Mary Wagner
You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make— Dr. Jane Goodall
Mary is captivated by the power of people working together. Harnessing the creativity and passion of people, communities and organizations to further conservation goals has been a career-long ambition.
Mary is a conservation advocate and practitioner. Prior to joining MG in an “of counsel” role, she spent 34 years with the USDA Forest Service and retired as associate chief. She worked as a seasonal firefighter, forester, in field leadership positions in the Intermountain West and Pacific Northwest, and as the first director of Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers for the agency. Mary represented the Forest Service and other U.S. government agencies in China, Brazil, Peru, Mexico, Honduras and South Africa advancing international cooperation to sustain global forest resources and biodiversity. During her tenure at Forest Service, Mary drove ambitious change efforts: embracing the strength of partnerships and collaboration; shifting the culture toward safety as a core value; creating a more inclusive and diverse workforce; and embarking on an effort to clarify agency purpose and values.
Her areas of expertise include:
- Strategies to shift organizational culture and create system change
- Creating strong and enduring partnerships
- Cultivating community-based conservation initiatives
- Designing and facilitating sessions for learning, planning and collaboration
Experience
Mary received a Bachelor of Science in Forest Management from Humboldt State University and a master’s in Public Administration from University of Utah.
In Community
Staying connected and active in conservation, Mary serves as a director on the board of American Forests, a nonprofit organization committed to creating healthy and resilient forests, from cities to wilderness, that deliver essential benefits for climate, people, water and wildlife.
Calling Ogden, Utah, home affords ample opportunity for Mary’s favorite pastimes—hiking, skiing and paddling. Having more time to enjoy long-distance paddling, Mary and her husband, Jeff, recently completed the MR340, a 340-mile paddle race across Missouri (and remain happily married).