Inslee Appoints Director Of Recreation And Conservation Office

Gov. Jay Inslee announced Wednesday the appointment of Megan Duffy as the new director of the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office, the largest state agency grantor of funding for outdoor recreation and habitat conservation efforts in Washington.

She replaces Kaleen Cottingham, who is retiring and has served the agency since 2007.

Duffy, of Olympia, has more than 20 years of experience working in natural resources in Washington, according to a news release. She has served as the department supervisor for the Washington Department of Natural Resources, where she oversaw the daily operations of the agency and its 1,500 employees.

Duffy also was the executive coordinator of the Governor’s Salmon Recovery Office, which is housed in RCO and charged with implementing the state’s salmon recovery strategy. She started her career with Ross Strategic, where she helped local, state and federal agencies develop policies and programs related to a diverse set of environmental issues. She is the deputy director of the Washington Liquor and Cannabis Board.

“Megan has extensive experience, both in the private sector and public arena, in dealing with the complex environmental issues we face today,” Inslee said in a news release. “She understands the value of great outdoor places here in Washington and the importance they play in our economy, the health of our residents and the quality of life we enjoy in this state. I look forward to working with her in this capacity and I thank Kaleen for all her contributions to RCO and our state.”

Check out the rest of the article from The Spokesman-Review here.