WTA plucks new chief from own board

Karen Daubert has taken over as executive director of Washington Trails Association.

Daubert has more than 15 years of experience in trail and open space policy, advocacy and funding. As founding director of the Seattle Parks Foundation, she led the organization from a start-up to one that is recognized as a national leader in parks philanthropy and advocacy. She also has served as a member of the Recreation and Conservation Funding Board and on the Seattle Parks Board. Daubert co-founded Friends of Street Ends. Daubert has also worked as King County deputy prosecuting attorney, focusing on real property and environmental issues.

She also is no stranger to the trail advocacy group. She has been a member of the board of directors since 2010. She has been serving as the vice president of board development.

“I am thrilled to be the new executive director of Washington Trails Association,” said Daubert in a prepared statement. “In its accomplishments and aspirations, I believe that WTA plays an essential role enriching quality of life in Washington state.

“It will be enormously fulfilling to work with the thousands of volunteers, board members, public and private funders, elected officials, and stakeholders that care so much about Washington’s trails.”

Daubert began work on Monday.

She also appears to be someone who knows what she’s talking about. Taking a career break for the last year, Daubert hiked more than 100 trails and scrambled up more than 60 peaks during her time off.

“I have a deep appreciation of just how important the out-of-doors is to people’s sense of who they are, who they can be, and what kind of world they want to create,” said Daubert in the statement.

Daubert fills the vacancy left following the March resignation of Brian Windrope, who had been with the group for just a year.

Craig McKibben served as acting executive director while the search for a new director took place. McKibben is the immediate past president of the organization.