The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) is preparing for a leadership transition as President Jessica Turner concludes her tenure Nov. 6 to become president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, while the organization welcomes a new federal initiative focused on expanding access to public lands.
ORR’s Board of Directors has named Whitney Potter Schwartz, the organization’s current senior vice president, as interim president, effective Nov. 9. Turner will remain with ORR during the transition period to support the leadership change.
The leadership transition comes as ORR continues its work on outdoor recreation access, including its support for the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) newly announced All Americans Outside initiative.
The initiative, introduced at an event in Moab, Utah, addresses access across multiple outdoor recreation activities, including camping, hunting, fishing, biking, boating and recreational vehicle travel.
ORR welcomed the initiative, describing expanded access to America’s public lands as a longstanding priority for the organization and its members. The initiative is intended to improve access to outdoor recreation opportunities and enhance the experiences of people participating in those activities.
At the state level, ORR also recognized Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s appointment of Heather Barrar as the state’s first full-time director of outdoor recreation. Barrar will serve within the Secretariat of Virginia Natural and Historic Resources.
The appointment establishes a dedicated full-time position for outdoor recreation within the state government. ORR noted Virginia’s history of leadership in outdoor recreation access and highlighted the appointment as a development in the state’s efforts in the sector.
The organization also pointed to the broader recognition of outdoor recreation’s economic, community and health benefits across the country as part of the context surrounding Virginia’s decision.
