WASHINGTON, DC (NOVEMBER 20, 2024) — The Foundation for America’s Public Lands, the official charitable partner of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), announced the election of new Officers on its Board of Directors. Laurel Sayer and Jessica (Wahl) Turner were elected by the Board to serve as Chair and Vice Chair, respectively, during the Foundation’s recent Board Meeting on November 14th.
Additionally, Foundation CEO I Ling Thompson will serve as President, Maite Arce will continue to serve as Secretary, and Foundation Vice President of Finance & Operations Paula Neira will serve as Treasurer. Sayer takes over from Governor Steve Bullock, who will stay on the Board as a Director.
“I am thrilled to have Laurel and Jessica in new leadership roles on our Board of Directors,” said I Ling Thompson, CEO of the Foundation for America’s Public Lands, and President of the Board of Directors. “They bring crucial expertise and perspectives needed to help the Foundation build partnerships and scale the impact of its work. We are grateful to Past Chair Steve Bullock and Treasurer Stacy Leeds for their vital service as inaugural Officers; and to Maite Arce for continuing her role of Secretary.”
Laurel Sayer previously served as CEO for Perpetua Resources, and before becoming CEO, she served on the company’s corporate board for two years. Sayer’s expertise in federal policy comes from over two decades of work on national resource issues with Congressman Mike Simpson (R-ID) and Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), where she built a reputation for fostering relationships and achieving results across diverse stakeholder groups. Complementing her professional endeavors, Sayer volunteers extensively in the arts and has served on various boards including the Idaho Commission on the Arts and the Idaho Falls Arts Council. She holds an associate degree in business from LDS Business College and enjoys exploring Idaho’s wilderness trails with her family.
“As I step into the role of Board Chair, I am deeply honored and excited to work alongside such passionate people who share a commitment to our public lands and waters,” Sayer said. “Together, we have the unique opportunity to support the BLM’s multi-use mission and ensure these special places remain a vibrant part of our collective heritage, a source of economic prosperity, and an inspiration for all who experience them.”
Jessica (Wahl) Turner is the first President of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR), America’s leading coalition of outdoor recreation associations and business organizations. Turner has over a decade of experience navigating the halls of The White House, Department of the Interior, Capitol Hill, state recreation offices and outdoor lifestyle businesses. Prior to ORR, she directed Outdoor Industry Association’s (OIA) outdoor recreation portfolio in Washington D.C. where she successfully gained landmark government recognition of outdoor recreation’s contribution to the national Gross Domestic Product as one of America’s leading industry sectors. Turner has a Master of Arts and bachelor’s degree in American Government from Georgetown University and is a passionate outdoorswoman.
“I am humbled and excited to step into the role of Vice Chair for the Foundation. Our public lands and waters are a great equalizer – places where all Americans can come together to learn of our shared heritage, experience beauty and adventure, and invest in the long-term viability of local communities,” Turner said. “I look forward to working closely with the Board, the BLM, and all of our partners to continue stewarding America’s public lands and waters for generations to come.”
About the Foundation:
As the official charitable partner of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Foundation for America’s Public Lands serves as a convener, partner, and fundraising catalyst to help ensure the health and sustainability of America’s public lands and waters today, and for the future.
Founded in 2022, the Foundation works hand-in-hand with the BLM, local communities, and partners to increase support for public lands and waters and inspire more people to connect with the outdoors. Each unique and truly special scenic river, wilderness area, monument, historic trail, and conservation area holds a story of its own.
To learn more visit americaslands.org or follow @americaslands on LinkedIn and X
