PUP is very pleased to announce a couple of changes within PUP's leadership that occurred at yesterday's board meeting.

1. The board elected Francisco Valenzuela to become the new board chair. Francisco joined the board in May of last year. He only just retired after a long and celebrated career at the USDA Forest Service on 31 December. Part of his retirement planning includes helping to lead PUP into the future. He replaced Executive Director Jon Kohl who served as interim chair since 11 December of last year when the former chair and current board member (serving his second term) Sherwood Shankland finished his term.

2. The board also elected Dr. Alison Ormsby to become an advisor. Alison served as an inaugural board member and finished her term last year along with Shankland and now she transitions to a new role at the organization. She is currently a professor on a variety of conservation related topics (sacred sites, interpretation, community-based conservation) at the University of North Carolina-Asheville.

PUP looks forward to welcoming them both as PUP grows stronger.