Meet Our Staff

Our planet faces complex challenges. Our staff is dedicated to showing how nature can provide solutions.

June 14, 2024

A white bird emerges from a grassy marshland. — Gulf Coast Wildlife Prairies and wetlands along the Gulf Coast are key for the survival of waterfowl and many other species. © Jerod Foster

A man with glasses smiles at the camera. — **Bob Bendick** TNC Gulf of America Program © Mark Godfrey

Bob Bendick
Director

The Nature Conservancy's Gulf of America Director, Bob Bendick, has worked with the organization since 1995. Prior to his current role, Bob has also served as the director of U.S. Government Relations, vice-president and managing director of TNC’s ten-state Southern U.S. Region, among other roles. Bob has also served as deputy commissioner for natural resources of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and director of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. Learn more in Bob Bendick's full bio.

“NEED QUOTE”

A woman wearing a blue Nature Conservancy vest smiles at the camera. — **Karrie Arnold** TNC Gulf of America Program © Courtesy/Karrie Arnold

Karrie Arnold
Conservation Information Manager

In college, Karrie took a class that covered social and environmental justice. She identifies this as an “aha!” moment in learning that she could pursue a career in caring for both people and nature. After completing her psychology degree, she earned a Master's degree in Environmental Studies while serving as a crew leader within GulfCorps, a conservation program managed by The Nature Conservancy's Gulf of America Program. After working as a GulfCorps Program Coordinator with the Student Conservation Association for several years, Karrie transitioned to TNC in August 2021 to work as the Gulf of America program's Conservation Information Manager. In this role, she manages GulfCorps’ monitoring program and provides GIS and administrative support to several projects across the Gulf Coast.

“Environmental issues are social justice issues. When you work to help nature, you are helping people too.”