Howard Vincent, Longtime Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever President & CEO, Announces 2023 Retirement
National Board of Directors has hired Cohen Taylor to lead Executive Search
Howard Vincent, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s president & CEO since 2000, has announced plans to retire following National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic 2023 next February. The organization’s national board of directors has enlisted the services of Cohen Taylor to lead the nationwide application and interview process.
Vincent joined the organization as a volunteer in 1984, only two years after the organization’s creation in 1982. He was hired as a full-time employee in 1987 as the organization’s first director of finance. In 2000, Vincent succeeded Jeff Finden to become the second person to lead the non-profit conservation organization during its 40-year history.
“I’m extremely proud of the team we have in place to deliver this organization’s habitat mission,” Vincent said. “We produced more acres of habitat and generated more dollars for conservation in 2021 than any other year in our history, and we’re going to break those records in 2022. That’s a credit to every one of our employees, our national board of directors, this organization’s dedicated volunteers, and our many partners. It’s now time to prepare for the next chapter. ”
During Vincent’s tenure, Pheasants Forever has grown into one of the most respected wildlife conservation organizations in the country dedicated to habitat development, education, and advocacy. The organization, which includes both Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, has more than 400 employees and 400,000 members, supporters, and partners. In its history, “The Habitat Organization” has been responsible for delivering more than 22 million acres of habitat.
“In addition to being the primary face of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, Howard has built an amazing team and established collaborative, meaningful partnerships with other like-minded organizations and individuals in conservation,” said Matt Kucharski, chair of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s national board of directors. “He will be leaving the organization in a tremendous place, and we appreciate his collaboration during the transition.”
Vincent will continue to lead PF & QF into 2023 as the organization rallies to complete its first-ever comprehensive campaign, Call of the Uplands. In 2021, the organization announced Call of the Uplands to generate $500 million to protect and restore 9 million acres of strategic upland habitat nationwide, permanently protect 75,000 acres, and introduce 1.5 million new people to conservation and outdoor recreation. The Call of the Uplands campaign will culminate in conjunction with Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic 2023 in Minneapolis next February, which will also be the organization’s first-ever national convention.
Executive search firm Cohen Taylor has been retained by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever to lead the application and interview process for Vincent’s successor. Inquiries about the position should be directed to Katie Erickson at Cohen Taylor via email at katie@cohentaylor.com.
About Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever
Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever make up the nation’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. This community of more than 400,000 members, supporters and partners is dedicated to the protection of our uplands through habitat improvement, public access, education and advocacy. A network of 754 local chapters spread across North America determine how 100 percent of their locally raised funds are spent — the only national conservation organization that operates through this grassroots structure. Since its creation in 1982, the organization has dedicated more than $1 billion to 567,500 habitat projects benefiting 22 million acres.
