Defending Wildlife as Public Trust: Frank Szollosi of the Montana Wildlife Federation

Frank Szollosi is the Executive Director of the Montana Wildlife Federation, the state’s oldest and largest wildlife conservation organization focused on protecting wildlife habitat, public lands access, and science-based natural resource policy in Montana. He took on this leadership role in June 2020 after a long career with the National Wildlife Federation, where he worked for over a decade on climate and water policy at the Great Lakes Regional Center and on national campaigns that defended public lands, advanced the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and connected people with wildlife.

At MWF, Szollosi collaborates with state agencies including Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, tribal governments, landowners, businesses, and conservation partners to advance policies that sustain healthy wildlife populations and accessible wild places. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Utah and graduate degrees from the University of Michigan, and he brings extensive experience in government, including work as both a staffer and local elected official. Outside of his professional work, Szollosi is an avid outdoorsperson who has spent more than 25 years fly fishing and participates enthusiastically in annual hunts with friends and colleagues. He lives in Montana with his wife and four children and enjoys kayaking, downhill skiing, and backpacking. 

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Show notes:

00:02:54 - Growing Up in Toledo, Ohio

00:05:29 - Leading Montana Wildlife Federation

00:08:26 - Finding Balance in Wildlife Conservation

00:10:14 - Montana Wildlife Federation's Origins and Conservation History

00:15:45 - Hunter-Funded Conservation: Montana's Legacy

00:19:53 - Climate Change and Wildlife Conservation in Montana

00:24:09 - Defending Public Lands Through Community Action

00:26:17 - Montana Wildlife Federation's Advocacy Tools

00:29:05 - Protecting Public Lands from Corporate Development

00:31:30 - Montana Wildlife Federation Membership Benefits

00:33:55 - Understanding Differences and Conservation Leadership

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