MEMPHIS, Tenn. - June 2, 2015 - Ducks Unlimited (DU) welcomed Paul Bonderson Jr. as its 43rd president during DU's national convention in Milwaukee on Saturday, May 30. Bonderson succeeds George Dunklin Jr., who now serves as the chairman of the board.

"I was honored to be elected as president of such a great organization," Bonderson said after the election. "I have worked with Ducks Unlimited for quite some time, and I couldn't be more proud to serve as its president for the next two years."

Bonderson delivered his acceptance speech immediately following the elections and said he will focus on several priorities during his presidency including the Rescue Our Wetlands campaign, which seeks to raise $2 billion for waterfowl and wetlands conservation.

"The success of this campaign will in great measure shape not only our organization, but the future of wetlands conservation for many years to come," Bonderson told the audience. "Rescue Our Wetlands is a continental wetlands and waterfowl conservation effort and comprehensive in nature - meaning everyone at every level within Ducks Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited Canada and Ducks Unlimited de Mexico has a role to play."

Bonderson said his other priorities included overseeing the implementation of DU's next strategic plan, a continued focus on DU's policy work in Washington, D.C., overseeing a new IT system upgrade, continued growth in DU's youth and education programs and ensuring DU has a voice in addressing severe drought issues in his home state of California.

"As a native of California and a lifelong duck hunter in the Central Valley, our current drought situation is of great concern to me and all residents of the state," Bonderson said. "Ducks Unlimited has long played a role in resolving water issues in the West. However, we have reached a point where water use and availability will now be a primary factor in our ability to engage effectively in conservation delivery and policy with our partners in this part of the country."

Bonderson has been a member of DU's board of directors for the past nine years, serving as first vice president, regional vice president, senior flyway vice president and senior advisory vice president for conservation. He is also a member of the Wetlands America Trust board - the land trust foundation arm of Ducks Unlimited. Bonderson and his wife, Sandi, live in Sunol, Calif., and have two children. He is retired from Brocade Communication Systems where he was co-founder and held various positions including Vice President of Engineering and CTO.

"My time spent on DU's board of directors has been amazing, and I look forward to continuing my work as president," Bonderson said. "I can't wait to see all the great things we will accomplish over the next two years."

This year's convention also featured presentations from U.S Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack; Virtual Instruments CEO, John Thompson and Caterpillar Inc. CEO, Doug Oberhelman. Next year's convention will be held in Anchorage, Alaska, June 1-5.

For more information, visit www.ducks.org.

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest non-profit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 13 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org. Connect with us on our Facebook page at facebook.com/DucksUnlimited, follow our tweets at twitter.com/DucksUnlimited and watch DU videos at youtube.com/DucksUnlimitedInc.

Media Contact:
Matt Coffey
(901) 758-3764
mcoffey@ducks.org