Local conservation enthusiast takes over as director of The Bob

Clifford Kipp will begin his new job as executive director of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation next month and both parties are happy about that.

Rebecca Powell, Program Director with the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation, said there were about 45 applicants for the job and the top three, all located in Montana, received interviews.

“While there were some very high-quality candidates, Cliff stood out with his level of leadership experience including years in the field supervising Montana Conservation Corps (MCC) employees and fostering successful relationships with host agencies,” Powell said. “The foundation has a very strong team in place and a supportive and active board. Cliff will be stepping into a position where his gregarious personality will make him the perfect spokesperson of the BMWF.”

While The Bob is happy to have Kipp, he is equally thrilled about moving from one healthy conservation nonprofit to another without needing to relocate. He relishes working in the Montana landscapes.

“I have been humbled by the number of people who have sent well wishes,” Kipp beamed. “I’m feeling the love and really excited about making the move.”

Kipp is no stranger to The Bob, having served on its board from 2005-2010.

“In BMWF I see an organization that can help develop advocates for preservation and capital ‘W’ wilderness,” said Kipp. “They sign up for a BMWF trip from Kansas or wherever, because they want to get into The Bob and see this landscape and see what trail work is like. And then they leave with a much deeper appreciation for not only that particular landscape but what it means to have wilderness areas in general.”

The Bob Marshall Wilderness complex is the third largest wilderness complex in the lower 48 states. It is managed by three national forests, the Flathead, Helena-Lewis and Clark and Lolo, and five ranger districts — Spotted Bear, Hungry Horse, Lincoln, Rocky Mountain and Seeley Lake.

According to the BMWF, Kipp will begin his new job on May 8. He will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the BMWF’s work and maintaining the financial health of the organization. He is looking forward to making connections and building relationships with volunteers, donors and partners in the communities surrounding the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex.

“Fundraising, philanthropy, partnerships… is a skill set I was able to flex for a really long time with MCC and now those relationships are established,” said Kipp.

WHEN HE WAS in high school, Kipp spent a week working on the Colorado Trail and had a blast, but at that time, was unaware of the career possibilities in conservation, land management and natural resources. Later, his formal studies were in the field of philosophy rather than in the literal field.

“It never clicked that people have careers in this kind of field. I wish someone would have said, ‘Hey, you seem to really like the outdoors. Why don’t you study natural resources or resource management or even environmental ethics,’” Kipp recalls. “MCC gave me a way to… see the pathway.”

His work with the Montana Conservation Corps began in 2003 and in his 20 years as the regional manager with MCC, he oversaw operations in Northwest Montana and Idaho. Kipp said MCC provides professional development and field experience. Youths develop transferable skills and work with others to make a positive change.

His work enabled him to show youths about potential futures with the Forest Service, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the National Park Service.

“Lots of former MCC (participants are) now in Forest Service jobs,” Kipp said. “It gives them tools (and) some confidence to move around in the world. I’m going to really miss that.”

He said MCC was a great place to work but he is happy to take a step away and make space for someone else to step into that role at MCC.

The chops he earned with MCC coupled with his naturally enthusiastic personality made him the best choice for the BMWF executive director position. He is stoked for the challenge and mentioned one particular perk of the new job.

“One of the most awesome benefits is that there are five paid wilderness days,” Kipp said. “I’m hoping to thru-hike this summer… get dropped off in Ovando and walk home.”