leverage data to support strategic decisions and further enhance communication channels.

Forward-thinking Organization

We will be a nimble organization, built for the future, capable of attracting and retaining the best and brightest minds. We will provide a fully hybrid workforce (employees and volunteers) with enhanced technology and related training, while encouraging our team to challenge the norm.