On behalf of Bay Nature Institute, I’m thrilled to announce that Wes Radez is our new Executive Director and Publisher. Our board conducted a robust public search and chose someone who I am sure will be a great person to lead our organization forward. It means I can now retire and know that Bay Nature is in the best possible hands.
Let me tell you a little about Wes and why he is such a good fit.
Wes is a community builder passionate about environmental stewardship. Most recently, as a fundraiser for parks and outdoor recreation programs in Oakland, Wes supported successful efforts to combat impacts from industrial pollution, improve the climate resiliency of underserved neighborhoods, and secure equitable access to nature. During his tenure, the Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation more than doubled the annual investments it made in partnership with community and civic groups.
Wes will apply more than 15 years of professional experience supporting mission-driven communities to help Bay Nature Institute grow. His marketing and business development background includes time in media, technology, and entrepreneurship. On weekends, you’re likely to find him volunteering alongside neighbors planting trees, scouring parks for trash, or scooping up plastic from a waterway. He also brings a strong academic profile with a BA from Stanford and an MBA from Yale.
Most importantly, Wes carries a deep belief in our mission of connecting all Bay Area people with their natural world, borne from his own local experiences as a hiker, camper, and steward. We’ve worked together several weeks now, and I know he is a collaborative leader, an attentive listener, and has a deep appreciation for environmental journalism. I’ve also found him to be a kind and generous human being. Wes will work with our Board of Directors, staff, partners, readers, and donors to strengthen Bay Nature’s important contributions to the quality of life in the Bay Area. He and I will be working together until the end of the year.
Please join me in welcoming Wes to his new role. He’d love to hear from you any time at wes@baynature.org, at local environmental events, and at our Local Hero Awards in March. Please let him know why Bay Nature is important to you and share your ideas for Bay Nature’s next chapter.
Warm regards and gratitude for five great years at Bay Nature,
Regina Starr Ridley
Former Executive Director and Publisher
regina@baynature.org
