MUCC NAMES NEW LEADERSHIP

Erin McDonough, of Beaver Island, is the organization’s new Executive Director and Tony Hansen, of Vermontville, has been named MUCC’s CIO and Deputy Director.

The move is the result of a nearly three-year process in which Executive Director Dennis Muchmore was brought on to overhaul MUCC’s business operations and create a succession plan for the future.

“MUCC hired Dennis Muchmore to use his vast experience with business leadership to propel MUCC into the future – today we thank him for helping us turn the page to the next chapter for MUCC,” said MUCC President Bill Krepps. “From day one Dennis has developed MUCC’s succession plan and we’re excited to put to work new leadership, a more efficient staff and several exciting new educational and media products. Erin is a knowledgeable and skilled policy and advocacy leader. Matching her ability to direct MUCC’s core mission with Tony’s technological and media background and excellent reputation as a skilled hunter and angler, this team is an ideal combination to put our restructured organization to work for Michigan’s hunters, anglers, and trappers.”

Since his appointment in July of 2007, Muchmore was tasked with helping MUCC to become a leaner, more technologically efficient organization with a stronger focus on MUCC’s core mission of protecting Michigan’s outdoors heritage and our rights to hunt, fish and trap. With his encouragement, new Executive Director McDonough helped developed the strategic business plans for the organization’s diverse programming, including creating MUCC’s Out-of-Doors University (set to launch in 2010), revamped and refocused its well-respected Policy Division and took the reins of creating a development program for the organization.

Hansen, who will continue to serve as the editor of Michigan Out-of-Doors Magazine and the soon-to-be-released MichiganOutofDoors.com has ramped up MUCC’s communications efforts and has the organization poised to be the leader and a pioneer in Michigan outdoors media.

“Erin McDonough is one of the most talented natural resource professionals in the country and she has proven time and time again to be a leader that our organization can turn to with complex issues. Tony Hansen is an outdoors communicator with solid ties with some of the leaders in hunting and fishing community. He has the rare ability to put into words the experiences of the outdoors because that is what he lives and breathes,” said Muchmore. “Those two are MUCC’s dream team so to speak and I have great confidence that they will lead MUCC into the future. I’ve worked for the late Executive Directors Tom Washington and Rick Jameson and now having spent more than two years reshaping the organization, it’s important that the absolute best people be chosen to lead this 72-year-old giant into a new age. Erin McDonough and Tony Hansen are those people.”

The change in leadership was effective immediately. Muchmore is not retiring however. He will be pursuing new ventures in the private sector while maintaining a seat on MUCC's Forward Planning Committee.

MUCC thanks Dennis for his efforts and appreciates his dedication to the organization and its mission.