Steve Maritz Elected Wetlands America Trust President

Wetlands America Trust (WAT) member Steve Maritz was recently elected as president of the WAT board during the group’s winter meeting in Stuttgart, Ark. The WAT board is the land trust arm of Ducks Unlimited (DU) – one of the world’s leaders in waterfowl and wetlands conservation.

“To be elected to such a highly esteemed group is both an honor and a responsibility I will not take lightly,” Maritz said. “Each WAT trustee plays a critical role with the organization, and it’s my sincere hope that together we can help ensure the future of conservation in this great nation.”

A member of WAT since 2009, Maritz is a DU Gold Legacy Sponsor and is a member of the DU President’s Council. As chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Maritz Holdings Inc., Maritz represents the fourth generation of his family to lead the company, now in its 119th year. He is also a member of numerous boards and organizations both nationally and in his hometown of St. Louis. Maritz holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational psychology from Princeton University and is married with three boys.

“Steve’s business acumen is certainly evident through the success of Maritz Holdings, and we feel that he is a great choice to lead WAT into the future,” said WAT COO Dan Thiel. “Steve’s passion for conservation and waterfowl hunting, along with his background in business, is a great fit for DU and for WAT.”

WAT’s principle role is the fiduciary responsibility for DU’s endowment and land holdings, including conservation easements. Not only has WAT been successful with this charge, the trustees have individually taken up the mantle to introduce DU and its conservation mission to their friends, family and colleagues.

For more information about DU or WAT, visit www.ducks.org.

Ducks Unlimited

Ducks Unlimited is the world's leader in wetlands and waterfowl conservation. DU got its start in 1937 during the Dust Bowl when North America’s drought-plagued waterfowl populations had plunged to unprecedented lows. Determined not to sit idly by as the continent’s waterfowl dwindled beyond recovery, a small group of sportsmen joined together to form an organization that became known as Ducks Unlimited. Its mission: habitat conservation. Thanks to decades of abiding by that single mission, Ducks Unlimited is now the world’s largest and most effective private waterfowl and wetlands conservation organization. DU is able to multilaterally deliver its work through a series of partnerships with private individuals, landowners, agencies, scientific communities and other entities.