MEET OUR TEAM
Conservation takes more than passion—it takes people who know how to build, connect, and stick with it for the long haul.
Our team brings over six decades of collective experience in conservation science, nonprofit leadership, community engagement, and cross-cultural collaboration. We’ve worked across borders, sectors, and ecosystems—but what unites us is a shared commitment to showing up, listening deeply, and building the kinds of partnerships that last.
Together with our vast network of allies, we act as a confluence—channeling expertise, unlocking resources, and helping local conservation leaders do what they do best.
Caption this photo.
WENDY cristina WILLIS
CEO & Co-Founder
Wendy is a third-generation Mexican-American conservation social scientist, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Confluence. With over 15 years of conservation experience across Latin America, she brings grit, creativity, and passion to her role as CEO.
Raised bilingually between the Shenandoah Valley and the Yucatán Peninsula, Wendy’s multicultural roots and entrepreneurial spirit led her from scrubbing boats in Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park to running a Virginia Green-certified café, teaching photography classes in the USA’s premier national parks, and serving as a ridgerunner trail steward on the Appalachian Trail for the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club.
She believes deeply in the power of collaboration and is driven by the idea that the Latin American conservation community is stronger when we cross-pollinate ideas, cultures, and experiences—one of the core values behind Confluence.
She holds a master’s degree in Environment & Community from Humboldt Polytechnic and a bachelor’s degree in Conservation Social Science from the University of Idaho.
Before founding Confluence, Wendy served as Deputy Director of International Programs at American Bird Conservancy and as Executive Director of Fundación Jocotoco USA, supporting NGO partners throughout the region.
She currently lives in Bacalar, Mexico, where she enjoys open-water swimming, birdwatching, and photographing ecosystems that are just too important to lose.
Rita Fenwick
COO & Co-Founder
Rita Fenwick is a passionate biodiversity conservationist who has spent close to forty years working to conserve and protect ecosystems vital to threatened and endangered species throughout the Western Hemisphere.
She has successfully led development and communication teams at the Virginia Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, served as Vice President for Development for American Bird Conservancy, and co-founded and served as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Global Forest Generation. She played a significant advisory role in developing the Latin American led Accion Andina initiative to protect and reforest more than a million hectares of high Andean native forests.
A graduate of the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts and major in Latin American Studies, she has extensive knowledge and relationships with Latin American leaders, non-profits and landscapes. Rita has experience in all types of fundraising, especially unrestricted, and is adept at growing development programs alongside conservation programs.
Rita spends her spare time pursuing geology, birding, hiking, and with family and friends.
GEORGE FENWICK
Board Chairman
George Fenwick is a lifelong conservationist with over 40 years of experience dedicated to protecting biodiversity and ecosystems.
George’s conservation career began with The Nature Conservancy, where he held roles ranging from Maryland Natural Heritage Program Coordinator to State Director for Virginia and eventually Vice President for Science.
He was instrumental in leading ecosystem conservation efforts on a national scale. In 1994, George founded the American Bird Conservancy (ABC), where he served as president for 23 years. Under his leadership, ABC became a leading organization in bird conservation, working to protect critical bird habitats across the Americas. George has also co-founded and led Global Forest Generation, an organization focused on restoring forests and preventing deforestation.
He has served on the boards of numerous organizations, including the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and the American Forest Foundation. George holds a Ph.D. in Immunology and Infectious Diseases from Johns Hopkins University and advocates for science-driven conservation. He lives with his wife, Rita, and they have three adult children.Rita spends her spare time pursuing geology, birding, hiking, and with family and friends.
Jim Fetig
Board Member
Jim Fetig is a distinguished leader in outdoor recreation and public service, currently serving as the president of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC), where he supports the organization’s mission of connecting people to nature across a 45,000-square-mile geographical footprint.
With over 8,000 members, PATC is a significant force in volunteer-driven trail conservation and recreation. Jim’s career spans both military and civilian leadership.
After a 28-year career in the U.S. Army, serving as National Security Council spokesperson and completing senior assignments with the United States Southern Command in Panama, he retired as a colonel. He then transitioned to public service roles, including senior administrative positions at the Georgia Institute of Technology and vice president of public relations at Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. Jim also worked at the Corporation for National and Community Service, the parent organization of AmeriCorps, from which he retired in 2012.
A U.S. Army War College graduate and U.S. Air Force Staff College, Jim holds a BS in Mass Communications from the University of Southern Colorado. His commitment to environmental conservation and volunteerism guides his work with PATC.He has served on the boards of numerous organizations, including the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and the American Forest Foundation. George holds a Ph.D. in Immunology and Infectious Diseases from Johns Hopkins University and advocates for science-driven conservation.
He lives with his wife, Rita, and they have three adult children. Rita spends her spare time pursuing geology, birding, hiking, and with family and friends.
Rodrigo Soria-Auza
Board Treasurer
Rodrigo W. Soria-Auza is a Bolivian biologist and conservationist deeply committed to protecting biodiversity and fostering community engagement in conservation efforts in his home country.
Rodrigo began his journey in conservation while still a student at the University Mayor de San Simón in Cochabamba, Bolivia, where he volunteered on various environmental education projects. After completing his bachelor’s degree in biology in 2002, he moved to Santa Cruz de la Sierra to work at Asociación Armonía, where his passion for bird conservation flourished.
In 2005, Rodrigo pursued further studies at the University of Goettingen in Germany, earning a PhD in Biodiversity and Ecology in 2009. His research and postdoctoral work focused on species conservation, which he later applied upon returning to Bolivia in 2011 as Director of Conservation Programs for Armonía. In this role, Rodrigo has led efforts to prevent extinctions, restore habitats, and collaborate with indigenous communities to protect species on private and protected lands.
Since 2017, he has served as Executive Director of Armonía, broadening the organization’s impact throughout several ecosystems in Bolivia. In 2022, Rodrigo joined BirdLife International’s Global Council, where he continues to influence international conservation policy. His work exemplifies a commitment to collaborative conservation and science-based solutions.
JOEL SAFERSTEIN
Board Secretary
Joel Saferstein is a seasoned media and travel professional with over 20 years of experience creating impactful connections between consumers and the natural world. As the owner and publisher of American Park Network, Joel has transformed the company from a traditional print-based model into a digital powerhouse.
Under his leadership, the award-winning Oh, Ranger! ParkFinder™ app was developed, revolutionizing how travelers find and explore parks and public lands. Joel’s expertise in public-private partnerships has brought corporate resources to support conservation efforts, and his innovative marketing programs have reached tens of millions of people annually.
In addition to expanding the company’s digital footprint through captive WiFi networks in parks and campgrounds across the U.S., Joel is actively involved in other ventures, serving on the management team of Zefram Games and the advisory board of Equity Estates, a luxury vacation residence fund.
Joel holds a BA in International Studies from Emory University and is an avid cyclist, hiker, and adventure traveler. He enjoys exploring Rock Creek Park with his wife, Amy, and their two sons, Jason and Andrew.
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