Turning the Page

May-June 2025 Bugle
masthead

July-August 2025
Bugle

The July-August issue of Bugle magazine landed on my desk on a late spring morning. I thumbed through it, as I had some so many times before, looking over the table of contents, headlines, photo essay, feature stories, ads, coloring of the images and graphics, and then flipped to the masthead, which lists the editors and organizational leadership. For the first time in 13 years, my name was not included.

The turning of the page of my Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) career began in early 2025. While working at my desk late in the afternoon, the CEO poked in his head and asked if I could join him in his office. Over the next 50 minutes, he laid out his vision to expand our advocacy work and boost its public outreach. Then, citing my background as a broadcast journalist for 24 years, he basically offered me a new position basically said, "You would be good at this." He asked that I take the weekend to discuss it with my wife and get back to him the following Monday.

I began working at RMEF in May 2012. I walked into headquarters on a Thursday morning at 8 o'clock, some nine hours after anchoring the final KPAX-TV 10 o'clock newscast of the television ratings period. It was the final newscast of my TV career. My new title at RMEF was director of public relations. When my six-month probation came to an end, my supervisor asked that I take on a new responsibility and the new title of director of communications. With it came supervision of the Bugle magazine staff. 

So, for the next 13 years I worked with the four editors, executive team leadership and members of other departments, RMEF members and volunteers to help produce the bimonthly magazine. It was a great learning experience to work with talented editors, freelancer writers and photographers, and others. Over that time, I had other duties added to my plate and several other titles and office locations. 

All of the Bugle magazines produced during my 13 years working with the magazine staff

Back to 2025 and the decision-making process about the new position. When I got home from work, I stood in our kitchen talking to Lori. I told her about my meeting with Kyle, his vision, the new position and what its future could look like. The more I rehashed our conversation, the more excited I became. By the time I was done explaining, it was done deal. I was ready to turn the page and transition into new duties. I told Kyle exactly that the following Monday morning.

While I still attend Bugle planning meetings as my schedule permits, the Bugle staff has a new supervisor. Now, my focus is on state and federal legislation, state wildlife commission meetings, conferences, legal happenings and court cases, and other issues that impact our mission. New initiatives and working orders are to come. I'm both grateful and excited for what lies ahead.