Greater Yellowstone Coalition Selects Craig Benjamin for Leadership Role

The Greater Yellowstone Coalition (GYC) is pleased to announce Craig Benjamin as its Director of Conservation, a critical leadership role at the largest organization focused on conserving the world-renowned Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Mr. Benjamin will be based out of Jackson, Wyoming and starts in his new role on October 24^th, 2022.

Craig Benjamin

Craig was selected, according to the GYC, following a national search led by executive search firm “Thinking Ahead.” He comes to GYC from the National Wildlife Federation where, for the past give years, he served as director of conservation partnerships & habitat connectivity for Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming.

Prior to that, he was the executive director of the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance. Before landing in Greater Yellowstone, Craig worked in Seattle for several Washington-based conservation organizations and political campaigns. He holds an undergraduate degree in Public Policy from Washington & Lee Univeristy and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy and Governance.

“Craig’s breadth and depth of experience working on conservation issues within and beyond Greater Yellowstone will be integral to GYC’s mission of working with all people to protect the lands, waters, and wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem,” Executive Director Scott Christensen says. “Our ambitious 5-year strategic plan encompasses inspiring campaigns and projects that will benefit from his unique skill set and experience.”

Over the past decade, Craig has successfully run campaigns and programs to build and fund new wildlife highway crossing in Teton County bringing new people into the conservation movement through an innovative conservation leadership program and he has supported effective state-based wildlife conservation organizations in four states.

“We are thrilled Craig will be joining GYC in this leadership role,” search committee member and deputy director of conservation Kathy Rinaldi, who works from GYC’s Driggs, Idaho office, says. “He will be able to hit the ground running with his wealth of knowledge and solid relationships. I’m excited to have him lead from just over the hill.”

Craig is part of a series of recent hires in Wyoming, including Jared Baecker (Jackson) and Matt Cuzzocreo (Lander). Matt began his new role as GYC’s senior wildlife associate in September and will use his skills and experience to protect Greater Yellowstone’s unique wildlife in Wyoming with an emphasis on conflict reduction, reducing barriers to wildlife movement, and exploring new opportunities for habitat restoration.

Jared starts October 17 as GYC’s Wyoming Conservation Coordinator. He was formerly the Snake River Fund’s executive director. He has a long history of building partnerships, working with agencies, community engagement, and leading staff, which will be paramount to his new role in managing conservation programs across Wyoming.

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GYC is a 501c3 conservation organization that works with all people to protect the lands, waters, and wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, now and for future generations. GYC has a long history of working across three states: Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana in support of a healthy and intact Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Its offices are strategically located in Cody, Lander, Jackson, and Fort Washakie, WY; Driggs, ID; and Bozeman, MT. For more information about GYC and its work, please click here.