Development Director DJ Strickland

DonnaJo (DJ) Strickland thrives on stress. She likes nothing more than having 500 different things going on at the same time, and can’t wait to get started planning events and meeting members as WOC’s new development director.

"I love the rush of organizing big events. I love trying to anticipate things that might happen and making sure I’ve remembered everything," says DJ. Size and numbers don’t intimidate DJ. She organized 10,000 volunteer drivers at the Atlanta Olympics and ran her own fundraising and consulting business with clients like AT&T and the restaurant chain, Denver Buffalo Company. Prior to joining WOC’s staff, she was the development director for Western Resources Advocates (formerly the Land and Water Fund and a frequent WOC conservation partner).

"The WOC job is exciting because I’m in the position to grow with the organization to the next level," DJ says. "If I was just being asked to maintain the status quo, I’d be bored in a couple of months. But WOC wants to increase its membership and build new relationships. I’m hoping that in three years, we’ll look back and see a huge difference," she concludes.

Her hobbies include hunting for everything from elk and deer, to bear and ducks. She plays volleyball, tennis, and softball, rides horses, and is a committed community volunteer. In Boulder, Colorado, she volunteered for the Boulder County AIDS project, and she’s hoping to find new volunteer opportunities in Lander.

"Not only does DJ bring strong development and administrative experience that will greatly benefit WOC, but she also brings an understanding of and commitment to protecting Wyoming’s wildlife and wildlands developed through her professional and personal experiences," says WOC Executive Director Dan Heilig. "We are very pleased she joined us."