As the Voyageurs Conservancy grows its impact as Voyageurs National Park’s official philanthropic partner, the Conservancy welcomes five new board members: Dave Chaffin, Caroline Pflueger, Tenzin Dolkar, Karina Hill, and Mark Weber. These new members bring a wide array of skills to the board. Their passion and commitment will help keep Voyageurs National Park wild forever and available for all to enjoy.
Dave Chaffin connected with the Voyageurs Conservancy through its policy and science committee in 2018. Now, Dave is bringing his expertise in forest conservation, government relations, corporate engagement, marketing and advertising to the board of directors. Dave works in corporate sustainability for Kimberly-Clark Corporation; prior, he obtained a PhD in forest ecology and conservation and worked with the Nature Conservancy in the Canadian boreal forest. Dave is especially excited to use his boreal forest ecology knowledge to create positive outcomes for his “home” forest.
“There is no place in the world I would rather be than fishing for walleyes on a boreal forest lake, which is one reason my wife and I recently purchased a cabin on Rainy Lake’s Grindstone Island where we spend our summers exploring the park and chasing big fish on the reefs,” says Dave.
Caroline Pflueger brings an energetic, action-oriented mindset to the Voyageurs Conservancy. Caroline began her service as the committee chair of the member engagement and events committee. With over eight years of consulting organizations in efficiency and effectiveness, Caroline brings a strategic approach to grow awareness for the park and the Conservancy. Caroline visits Rainy Lake every summer and believes in the profound effects of nature.
“Beginning as a child and throughout my lifetime, ‘wild’ spaces have played a large role in who I am today. I have a deep appreciation for the capacity of the outdoors and the positive effects of sacred places, such as Voyageurs. As a board member, I would bring a commitment to preserving the land and waters of Voyageurs and motivation to introduce more people to the unique area,” says Caroline.
Tenzin Dolkar joins the board and serves as a Climate Advisor for the Bloomberg American Cities Climate Change/Natural Resources Defense Fund. Dolkar previously served in the Office of Governor Mark Dayton and has tremendous experience in transportation, agriculture, and climate issues. She is especially interested in community engagement and furthering the Voyageurs Conservancy’s goals to “strategically advance the park’s access,” states Dolkar.
Karina Hill joins the board with over 13 years of marketing and communications experience in the non-profit and health care sectors. She is looking forward to developing a larger awareness strategy to support the Conservancy’s fundraising and engagement goals. Karina brings not only tactical skills in marketing and communications and environmental health, but also a deep appreciation for the park.
“My family owns a cabin on Kabetogama, so I've long appreciated the stunning beauty and distinctive features of Voyageurs National Park,” Karina explains, “As a cabin owner, I have a unique perspective and am excited to become more involved with Voyageurs Conservancy, the park, and surrounding communities.”
Mark Weber is bringing a wealth of knowledge with an extensive career in the newspaper industry and serving on multiple conservation-related boards. Mark currently works as Regional President of the Adams Publishing Group and has held various senior management positions with Star Tribune, Denver Post, Pioneer Press, and Outdoor News. He recently came off a three-year term on the DNR’s Commissioner-appointed Game and Fish Citizen Advisory Board. Mark has a fond tradition of camping on Rusty Island in Namakan with his family.
“I have explored and boated virtually every inch of the park providing a local understanding that is deep. I’ve also worked for the family of one of the founders of Voyageurs, Governor Elmer Anderson, “father of Voyageurs National Park” during my time working at ECM,” says Mark.
The Voyageurs Conservancy is honored to benefit from the talent and knowledge of their incoming board members.
