Jamie Rappaport Clark Explained

Jamie Rappaport Clark
Office:Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
President:Bill Clinton
Term Start:July 31, 1997
Term End:January 20, 2001
Predecessor:Mollie Beattie
Successor:Steven Williams
Birth Place:New York City, New York, U.S.
Spouse:Jim Clark
Education:Towson State University (BS)
University of Maryland, College Park (MS)

Jamie Rappaport Clark (born 1957 or 1958)[1] is an American conservationist and former government official working as the president and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife.[2] She joined the organization as executive vice president in 2004.[3]

Early life and education

Born in New York city, Clark attended Towson State University, earning a B.S. in wildlife biology in 1979. She received an M.S. in wildlife ecology from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Career

Clark has been a lifelong participant in the conservation of wildlife. As a college student, she spent a summer at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, where she released peregrine falcons back into the wild as part of a national recovery effort. Twenty years later, as the director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, she officially removed them from the federal list of endangered species due to the successful recovery efforts,[4] in which she participated.[5]

Clark has a long career in conservation, both inside the government, mostly with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and with non-profit conservation organizations.[6] [7]

In recognition of her expertise and achievements in endangered species conservation, President Bill Clinton appointed her as Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (the Service) in 1997, a post which she held until 2001.[8] [9] During her tenure as director, Clark established 27 new refuges and added two million acres to the National Wildlife Refuge System.[10] While director, the Service worked with Congress to pass the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvements Act of 1997,[11] establishing wildlife conservation as the main purpose of all refuges.[12] The Service was involved in many successful efforts to recover imperiled wildlife during her tenure, including the bald eagle,[13] gray wolf[14] and the Aleutian Canada goose.[15]

As president and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife, Clark has been at the forefront of endangered species and habitat conservation in the non-profit community.[16] [17] She has been frequently called on to testify on Capitol Hill, providing guidance to members of Congress on conservation issues.[18] Under her tenure, Defenders has played a key role in the reintroduction of bison to tribal reservations,[19] [20] secured protections for right whales,[21] [22] sea turtles and piping plovers[23] and many other species and habitats.[24] In November 2023, Clark announced her intention to step down as President and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife sometime in 2024.[25]

Labor disputes

While under Clark’s leadership, Defenders of Wildlife gained a reputation for toxic work culture. Employees criticized Clark for perpetuating an internal “culture of fear” within the organization.[26] The term was coined in a report summarizing the results of an internal survey of 144 staff members by the Avarna Group in 2021. “When asked who staff were afraid of, the primary source of fear was not immediate supervisors, but specific individuals on the Executive Team, including the CEO.”[27] On March 29, 2021, management staff spanning several departments at Defenders of Wildlife wrote a group letter to Clark citing efforts by Defenders of Wildlife’s executive team to sanitize the Avarna Group’s report. The letter also censured the executive team for downplaying, ignoring, or rejecting consistent themes of fear in previous organizational assessments conducted by the Raben Group and Stratton Consulting Group.[28] Defenders staff unionized with Office of Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) in July 2021. Clark refused to voluntarily recognize the union, Defenders United,[29] triggering an election sponsored by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in 2021.[30] [31]

Matters worsened in 2022. According a deeply researched article by to Politico, “current and former staff blame Defenders CEO Jamie Rappaport Clark for setting the tone and establishing a ‘culture of fear’ within the organization. Upsetting Clark over even minor issues, they say, can result in getting fired.”[32] In August 2022, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) found Defenders of Wildlife management had violated labor law by terminating a former employee for their union organizing efforts, failing and refusing to provide the staff union with information needed for contract bargaining, and bypassing the union and direct dealing with staff. [33] [34] [35] [36] Clark's name is listed alongside other Defenders of Wildlife senior managers as "supervisors of Respondent" in the subsequent Consolidated Complaint issued by the NLRB in December 2022.[37] [38] In protest of these violations, the staff union held a 3 day rally in front of Defenders HQ in Washington, DC, and issued a public petition in February 2023 calling for Clark to negotiate a fair contract or resign as CEO, which garnered over 500 signatures.[39]

The above charges were settled between the parties in early 2023.[40] [41] As of July 2024, however, several subsequent unfair labor practice (ULP) charges against Defenders of Wildlife management are still pending investigation by the NLRB.[42] According to the staff union, Clark deprived union members of access to improved leave benefits[43] and annual merit increases in late 2023.[44] Failed negotiations to resolve these issues led the union engaging in a 2-day ULP strike on July 9-10, 2024 — the first in the organization's 77-year history.[45] [46] [47]

As of July 2024, Clark had an approval rating of 26% on Glassdoor.[48]

Honors and awards

In 2017 she was awarded the Rachel Carson Award by the Audubon Society for her life's work.[49]

Works

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Profiles in Success: Inspiration from Executive Leaders in the Washington, D.C. Area – Jamie Rappaport Clark . Bernhardt Wealth Management . Gordon J. . Bernhardt . December 2012 . confirmed by the Senate in July of 1997, making history at the age of thirty-nine as the youngest person to serve as director . October 15, 2014 . October 22, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141022215013/http://bernhardtwealth.com/Profiles/ClarkJamie.pdf . dead .
  2. Web site: Defenders of Wildlife Announces New President . Defenders . December 7, 2014 . October 6, 2011 . Defenders of Wildlife . October 22, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141022151029/http://www.defenders.org/press-release/defenders-wildlife-announces-new-president . dead .
  3. Web site: Jamie Rappaport Clark Joins Defenders of Wildlife as New Executive VP . Defenders of Wildlife . 2015-11-13 . November 17, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151117025822/http://www.defenders.org/press-release/jamie-rappaport-clark-joins-defenders-wildlife-new-executive-vp . dead .
  4. Web site: Species Profile for American Peregrine Falcon . November 10, 2015 . November 12, 2015 . US Fish and Wildlife Service .
  5. Web site: News Release The Peregrine Fund. www.peregrinefund.org. 2015-11-13.
  6. Web site: USFWS/NCTC – History and Heritage: Jamie Rappaport Clark . training.fws.gov . 2015-11-13 . November 17, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151117022414/http://training.fws.gov/History/ConservationHeroes/Clark.html . dead .
  7. Web site: Jamie Rappaport Clark . Defenders of Wildlife . 2015-11-13.
  8. Web site: Press Release – Jamie Clark Confirmed Director of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service . August 1, 1997 . November 12, 2015 . US Fish and Wildlife Service . March 4, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304194026/http://training.fws.gov/History/documents/Clark19970801.pdf . dead .
  9. Web site: Interior Secretary Applauds Choice of Jamie Rappaport Clark . www.fws.gov . 2015-11-13 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070613194221/http://www.fws.gov/cno/news/1997/9759nr.htm . June 13, 2007 .
  10. Web site: National Wildlife Refuge System . www.fws.gov . 2015-11-13.
  11. Web site: PUBLIC LAW 105–57—OCT. 9, 1997 . October 9, 1997 . November 12, 2015 . US Fish and Wildlife Service . September 24, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924052007/http://www.fws.gov/northeast/planning/downloads/NWRSimprovementact.pdf . dead .
  12. Web site: Legislative Mandates – Refuge Improvement Act, National Wildlife Refuge System . www.fws.gov . 2015-11-13 . October 13, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151013012617/http://www.fws.gov/refuges/policiesandbudget/HR1420_index.html . dead .
  13. Web site: Bald Eagle Recovery . www.fws.gov . 2015-11-13.
  14. Web site: Species Profile for Gray wolf (Canis lupus) . November 12, 2015 . US Fish and Wildlife Service .
  15. Web site: Endangered Species Program ESA Success Story. www.fws.gov. 2015-11-13.
  16. Web site: Jamie Rappaport Clark Endangered Species Coalition. www.endangered.org. 2015-11-13.
  17. Web site: Conservation Groups, Native Organizations Celebrate Wilderness Recommendation for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge – National Wildlife Federation . January 26, 2015 . November 13, 2015 . National Wildlife Federation . Grant . Miles.
  18. Web site: Jamie Rappaport Clark C-SPAN.org. www.c-span.org. 2015-11-13.
  19. Web site: Wild Bison Brought to Fort Peck . Defenders of Wildlife . 2015-11-13.
  20. News: After quarantine, bison find a new home on the range in Montana . Panzar . Javier . November 17, 2014 . Newspaper . November 12, 2014 . Los Angeles Times .
  21. Web site: Feds Agree to Protect More Critical Habitat for Right Whales . Defenders of Wildlife . 2015-11-13.
  22. News: Feds to expand right whale protected areas . Waymer . Jim . November 24, 2014 . Newspaper . November 12, 2015 . Florida Today . March 4, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304230939/http://foridatoday.com/story/news/local/2014/11/24/feds-expand-right-whale-protected-areas/70062430 . dead .
  23. Web site: Cape Hatteras Protections Upheld . Defenders of Wildlife . 2015-11-13 . December 30, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141230230705/http://www.defenders.org/success/cape-hatteras-protections-upheld . dead .
  24. Web site: Success Stories . Defenders of Wildlife . 2015-11-13.
  25. News: Bravender . Robin . November 6, 2023 . Embattled conservation group leader heads for exit . live . May 25, 2024 . Politico.
  26. Web site: E&E News: Defenders of Wildlife staffers decry 'culture of fear' . 2024-05-25 . subscriber.politicopro.com . en.
  27. Web site: Rajagopal . Aparna . Holliday . Ava . May 24, 2021 . Listening Session Report .
  28. Web site: E&E News: Defenders of Wildlife staffers decry 'culture of fear' . 2024-05-25 . subscriber.politicopro.com . en.
  29. Web site: Bowlin . Nick . 2022-10-28 . Feds claim Defenders of Wildlife unlawfully fired union-organizing staffer . 2024-05-27 . High Country News . en-US . At Defenders, however, the leadership resisted the staff’s union push. In July 2021, when CEO Jamie Rappaport Clark was presented with a request to voluntarily recognize the union – more than 75% of the eligible staff had signed union cards – she refused to do so (several other prominent green groups voluntarily recognized staff unions)..
  30. Web site: July 30, 2021 . Notice of Election . National Labor Relations Board.
  31. Web site: July 9, 2021 . Defenders of Wildlife Notice of Election . National Labor Relations Board.
  32. Web site: Bravender . Robin . 2022-06-16 . Environmental group staffers say it's a 'nightmare' to go to work . 2024-05-25 . E&E News by POLITICO . en-US.
  33. Web site: Defenders of Wildlife National Labor Relations Board Case 05-CA-290774 . 2024-05-25 . www.nlrb.gov.
  34. Web site: Defenders of Wildlife National Labor Relations Board Case 05-CA-287533 . 2024-05-25 . www.nlrb.gov.
  35. Web site: Bowlin . Nick . 2022-10-28 . Feds claim Defenders of Wildlife unlawfully fired union-organizing staffer . 2024-05-25 . High Country News . en-US.
  36. Web site: POLITICO Pro: NLRB finds environmental group violated labor laws . 2024-05-25 . subscriber.politicopro.com . en.
  37. Web site: NLRB Issues Formal Complaint Against Defenders of Wildlife . 2024-05-25 . DEFENDERS UNITED . en.
  38. Web site: Bravender . Robin . E&E News: Unions file labor complaints against green groups . 2024-05-27 . subscriber.politicopro.com . en.
  39. Web site: Defenders United . Tell Jamie Clark to Negotiate a Fair Union Contract, or Resign as CEO of Defenders of Wildlife . 2024-05-25 . actionnetwork.org . Action Network . en-US.
  40. Web site: E&E News: Conservation group reaches settlement with ex-employee . 2024-05-25 . subscriber.politicopro.com . en.
  41. Web site: Trial Avoided: Defenders Guilty of 4 Unfair Labor Practice Charges . 2024-05-25 . DEFENDERS UNITED . en.
  42. Web site: Search National Labor Relations Board . 2024-05-25 . www.nlrb.gov.
  43. Web site: Defenders of Wildlife Celebrates Labor Day by Denying New Parental Leave Benefits to Union Members . 2024-05-25 . DEFENDERS UNITED . en.
  44. Web site: Defenders of Wildlife CEO Jamie Clark Deprives Union Staff of Annual Raises . 2024-05-25 . DEFENDERS UNITED . en.
  45. Web site: Bravender . Robin . 2024-06-14 . Fuming Defenders of Wildlife staffers move toward strike . 2024-07-10 . E&E News by POLITICO . en-US.
  46. Web site: Defenders of Wildlife Union Announces 2-day Unfair Labor Practice Strike . 2024-07-10 . DEFENDERS UNITED . en.
  47. Web site: Bravender . Robin . 2024-07-08 . Staff set to strike at Defenders of Wildlife HQ . 2024-07-10 . E&E News by POLITICO . en-US.
  48. Web site: July 10, 2024 . Defenders of Wildlife Overview . Glassdoor.com.
  49. Web site: The Rachel Carson Award Honorees. Audubon Society. 17 November 2018.

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