As River Network programming and service offerings evolved, Phil Wallin looked to step down as Executive Director and focus his work as River Network’s Director of the land transactions program. Ken Margolis, who helped found Ecotrust, took over River Network leadership in Fall 1997. At the time, River Network had multiple women on the board and staff, as well as many LGBTQ+ staff members, but was still overwhelmingly white and male. Margolis sought to change this and took steps to do so, including bringing Dianne Dillon-Ridgley and other people of color and women onto the board and staff. While proud of these first steps toward a staff and board reflective of those who depend on and care for our nation’s waters, Margolis recognizes there was more we could have done. 

Ken Margolis.

“It’s just a fact that diversity is stronger than a lack of it; you can do more, it lasts longer, you can think more creatively… Everyone comes to the job with their own orientation, mine was protecting ecosystems, watersheds, habitat; the place I didn’t focus enough was in urban communities of color.”

-Ken Margolis