Friends of the Inyo Names Stacy Corless as Executive Director

 
BISHOP, CA, June 7, 2010 – Friends of the Inyo, a non-profit conservation organization
dedicated to the preservation, exploration and stewardship of the region's public lands,
has named Stacy Corless as its Executive Director. 
 
"The Board of Directors of Friends of the Inyo is very pleased to have hired Stacy
Corless as our new Executive Director,” said James Wilson, President of the Friends of
the Inyo Board. “She brings a wealth of experience in teaching, writing, academia and
non-profit work to FOI. Her knowledge of the local landscapes, the folks that people
them, and the communities both natural and economic that make our place special is
exceptional. There is much work to do to help keep the region vibrant and healthy and we
are confident that Stacy is the one to help us do that.”
 
Corless has served as Friends of the Inyo’s Communications Director for the past two
years, and has also helped manage stewardship programs in Mammoth Lakes. She
worked as an organizer for The Wilderness Society prior to coming to Friends of the Inyo
and has an extensive background in marketing and communications. Her name is familiar
throughout the region as a prolific contributor to local publications, including Eastside
magazine, Mammoth Monthly, and Wilderness Press guidebooks. She is also a former
educator, having been a language and literature instructor both locally at Cerro Coso
College and at the University of California, Berkeley. 
 
"I’ve lived in the Mammoth area for twelve years, and like any long-term ski town
resident, I’ve held many jobs. My work with Friends of the Inyo is the ideal culmination
of all that experience. Friends of the Inyo brings together my love for wild places and my
dedication to the land and communities in this region. I look forward to leading FOI in
the direction set by our board, staff, members, partners and volunteers," said Corless. 
 
"The selection of Stacy for Executive Director was based on many factors,” added Steve
McLaughlin, Friends of the Inyo Board member, “the most important of which are her
passion for the Eastern Sierra, her commitment to the mission of Friends of the Inyo, her
knowledge of the critical conservation issues facing the region, and the support of several
of the agency people with whom Friends of the Inyo works on a daily basis. While we
had several excellent candidates, the Board felt that Stacy could ‘hit the ground running’
and continue the important work of Friends of the Inyo with the minimum amount of
disruption that inevitably accompanies a transition in leadership."
 
Corless is replacing Paul McFarland. During McFarland’s six-year tenure as Friends of
the Inyo Executive Director, the organization grew from one paid staff member to a full-
time staff of five, with two summer stewardship crews working on a variety of projects
throughout the Eastern Sierra. He brought a small, local organization, operating on a
minimal budget, up to a nationally-recognized and regionally respected non-profit with a
budget of over half a million dollars. McFarland and his family are temporarily relocating
to Santa Cruz so that his wife, Yvette Garcia, may pursue an advanced teaching degree.  
 
 
“Paul McFarland has been a wonderful mentor to me, and he’s the best advocate for the
health and well being of land and wildlife that the Inyo’s trees and creatures could ever
wish for. It’s an honor and privilege to continue his good work,” added Corless.
 
About Friends of the Inyo 
Founded in 1986, Friends of the Inyo is a Bishop, CA-based non-profit conservation
organization dedicated to the preservation, exploration and stewardship of the region's
public lands, made possible through member support, grant funding and federal agency
partnerships. Since nearly 95 percent of the Inyo region is owned by the American
people, Friends of the Inyo recognizes both the opportunity and responsibility to ensure
the Eastern Sierra remains wild and free for future generations of people and wildlife.
Friends of the Inyo cares for this unique national treasure by connecting people to the
wonders of the Eastern Sierra's public lands. For more information on Friends of the Inyo
programs and volunteer opportunities, visit www.friendsoftheinyo.org.