C-Falls man takes the helm at Flathead Land Trust

A Columbia Falls man with a career in conservation has been named the executive director of the Flathead Land Trust. Paul Travis will move into the position beginning in July.

The Trust is a nonprofit that has preserved more than 10,000 acres of land in the Flathead Valley through voluntary conservation easements since 1985.

Most recently, Travis was the director of development for the Glacier National Park Conservancy. Prior to that, he was the director of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation for nearly 8 1/2 years.

“I wanted to get back to a smaller organization,” Travis said about the move last week.

Travis said he hopes to build the Trust into a more prominent organization in the valley and the state, in a similar way to the Five Valley Land Trust in Missoula.

Travis grew up in Clancy and graduated from Helena High School. He has a degree in geology from Portland State University and got his start in the nonprofit realm when he went to work for the Montana Conservation Corps.

“That was my introduction to nonprofits and conservation,” he said.

Travis has also been the director of major gifts for the Montana Environmental Information Center and has worked for the chapter services of the National Audubon Society. All told, he has spent 14 years working with nonprofit conservation organizations.

“I consider us extremely lucky to have him,” Alison Young, president of the Flathead Land Trust board, said.

Travis will replace Marilyn Wood, who resigned several months ago.

Travis’ wife, Samantha, is an attorney. They have two children, a daughter, Neve, 4, and son, Landon, 2. They are avid hikers and outdoor enthusiasts.