Board Announcement: Executive Director Transition

Dear Friends and Supporters of TEC:

We have some big news to share: our Executive Director, Mike Riley, will be leaving The Environmental Center after nearly 17 years of service. Mike’s departure is something we have been planning for the last six months; Mike’s last day as Executive Director will be May 2, 2025.

As you know, Mike’s leadership has been transformative for the Environmental Center. Under his guidance, the organization has grown tremendously. We have expanded our programs, stepped into policy advocacy, deepened our connections throughout the region, and incorporated diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility into our work. Mike guided the organization through significant changes and challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic. We are grateful for Mike’s vision, dedication and unwavering commitment to our mission of embedding sustainability into daily life in Central Oregon. His leadership has been instrumental in shaping the organization’s success, and his contributions will have a lasting effect on the community. Mike will be greatly missed. 

A leadership change presents both risks as well as substantial opportunities for growth and renewal. The Board of Directors and staff remain focused on ensuring our important mission work continues, and we have a solid plan in place to support the organization during the transition period. 

Here are a few key elements of our leadership transition plan.

• While we search for a new Executive Director, The Environmental Center’s operations will be managed by a staff leadership team, which includes Associate Director Lauren Williams, Development Director Tim Page, and Youth Education Program Director Denise Rowcroft, with active engagement and oversight from the Board of Directors. Williams, Page and Rowcroft each have over a decade of experience with the organization in leadership roles. The leadership team has partnered with Mike to make key organizational decisions for the past several years and is well positioned to support the organization’s work while we search for a new Executive Director.
  
• While stepping away from his role as Executive Director, Mike will continue to support the organization for the next 6 months in a part-time capacity. His primary focus will be to support finishing the fundraising for our Eco Central Capital Campaign (in partnership with Campaign Chair Peter Geiser) and then overseeing the renovation of our facility in downtown Bend. Mike will also be available to support the staff leadership team as needed for the first month of the transition period, and to help on-board the new Executive Director.
  
• We have hired Paula Manley, a nonprofit consultant with extensive experience in nonprofit leadership and executive searches in the Pacific Northwest, to assist us with our search for a new Executive Director. We anticipate announcing the opening of the Executive Director search in early May 2025; our goal is for a new ED to start in the fall of 2025. 

As always, we deeply appreciate your support of and engagement in our mission to embed sustainability into daily life in Central Oregon. Your continued support will be critical to our success during this transition.  

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions. Happy Spring! 

– Ryan Bellinson, Board & ED Search Chair

– Emily Dougan, Board President

– Peter Geiser, Former Board Member & Founder Eco Central Campaign Chair

And here is a quick message from Mike:

I’m grateful to have had the opportunity, as the Executive Director of The Environmental Center (TEC), to translate the big idea of sustainability into practical, local action that makes a difference in the place I call home. Thank you for helping make that possible. 

I’m also very proud of the sustainability and climate work we have done together–and there is so much work still to do! Now it’s time for me to make room for new leaders to shape the future of The Environmental Center. I am confident our strong leadership team and staff, supported by a dedicated Board, will continue our good work. And I am excited to watch TEC continue to evolve to meet the moment, especially the climate crisis and the need to ensure all members of our community are engaged in and benefit from climate action. I hope you will continue your support of TEC to make it so. 

See you around town, out on the biking, hiking and ski trails, and maybe even at a City Council meeting. Happy Spring!

– Mike Riley