The Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (SEAFWA) presented CEO and President of the Archery Trade Association Jay McAninch with a special recognition award at their annual meeting in Louisville this week. McAninch has led the ATA since 2000, and a hallmark of his tenure has been the rejuvenation of the relationship between industry and the state agencies.
“Under McAninch’s leadership, the Archery Trade Association Trade Show has become the world’s biggest business event of the year in archery and bowhunting,” SEAFWA President Alvin Taylor said. “He has been particularly successful in uniting archery and bowhunting interests and in setting priorities and long-term strategic planning for the recruitment and retention of archers and bowhunters.”
McAninch took a leadership role in the formation of the Industry-Agency Coalition and is a founding board member of the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports. In addition, McAninch recently led the effort to form the National Deer Alliance where he currently serves as board chair. He serves on the Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Partnership board of directors and on the steering committee of the Outdoor Recreation Industry Roundtable. Over his career, McAninch has been a visible and effective conservation voice on Capitol Hill and with the Clinton, Bush, Obama and now Trump administrations.
McAninch was recognized in 2010 by the national Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and awarded the Special Recognition Leadership Award for his tireless commitment to forging stronger bonds between agency and industry members.
The Association’s special recognition awards are bestowed upon individuals who, in the state agency directors’ opinions, have served the association and made outstanding contributions toward wildlife and fisheries conservation, outdoor recreational engagement, and the natural resources professional community.
The Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (SEAFWA) is an organization whose members are the state agencies with primary responsibility for management and protection of the fish and wildlife resources in 15 states, Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands. Member states are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.