Zachary Sheldon Email and Phone Number

• Builds new and strengthens existing partnerships and coalitions with relevant entities includingnonprofit organizations, government agencies, business and industry.• Informs and mobilizes advocacy through effective communications that promote partner andstakeholder participation.• Tracks, analyzes, develops and advances federal and state energy and climate policy opportunities,proposals and legislation.• Represents the Alliance before Congress, state legislatures and other decision makers.• Leads coordination with land trust networks and advisory bodies to disseminate information,coordinate messages, support advocacy and offer policy recommendations.• Creates and develops training materials including webinars and workshops; presents at state land trust gatherings, regional conferences and Rally: The National Land Conservation Conference.• Convenes land trusts and partners in targeted states to help develop and implement climate policyadvocacy strategies.• Represents the Alliance at conferences and meetings to educate decision-makers about land-sector climate solutions.•Identifies and tracks federal and state policy opportunities to direct resources toward natural climate solutions.• Conducts policy analysis, advocacy and coordination across an interdepartmental team and with external partners.

• Coordinated and ensured prompt response to Congressional correspondence received by or referred to the Region, as well as requests for information from Congressional members, their staff and relevant State legislators.• Oversaw and coordinated the preparation of recommendations by the Regional office for the submission of legislative proposals and testimony on proposed legislation by the Service.• Oversaw and coordinated the preparation of recommendations by the Regional office for Congressional testimony and responses to Questions for the Record. • Coordinated and directed the region's Congressional communications program.

•Served as a liaison to members of the Virginia General Assembly, state agencies, and partner organizations within the region.•Planned and executed legislative strategies, coordinating with external and internal partners, to advance conservation legislation and regulations.•Serve as the primary liaison to Virginia’s Congressional delegation, communicating national and federal legislative priorities to members and their offices.•Handled legislative portfolio that includes state and federal appropriations, land preservation and conservation programs, natural climate solutions, wildlife conservation and management, and wildlife corridors.•Tracked and analyzed legislative actions on conservation legislation to aid in development, coordination, and preparation of organizational positions. •Testified in state legislative committee meetings and lobbied state legislators and Members of Congress and their staff.•Developed written documents related to conservation legislation and issues, including letters to Members of Congress, briefing memos for senior organizational members, and state General Assembly testimony.•Interacted with state legislators, Members of Congress and their staff, and agency officials to develop and maintain positive relationships.•Facilitated regular meetings with state legislators, Members of Congress and their staff, agency officials, and partner organizations.•Conveyed complex information orally, including meetings with state legislators and staff of Members of Congress.•Represented the organization in conservation coalitions to consider the impact of pending and proposed conservation legislation and regulations.•Advised the Associate State Director on congressional and legislative activities.•Tracked Chapter’s grant proposals and award successes in online database.•Staff representative on joint Board/Staff Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access Council.

•Coordinated organization’s activities within Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.•Researched and analyzed state and federal legislation and regulations in support of organization’s priorities. •Tracked state and federal legislation. Monitored 300+ state bills in 2017. •Assisted Senior Director of Midwest on federal Farm Bill policy.•Collaborated with state partners to influence policy initiatives through events and briefings. Hosted 5 state based events in 2017.•Communicated hunting and angling economic contributions to state government officials. In 2017, secured five governor’s proclamations recognizing these contributions. •Established and developed relationships with state legislators, governor’s offices, state agency officials, and partner organizations across the region.•Served as informational contact with legislators, government officials, and partners within region.•Directly engaged with state legislatures and agencies on policy issues. Registered lobbyist in South Dakota in 2018.•Assisted Senior Director develop Midwest Region budget and identify development targets.•Wrote newsletter articles and blog posts on sportsmen issues across the Upper Midwest.

•Utilizing information from a variety of sources, conducted research for State Programs Team for the production of reports and fact •Assisted on multiple, simultaneous state issue projects.•Developed fact sheets and briefings on state and federal policy.•Managed databases to track policy and issue statuses.

•Researched and tracked natural resource legislation.•Wrote over 20 articles for members interpreting policy.•Developed fact sheets and briefings on federal policies and programs.•Conducted research utilizing scientific literature and government policies.•Managed database to track organization activities.•Attended coalition meetings with government agency members, legislators, and non-profits.

•Gave presentations to class of 40 college students explaining complex field techniques such as non-invasive capture and invasive capture techniques. •Assisted in grading assignments.

•Prepared and fired darts for chemical immoblizations of bears.•Took vital signs and measurements of bears during immobilizations.•Drew blood and administered reversal drugs to bears.•Conducted behavioral observations of captive bears.•Handled bear cubs to record measurements.

•Analyzed cub body measurements from 20 years of records using JMP program.•Examined relationships between body measurements and sex and ages of cubs.•Wrote paper on findings and presented results in poster format at the Virginia State Chapter of The Wildlife Society annual meeting.

•Researched and compiled population data and conservation action data on over 20 threatened and endangered North American bird species, utilizing species recovery plans and 5-year reviews to populate a database for joint research project between Virginia Tech and George Mason University.