Stephanie Buffum Retires From The Friends of the San Juans

Stephanie Buffum – Paul Anderson photo 

Starting this month Stephanie Buffum has retired from her position of nineteen years as Executive Director of the Friends of the San Juans.

“Our local communities and the Salish Sea ecosystem have benefited from Stephanie’s leadership,” said Friends President Janet Alderton. “The Board is enormously grateful for her nearly two decades of dedicated service.” Alderton will lead the search for a new Executive Director while Board Vice President Toby Cooper will serve as Acting Executive Director until a new director is hired.

Said Buffum, “It has been my great honor to have served this organization and this region. One of my favorite parts of this job has been the opportunity to work shoulder-to-shoulder with countless volunteers who share our vision of island and marine conservation. It has been an amazing journey, and I feel blessed to have had the privilege to work on behalf of people and nature at all levels of decision-making.”

Under Stephanie’s 19 years of leadership, Friends has become central to the protection of what is loved by many about the San Juan Islands and the Salish Sea, including the health of marine ecosystems, fragile shorelines, forest and open space habitats, and the tranquility of communities that thrive in San Juan County.

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