Each year, the Intermountain West Joint Venture recognizes individuals and organizations who are doing excellent habitat conservation work around the region. For a list of past award winners, click here.
DAN KEPPEN
IWJV Lifetime Achievement Award presented by IWJV Coordinator Dave Smith.
Dan Keppen is being recognized with the IWJV Lifetime Achievement Award for his longstanding leadership and dedication to strengthening the partnership between the IWJV and the irrigated agriculture community. As Executive Director of the Family Farm Alliance for more than 20 years, Dan played a pivotal role in elevating the IWJV’s Water 4 message, expanding our network and influence, and advancing flood-irrigated habitat conservation. He consistently championed the IWJV through congressional testimony and by sharing our conservation stories throughout his extensive water management network. Dan remains a valued friend and partner, continuing to provide invaluable government affairs insight and guidance to the IWJV’s Water & Wetlands Program and Government Relations Committee.
COURTNEY STEVENS
IWJV Conservation Policy Champion Award—presented by the IWJV Western Forests Team.
Courtney Stevens is being recognized for her longstanding support and dedication to the IWJV and the broader Joint Venture community. During her tenure as Professional Staff on the House Appropriations Interior, Environment & Related Agencies Subcommittee, Courtney was a strong champion of partnership-driven, proactive working lands conservation and understood the importance of leveraging federal resources to achieve meaningful conservation outcomes. She also played an important role in helping develop the IWJV’s active forest management partnership with the U.S. Forest Service. Her leadership, insight, and continued support have made her a valued partner in advancing the IWJV’s conservation mission.
NICOLE REESE
IWJV Conservation Partner Award—Communications presented by the IWJV Communications Team.
Since 2023, Nicole Reese has been an instrumental partner in developing and co-facilitating the IWJV’s Storyteller’s Circle, a professional development and networking series for conservation communications professionals. Through more than 30 virtual events and two in-person workshops, the series has fostered collaboration, strengthened cross-organizational communications, and expanded the reach of conservation stories. Nicole’s facilitation expertise and dedication have been essential to the program’s success, often contributing significant volunteer time to ensure meaningful and inclusive experiences for participants. Her commitment to bringing conservation communicators together and helping partners tell more effective, far-reaching stories makes her a deserving recipient of the IWJV 2026 Conservation Partner Award for Communications.
SCot Williamson
IWJV Conservation Partner Award—Operations presented by the IWJV Operations Team.
During his more than 30 years with the Wildlife Management Institute (WMI), Scot Williamson played a pivotal role in supporting the growth and operations of the IWJV. Through his leadership, Scot helped expand WMI’s capacity to host IWJV core staff and partner-based employees, growing a partnership that began in 2016 with two staff positions to today’s 14 IWJV core staff and additional conservation delivery positions across the West. His steady leadership and commitment to finding solutions helped strengthen the administrative infrastructure needed to expand on-the-ground conservation capacity and support Farm Bill program delivery. Scot’s lasting contributions have positioned the IWJV to continue advancing its mission through strong partnerships and effective conservation delivery.
Megan Creutzburg
IWJV Conservation Partner Award—Science to Implementation presented by the IWJV Science to Implementation Team.
We are pleased to recognize Megan Creutzburg with the 2026 IWJV Conservation Partner—Science to Implementation Award for her outstanding leadership in bridging science and on-the-ground conservation practices. Through her work with The Nature Conservancy and previously Oregon State University, Megan has advanced landscape-scale restoration strategies and helped land managers apply science and data to address complex natural resource challenges. She also co-founded the Sagebrush Technical Transfer Network with the IWJV, which has grown into a community of more than 130 professionals dedicated to connecting science with practical management solutions. Megan’s collaborative spirit and commitment to supporting land managers make her a trusted partner and a deserving recipient of this award.
Molly Anthony
IWJV Conservation Partner Award—Sagebrush Rangelands presented by the IWJV Sagebrush Rangelands Team.
Molly Anthony’s exceptional leadership in the Bureau of Land Management’s fire and fuels management has helped advance landscape-scale partnerships addressing one of the greatest threats to sagebrush rangelands. Through her collaborative approach, she brought together federal, state, Tribal, local, and nonprofit partners to strengthen wildfire resilience, expand fuel reduction efforts, and advance shared stewardship across the West. Her work helped establish an influential partnership among the IWJV, BLM, U.S. Wildland Fire Service, and western partners, creating a lasting model for collaborative fire management and long-term conservation of sagebrush landscapes and communities.
Pat o’toole
IWJV Lifetime Achievement Award presented by IWJV Coordinator Dave Smith.
The IWJV proudly recognizes Pat O’Toole with the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award for his extraordinary leadership and lasting contributions to conservation across the West. Over 13 years on the IWJV Management Board, including two years as chair, Pat helped shape the partnership’s vision for Water 4, championed bipartisan conservation efforts, and led impactful advocacy on Capitol Hill. Pat was a tireless advocate for the interconnected future of healthy landscapes, abundant wildlife, and thriving agricultural communities. He built powerful partnerships grounded in collaboration, science, and a deep love for the land. His legacy as a visionary conservation leader and dear friend will continue to inspire the IWJV and its partners for generations to come. The IWJV is pleased to present the O’Toole Family (for Pat O’Toole) with the IWJV 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award.
