Margo McKnight

At Wildlands Network: Margo McKnight became Executive Director for Wildlands Network in 2004. She is ultimately responsible for all aspects of the organization including: business strategies, communications, conservation programs and, of course, fundraising and financing.

Her job is made possible and “absolutely enjoyable because I work with the best staff and Board on the planet.”  The key to this organization’s success is the assemblage of the great people that form its network reaching far beyond the Wildlands Network’s staff and Board.  To make quicker advances in conservation, McKnight believes we need to keep engaging and collaborating with passionate people, smart people and, most importantly, people who can work together synergistically.  Although in love with the West, which is currently a focus area for the organization, she is very excited that Wildlands Network is now ramping up its Eastern Wildway network effort. A Floridian from birth, she is happy to be living in the wildway’s southern anchor and looks forward to participate in advances made in this region.
 
Off the Clock: Away from work, Margo splits her time between art and the outdoors.   Like most kids, Margo spent a lot of time ‘doing’ art -- from plays to paintings-- and she just never grew out of it!  Her art reflects her passion for animals, both wild and domestic.  You can see some of her paintings at www.margomcknight.com.  A forced convert to biking (running was wrecking havoc), she now enjoys year- round biking in Florida, switching between her road and ‘mountain’ (aka swamp) bikes.   Her favorite means of transportation, although extremely limiting, is paddling her kayaks.  She lives in a swamp filled with alligators, otters, large mouth bass, great snakes and amazing diversity of birds.  Two big dogs in a two-person kayak makes for careful trips during the summer –that’s when the gators are most active!

Background: Margo has a BS in Biology from University of South Florida where she studied Florida Scrub Jay’s at Archbold Biological Station.  She also has many hours of formal art training under her belt and has worked as a professional artist spanning large pubic art installations to medical illustrations. She worked as an educator, project manager, spokesperson, conservation specialist and executive director for two institutions accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.  Margo lives in Thonotosassa, Florida.