Press Releases

ALEXANDRIA, VA (April 13, 2023) –The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) announced four additions to its Board of Directors today. Rese Cloyd (Washington, DC’s Department of Energy and Environment), Heather Disney Dugan (Colorado Parks and Wildlife), Rob Ohno (ANNIKA Foundation), and Jennifer Wisniewski (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency) bring decades of nationwide experience in the outdoors industry and state agency realm to RBFF’s board.

“The addition of these four board members further underscores our dedication to representing the many facets of the outdoors and assembling industry leaders to support RBFF and its mission to continued participation in fishing and boating across the country,” said Dave Chanda, RBFF President & CEO. “From locally grown high-impact recruitment work to massive international juggernaut events, these four respected leaders bring an invaluable cache of experience to keep our momentum on pace with where we need to be.”

Learn more about RBFF’s new board members:

Rese Cloyd

Cloyd is the Associate Director, Fisheries and Wildlife Division, in Washington, DC’s Department of Energy and Environment. Rese leads the Fisheries and Wildlife Division in developing and implementing programs that support urban fish and wildlife conservation and encourage environmental stewardship and outdoor recreation in our nation’s capital. Before joining DOEE, she was the Director of the Center for Public Engagement at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, led engagement and outreach for the U.S. Global Change Research Program and the Third National Climate Assessment, served as a Knauss Marine Policy Fellow at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and studied the use of ecological models in Great Lakes management. Rese holds a Master’s in Conservation Biology (SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry), a Bachelor’s in Plant Biology (University of Michigan), and an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Management (University of Notre Dame). She coaches and paddles for the DC Dragon Boat Club and is (slowly) section hiking the Appalachian Trail.

Heather Disney Dugan

A lover of the outdoors since childhood, Dugan brings 30 years of experience to her current role as Acting Director for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Dugan has held a variety of dynamic and challenging roles including ranger, training officer, park manager, assistant region manager, region manager, and most recently as the Assistant Region Manager for Field Services and Chief of Law Enforcement. She also serves as President of the National Association of Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Executive Board. Currently residing in her home state of Colorado, Disney Dugan enjoys many of the outdoor activities her state is known for, including fishing, paddle boarding, camping, and skiing.

Rob Ohno

Currently residing in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, Ohno served at the PGA TOUR for 24 years and is currently the first President and CEO of the ANNIKA Foundation. Founded by Annika Sorenstam, the ANNIKA Foundation supports and empowers young women globally to pursue their dreams through the game and values of golf. In addition to decades of international experience across corporate marketing, sponsorships, and development, Ohno has taken on volunteer leadership roles with the US-Japan Council and the Asian Executive Network. He was formerly Chair of the YMCA Board in Ponte Vedra and Head of Harvard Interviewing and Recruiting in North Florida.

Jenifer Wisniewski

Wisniewski has spent years at the forefront of recruiting, retaining, and reactivating anglers and outdoor enthusiasts. As the Director of Marketing and Special Projects for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Wisniewski has increased license revenue, decreased churn, and made Tennessee a nationwide leader in increasing hunting licenses. Her efforts have been nationally recognized and featured by the Wildlife Management Institute, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and more. Wisniewski is the chair of the AFWA Outreach and Marketing Working Group, co-chair of the SEAFWA R3 Committee, and past president of the Association for Conservation Information.

A full list of RBFF’s Board of Directors is available online.

ABOUT RBFF

RBFF is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase recreational angling and boating participation, protecting, and restoring the nation's natural aquatic resources. To help recruit, retain and reactivate participants, RBFF developed the award-winning Take Me Fishing™ campaign to build awareness of boating, fishing, and conservation, educating people about the benefits of participation.

The campaign website feature how-to-videos and an interactive state-by-state map that allows visitors to find local boating and fishing spots, helping boaters and anglers of all ages and experience levels learn, plan, and equip for a successful day on the water.

RBFF also offers its industry stakeholders many tools, including a Fishing License & Boat Registration Plugin to connect their customers with the information they need in just one click and an embeddable Places to Fish & Boat Map to help their customers discover places to fish and boat near them.

For further information: Bruna Carincotte, bcarincotte@rbff.org, 703-519-9542