RON SUTTLES

Ron grew up on a farm in Kansas as the son of parents who both came from farming families. He milked cows, fed livestock, worked the fields, harvested crops, drove a tractor, and hunted and fished. ​ ​A science teacher at Enid high school inspired him to pursue a career in environmental biology and, after attending college in Oklahoma, he went on to a 35-year career in the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation as a fisheries technician, environmental biologist, and supervisor of wildlife diversity, education, and environmental programs. It was clear to him that an organizing force in the nonprofit sector was needed to help conservation interests interact more effectively with each other and with decision-makers in government and the legislature. The creation of the Conservation Coalition of Oklahoma, in partnership with the National Wildlife Federation, was the culmination of Ron’s 50 years of conservation experience in Oklahoma. The emergence of the Coalition as an effective conservation voice in Oklahoma is something that is not only exciting but also personally gratifying for Ron.