ECORP is pleased to announce that Mari Quillman, Principal Biological Resources Program Manager in ECORP’s Santa Ana, California and Santa Fe, New Mexico offices, was awarded the Desert Tortoise Council’s (Council) Glenn R. Stewart Service Award at the 2021 Annual Symposium in February.
This award recognizes a member of the Desert Tortoise Council or an organization that has demonstrated a continuing commitment to the goals and objectives of the Desert Tortoise Council and/or has served with distinction in various roles. Ms. Quillman joined the Board of the Council in 2013 as a volunteer to aid in the Council’s efforts to conserve tortoises and tortoise habitats throughout the range of the desert tortoise. She was appointed to the empty Board position of Membership Coordinator in 2014. Since that time, she spearheaded the implementation of a new membership database, worked to increase membership in the Council, and regularly communicates with members regarding workshops, annual symposia, and general announcements. Starting in 2014, Ms. Quillman also took on the daunting task of instituting a raffle and auction at the annual symposia and enlisting sponsors to help defray the costs associated with putting on the symposia.
With the COVID-19 pandemic, an in-person symposium in 2021 was not possible so the Council teamed with the Turtle Survival Alliance to put on a virtual symposium. Ms. Quillman took the lead for the Council, enlisted a team of Board Members and volunteers to implement all supporting tasks, and worked closely with the Turtle Survival Alliance to successfully put on the virtual symposium. In addition, she enlisted nineteen sponsors for 2021 who contributed almost $13,000 towards the symposium and organized the raffle so the attendees could compete for some great prizes. She will become the Council’s Board Chairman in 2022.
The Council is very appreciative of Ms. Quillman’s dedication and efforts towards implementing the Council’s mission.
