Evening on the Oval

President & CEO, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers

Throughout his varied professional career, Berry has amassed a distinctive suite of skills and experience as an inspiring and transformative leader, conservation advocate, skilled fundraiser, government relations professional, and effective nonprofit and agency manager. He is regarded as a colleague who values collaboration and partnership, and brings an infectious enthusiasm to his work.

In his most recent position as the President and CEO of Fly Fishers International, Berry led efforts to develop an array of successful fundraising programs, overhaul membership strategies, create engaging and contemporary education programs, and launch a dynamic rebranding initiative. As the former Commissioner of the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department Berry managed 130 full-time employees, directed critical conservation initiatives, and has been widely credited for modernizing and financially stabilizing the Department. Among other notable achievements while in this leadership role, Berry spearheaded a successful campaign to declare fish and wildlife as public trust resources.

Berry has also previously served as Vice President at the Vermont Community Foundation, Director of Environmental Advancement and Governmental Affairs at Vermont Law School, and in other professional roles focused on conservation, government relations, and development. Early in his career, Berry spent almost 10 years as a fishing guide in the Northern Rockies while also working as an outdoor writer, commercial fly tyer, and artist.

Berry holds an undergraduate degree from Middlebury College and has completed extensive Master’s Degree work in Environmental Science from the University of Montana. He is a lifelong outdoor enthusiast with a passion for hunting, fishing, and a variety of other outdoor pursuits. Berry currently lives in Vermont with his wife Brooke and has two grown sons Quinn and Willem. He shares his house with 5 spaniels he trains for hunting and field trials, has restored two historic homes, and when time allows, plays guitar and banjo in a local band.

Ryan Callaghan is the conservation director for MeatEater and vice chair of the executive committee on the BHA North American board. Ryan has been a passionate member of the outdoor community, growing up guiding, hunting, fishing and playing in the West.

First Far West is a captivating musical duo that seamlessly blends bluegrass, country, and roots music to create a sound that’s both timeless and fresh. Hailing from Mount Eden, KY, the duo consists of two GRAMMY-nominated musicians: Laura Orshaw, a masterful fiddler and vocalist, and Joshua Rinkel, who brings powerful original songs and guitar playing to the stage. Together, they bring a deep-rooted passion for storytelling and a love for traditional American music.

An award-winning journalist and contributing editor at Field & Stream, Hal Herring has written for a wide range of publications including The Atlantic, The Economist and Bugle. He’s a lifelong outdoorsman, mountaineer, hunter and fisherman whose fans have come to expect deeply reported, thought-provoking stories and essays. Born and raised in north Alabama, Hal lives in Augusta, Montana.

Randall is a Senior Editor at MeatEater, where--in addition to playing trivia as often as possible--he works on audio original and book projects. He is a BHA Life Member, a board member of the Friends of the Missouri Breaks Monument, and previously worked for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Randall now lives in Livingston, Montana, with his wife Sydney.