Zion Forever Welcomes the Announcement of Our New President & CEO

Natalie Britt Appointed President & CEO of the Zion Forever Project

The Zion National Park Forever Project is pleased to announce the appointment of Natalie Britt as the new President & CEO of the Zion Forever Project.

“We are thrilled to welcome Natalie to the Zion Forever Project team,” said incoming Board President Julie Saemisch. “With her strong background in non-profit leadership and passion for conservation, we know she will be a valuable asset to the organization and the parks, elevating our mission and work in the seasons ahead.”

Current Board President Billie Rayford added, “Natalie’s vision and dedication to the mission of the Zion Forever Project make her the perfect choice to lead the organization into the future. We are confident that under her guidance, the Zion Forever Project will continue to make a positive impact on the parks and the surrounding communities.”

“Natalie stood out among a talented pool of candidates,” said Julie Saemisch, who led the search effort alongside nationally recognized CEO search consultants at the Potrero Group. “Her combination of experience, enthusiasm, and commitment to the parks made her the clear choice for the role.”

Natalie has spent more than 20 years working in the non-profit sector, most recently as the President and CEO of FIND Outdoors, one of North Carolina’s premier public lands organizations. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a focus on government and public administration.

“I am honored to be joining the Zion Forever Project and excited to work with the dedicated team at the parks,” said Britt. “I look forward to building on the organization’s important work and collaborating with our partners to support and enhance these incredible national parks’ natural and cultural resources.”

Natalie is replacing Zion Forever’s retiring long-time leader Lyman Hafen. Hafen has served as both a board member and now leader of the Zion Forever Project since 1988, and he is excited about the organization’s future under Natalie’s tenure.

“Natalie is a proven and dynamic leader in the public lands partnership world. I’m very heartened to imagine how she will take our work to a new level and move the Zion Forever Project and our mission forward in significant ways.”

With her role officially beginning in February of 2023, the Zion Forever Project under Natalie’s leadership will turn its attention towards its numerous legacy projects and initiatives including completion of the new Visitor Center at Cedar Breaks, the emerging vision for Zion’s east side, and its support for seminal education programs focused on stewarding the next generation of park leaders.

About the Zion National Park Forever Project
The Zion Forever Project is the official non-profit partner of Zion National Park, Cedar Breaks, and Pipe Spring National Monuments. The momentum behind the Forever Project has generated funding, partnerships, and community support from organizations and Park enthusiasts throughout the state and beyond, reflecting the Project’s goals to unite park, community, and state partner resources to address visitation and park protection issues. Visit zionpark.org to join in the mission of stewardship for Zion National Park.