REI CEO Sally Jewell Nominated for Secretary of Interior

 

If Jewell (shown at left) is appointed the nation’s 51st Secretary of Interior, the outdoor industry and consevation community would have an advocate every bit as friendly as outgoing Secretary Ken Salazar, if not friendlier.

 

 

I have a great job at REI today but there is no role as compelling as the call to serve my country, Jewell said in very brief stagtement after the announcement. Im humbled and energized by this opportunity.

 

During her tenure REI has increased sales from $1 billion to nearly $2 billion, added 71 stores, and greatly expanded its online business. Under Jewell’s leadership, the company has been named annually to Fortune Magazines list of the Best Companies to Work For. Before joining REI, Jewell spent 20 years in commercial banking in Washington state. Before that she worked as an oil and gas engineer for Mobil.

Pundits noted the appointment works well politically because it allows the Obama Administration to check off several boxes. As a former banker and corporate CEO, Jewell helps the Obama Administration respond to critics who say it has not appointed enough leaders from the private sector to its cabinet.  Her business background could help her as she seeks more federal dollars for the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Natoinal Park System from a Republican-controlled house. As a woman she helps the administration address criticisms that his second administration lacks diversity. As a former oil and gas engineer, she should also be able to work with the energy industry as the administration tries to balance on how federal lands are managed.

The nomination must be confirmed by the Democratic-controlled Senate.

This is a stellar decision, said Will Manzer, chairman of Outdoor Industry Association (OIA). She takes practicality and pragmatism to a whole new level. For someone with her business acumen to be Secretary of Interior is big win for the Obama Administration, the outdoor industry and the whole country.

Manzer, who resigned last week as CEO of Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS), came to admire Jewell as a colleague, a business rival and a friend in recent years. EMS, the nations second largest outdoor specialty retailer, has been in a tough competive battle with REI since it began expanding east of the Mississippi in the early 2000s. The two business rivals joined forces, however, when it came to advocating for public lands.  Manzer has often remarked how the joint appearance of the two rival CEOs earned their causes immediate credibility on Capitol Hill. The two executives became the first individuals to recieve the OIA Advocacy Leadership Award in 2011 for their advocacy work.

In a statement released Wednesday, OIA said that Jewells work in the private sector as a petroleum engineer, a successful banker, and the chief executive of a 10,000-employee national retail chain represents the diversity and expertise needed to be a leader in Washington, D.C.

 

As we approach the National Parks Centennial celebration in 2016 and given the need for the nation to advance an economic vision for our nations public lands, Sally Jewell is uniquely qualified to serve as the next Secretary of the Interior, said Frank Hugelmeyer, president and CEO of OIA. “Her experience will ensure that the nations public lands infrastructure remains a crucial component of Americas economic recovery, sustainable energy extraction, renewables development, conservation and recreation – elements critical to the success of the Department of the Interior, the trade association said in an announcement applauding the nomination. 

 

Jewell has worked closely in recent years with Salazar, a former Colorado governor and attorney general, in promoting the idea that recreational access to federal lands is a powerful economic engine that helps spur $646 billion in annual spending and supports 6.1 million American jobs.

 

In April, 2010 she participated in a panel discussion at the White House to kick off the administration’s Americas Great Outdoors Initiative, which was designed to hammer out a balanced conservation agenda for the 21st Century. REI opened several of its stores to host public listening sessions to gather input for the report. In February 2011, Jewell introduced President Obama at a ceremony where he released the report, which among other things recommends boosting investment in and connecting urban parks as a way to promote a healthy lifestyle.

 

Salazars legacy will be the perfect handoff for Sally to build upon, said Manzer. The economics of outdoor industry will now have a better chance to surface.

 

Manzer said Jewells pragmatism will serve her well as she tries to build a consensus among conservationists, extractive industries, ranchers, recreationists and Congressmen across the idealogical spectrum.

 

“President Obama couldnt have made a better choice,” said Will Rogers, President of The Trust for Public Land (TPL). “Sally Jewell understands the importance of connecting people to the land, from cities to the wilderness. As a leader in the outdoor industry, she has long recognized the importance of recreation and parks, for the health of our families and communities, and for the health of our economy.”

TPL recently gave Jewell its Land for People award for her professional and personal  commitment to protecting parks for people.

 

The reaction in the energy industry was more muted.

 

We look forward to learning how Sally Jewells business background and experience in the oil and natural gas industry will shape her approach to the game-changing prospects before us in energy development,” said Jack Gerard, president of the American Petroleum Institute. “President Obama campaigned on implementing a true ‘all of the above energy plan for America. This opportunity could create millions of new jobs here at home and generate hundreds of billions of dollars to the federal government at a time we need it most.

 

Eighty-three percent of the land and offshore areas controlled by the federal government are still off-limits to oil and natural gas development, continued Gerard. Increasing access to Americas vast energy resources should be a top priority for the next Interior Secretary. Americas energy revolution in oil and natural gas could make the U.S. a global energy superpower.