With President Obama’s nomination of Sally Jewell, CEO of leading outdoor retailer Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI), as the new leader of the Interior Department, Ducks Unlimited looks forward to building on its close relationship with the department.

With President Obama’s nomination of Sally Jewell, CEO of leading outdoor retailer Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI), as the new leader of the Interior Department, Ducks Unlimited looks forward to building on its close relationship with the department.

“Ducks Unlimited built a strong and productive connection with outgoing Secretary Ken Salazar, with a common goal of conserving America’s precious wetland and waterfowl resources for future generations,” said DU CEO Dale Hall. “If Ms. Jewell is confirmed, we certainly hope to build the same type of strong bond and productive working relationship with her.”

Jewell began her career in the petroleum industry in Oklahoma and Colorado, working as an engineer for Mobil Oil Corporation. She also worked in the banking industry before moving to REI, where she joined the board of directors in 1996 and became chief operations officer in 2000. Jewell has served as CEO since 2005.

If confirmed, Jewell would replace Secretary Salazar, who announced last month that he would be stepping down in March. Ducks Unlimited met with Salazar several times over the past four years, working together on important conservation policies and programs affecting the waterfowl breeding grounds of the Prairie Pothole Region and the vital wintering habitats of the Gulf Coast, in the wake of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. In 2012, Salazar also appeared at DU’s 75th Anniversary National Convention in Nashville, Tenn., to sign the revised North American Waterfowl Management Plan.

“Among the most significant resources for waterfowl and waterfowl hunters are public lands such as national wildlife refuges and national parks, which the Interior Department oversees,” Hall said. “Ducks Unlimited plans to work closely with the next secretary to ensure a healthy future for these habitats, as well as success for critical conservation policies, such as the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, federal duck stamp program and Farm Bill.”

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to conserving North America’s continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 13 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org. Connect with us on our Facebook page at facebook.com/DucksUnlimited, follow our tweets at twitter.com/DucksUnlimited and watch DU videos at youtube.com/DucksUnlimitedInc.