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Canyonlands Natural History Association (CNHA) is pleased to announce Sam Wainer as the new Executive Director.
Sam's long-standing commitment to CNHA and extensive experience make him the ideal candidate to continue the organization's mission. Sam has worked for CNHA since 1996, when he started as a seasonal employee. By 1997, he was offered a permanent position as the Warehouse and Operations Assistant, and soon after became the Warehouse Manager. In 2000, he was promoted to Inventory Specialist, and in 2006 to Operations Manager, a position he served in until his promotion to Executive Director.
In his years as Operations Manager, Sam has cultivated a successful retail program, developing site-specific products, overseeing store design, managing a successful publishing program, and supervising warehouse operations. Sam has tripled retail sales for CNHA to provide much-needed financial support to our federal land management partners. His extensive experience in managing CNHA's operations and his passion for the organization's mission uniquely position him to lead CNHA into the future.
Sam and his wife Heidi have lived in Moab since 1996 and raised two sons, Tobin and Kai. The entire family have been active members of the community and thrived here in Moab. Since 1997, Sam has been a volunteer DJ at KZMU Moab Community Radio and has served as Head Coach for Moab City Recreation baseball, basketball, and soccer. Sam was Chairperson of the Moab Area Travel Council Advisory Board from 2013 to 2015. He was also president of the Peaks Plateaus and Canyons Association, a consortium of fourteen cooperating associations on the Colorado Plateau, all working to support federal lands partners and provide a quality experience to our visitors.
Sam has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Outdoor Education from Sonoma State University and an Associate in Arts Degree with an emphasis in Photography and Graphic Design from Colorado Mountain College. He was a certified National Outdoor Leadership School instructor and was selected into the Sierra Club’s top 100 Environmental Heroes for educating people on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge during a seven-month, 3000-mile hike of the Continental Divide in 1990.
Sam is taking over the reins from Roxanne Bierman, who will be retiring at the end of this year.
Roxanne has been an integral part of CNHA since 2016. Roxanne's leadership, passion, and commitment to the Association’s mission have played a pivotal role in CNHA's growth and success. She is excited to see Sam taking over leadership of this very special organization, and continuing CNHA’s important mission of support for our public lands.
The transition from Roxanne to Sam as Executive Director will be seamless, ensuring the continuity of CNHA's commitment to support the parks and public lands of southeastern Utah and continue to enhance the visitors’ appreciation of public lands.
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