Business and conservation leaders Tim O’Brien, Clarke Ohrstrom, and Kris Rockwell have joined the Board of Directors of Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT).
“Success in our mission depends on the leadership of a great board,” said Jim McDuffie, BTT President and CEO. “We are grateful to Tim, Clarke, and Chris for their commitment to flats conservation and generosity in sharing their leadership and expertise with us.”
O’Brien is President and CEO of Reveille Trucking, based in Harlingen, Texas, and previously served on the BTT Advisory Council. He was born and raised in South Texas along the Mexican border, and in his early years worked as both a hunting and fly-fishing guide. His family has a strong connection to hunting and fishing, having operated multiple lodges throughout Mexico and South Africa. After fishing extensively throughout the Mexican Yucatán, Belize, and Central America, O’Brien now spends most of his time in the Florida Keys, where he regularly participates in the bonefish and tarpon fishing tournaments.
“I am honored to be a part of such a science-based, conservation-focused organization,” said O’Brien. “My passion for fly-fishing and the outdoors drives me to promote conservation for the fish and habitats I love deeply.”
Ohrstrom is the founder and owner of Fauquier’s Finest, a protein processing plant in Bealeton, Virginia. He is also the CEO of the Whitewood Farm mitigation bank, Northern Virginia’s largest wetlands and riparian bank. An avid angler and hunter, Clarke is an active board member of The Founding Fish Network, The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, and The National Sporting Library. He has been a major supporter of BTT’s mangrove and creek restoration projects in The Bahamas. He lives in The Plains, Virginia, with his wife and dogs.
“I have a deep appreciation for the outdoors and all things aquatic,” said Ohrstrom. “I believe we must do everything we can to preserve and restore what is left of our aquatic communities. I am particularly concerned about the organisms at the bottom of the food chain; without them the fish that we revere will not be able to prosper. I am thrilled to join BTT as it does an incredible job of melding science and advocacy in the world of aquatic conservation.”
A longtime BTT member, Rockwell has generously supported Bahamas mangrove and creek restoration projects, and is actively engaged in BTT’s International Science Symposium and annual NYC Dinner & Awards Ceremony. Along with his current position as President and Trustee for the S. Kent Rockwell Foundation, he also serves on the board of The Kiski School, Trout Unlimited Headwaters, National Deer Association, and the Minority Outdoor Alliance.
“I am honored and excited to have been asked to join the BTT board,” said Rockwell. “I greatly appreciate that the work is strongly backed by science and look forward to contributing to the advancement of the conservation programs that Bonefish & Tarpon Trust creates. I believe that it is through the work of BTT that we will protect the habitats, species, and surrounding wildlife that we all value so very much, and I intend to support that work in every way that I can.”
