Glacier Conservancy head on the job

The chief executive officer of the newly merged Glacier National Park Conservancy is on the job, and there is optimism within the organization for fundraising success and developing long-term strategic relationships to improve visitor experiences in Glacier.

Mark Preiss started work Monday, coming to the Flathead with his family from Whidbey Island, Wash., where he was the reserve manager of Ebey’s Landing National Historic Reserve. Preiss has 25 years of experience in working with nonprofit groups in collaboration with the National Park Service and other government and private organizations.

“We’re pretty excited about the changes that are occurring,” said Darrell Worm, a Kalispell attorney and chairman of the conservancy’s board of directors. “Having Mark come on board is basically the culmination ... the close of the first chapter.”

The “first chapter” was the merger of the Glacier Natural History Association and the Glacier National Park Fund that was official on Jan. 1. Since then, there has been a transition in combining the two organization’s boards and conducting a five-month search that ended with Preiss being selected to lead the conservancy as Glacier’s primary nonprofit philanthropic partner.

“The real story is about what we do next,” said Mo Stein, a Glacier National Park Conservancy board member who met this week with the Inter Lake editorial board along with Worm, Preiss and fellow conservancy board member Greg Olson.

Stein said Glacier is going through a dynamic period, with a new superintendent soon starting and a new concessions contractor taking over lodging, retail and food services at the beginning of next year.

Meanwhile, national parks across the country are faced with flat or declining federal funding along with increased needs. And that has created an increased reliance on park partners such as the conservancy, which funds a wide variety of projects and programs in Glacier.

“The truth is, priorities are changing ... we need to raise funds in entirely new ways,” said Stein, noting that the conservancy will pursue a new brand of community engagement. “This organization needs to step up.”

This year, the conservancy provided support to more than 45 projects and initiatives in the park totaling about $490,000.

Worm said fundraising numbers for the old Glacier National Park Fund plummeted as the recession descended in 2008, but have recovered and hit a plateau in the years since. Meanwhile, the Glacier Natural History Association has seen increased revenues through book sales at its retail outlets, now grossing about $1.1 million annually. Since the merger, the conservancy’s budget is about $2.3 million annually.

The goal is to double overall fundraising over the next three years into the range of about $5 million annually.

Olson said the merger was suggested by Glacier National Park officials as a way to reduce confusion among the public about the park’s philanthropic support and create a more streamlined and efficient fundraising operation.

Stein added that fundraising should also be more successful because the conservancy will be project-oriented so donors can back specific projects.

Years ago, the Glacier National Park Fund had a long-term goal of building a west entrance visitors center and museum to replace the small building that provides visitor services in Apgar.

Stein said that type of costly project is less likely now, but the conservancy is exploring ways to create a “front door” to the park for visitors. The organization leases the Belton train station as one of its retail sites, and there are discussions about putting warehouse space at the station to better use — perhaps to display historical items and materials relevant to the park, Stein said.

There also are ongoing discussions about providing a front door to the park for visitors at Glacier Park International Airport and the presence that would go well beyond an informational kiosk, Stein said.

The three board members expressed complete confidence in Preiss to lead the conservancy.

Preiss said he was drawn to the position mainly by the newness of the conservancy, the commitment of its board members and the relationship that has evolved with Glacier National Park. The conservancy and the park have an official five-year agreement, he noted, with park officials prioritizing funding requests and the board collaborating with the park on what will be funded.

Preiss said his background at Ebey’s Landing involved working with one foot in the National Park Service culture and the other working among private entities that support the historic reserve.

The conservancy position “really blended all the experience I’ve had to do date and it did it in a compelling way,” said Preiss, who looks forward to strategic planning with the park that looks five to 10 years ahead.

Prior to working at Ebey’s Landing, Preiss held leadership positions in numerous conservation organizations across the country. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota. He and his wife, Kathryn, and their two boys are an avid outdoors family.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by email at jmann@dailyinterlake.com.