Media Contact:
Robin Carr, Landis Communications Inc
Email: Redwoods@LandisPR.com | Phone: (415) 766-0927
San Francisco, Calif. (March 25, 2025) – Save the Redwoods League (League) announced today that its board has selected veteran national park and public lands conservation leader Steve Mietz as the new president and CEO of the century-old nonprofit. Mietz will join the League on April 28 and carry forward the organization’s mission to protect, restore and connect people to the iconic coast redwood and giant sequoia forests of California. Most recently, Mietz served as superintendent of Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP) for nearly eight years.
“We are thrilled to have someone with Steve’s incredible track record of leadership, entrepreneurial vision and passionate commitment to the long-term conservation of redwoods as the League’s next leader,” said League Board of Directors Chair Sara Clark. “In addition to his deep expertise in redwood forest management and restoration, the League will benefit enormously from Steve’s extensive partner relationships with government agencies, tribal groups and redwood landowners.”
“The opportunity to join and lead the League—an organization that I have come to know and admire deeply as a close partner—is one of those rare moments in life when your personal and professional passions converge,” said Mietz. “Over the past decade, I have become an unapologetic champion for the redwoods. I am inspired to focus all my energy on healing the forest, its people and advancing the League’s second-century goals amid the unique challenges and opportunities of our times.”
Steve Mietz arrives at Save the Redwoods League following more than two decades of executive leadership and natural and cultural resources management roles across numerous national parks. His assignments included Point Reyes National Seashore, Grand Canyon National Park, Pearl Harbor National Memorial, Great Basin National Park and multiple regional directorships around the American West.
Throughout his public service career, Mietz has forged innovative, sustainable programs and partnerships, especially in connection with tribal groups, that have yielded new models for managing public lands. Mietz partnered closely with the League and California State Parks to establish and lead Redwoods Rising, an unprecedented public-private partnership to accelerate the pace and scale of restoration work across 70,000 acres of previously logged redwoods parkland. He also worked with the League and the Yurok Tribe to craft a first-of-its-kind agreement to establish a southern gateway to RNSP that the parks will co-manage with the Yurok Tribe on a property that the League will convey to tribal ownership in 2026. Mietz was named Superintendent of the Year for Natural Resource Stewardship by the National Park Service in 2022 for going above and beyond in natural resources protection in RNSP.
In his leadership roles at other national parks and recreational areas, Mietz identified creative funding sources via state and local government agencies and nonprofits, established nonprofit park “friends” groups, oversaw scientific research and large-scale landscape projects and managed thousands of employees who serviced millions of acres and visitors annually.
“Steve is a thoughtful, driven and creative leader, which is exactly what the League needs as we look ahead to navigate the ever-changing landscape of conservation,” said Vice Chair of the League’s Board of Directors Rosemary Cameron, who led the search process.
Mietz holds a Master of Science degree in environmental studies from the University of Montana and a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University.
Mietz succeeds Sam Hodder, who has led the League since 2013 and completes his tenure on March 31.
* * *
For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Robin Carr at (415) 766-0927 or redwoods@landispr.com.
Tags: 2025, announcement, Press Release, Staff
One Response to “Save the Redwoods League Names Steve Mietz as Next President and CEO of Save the Redwoods League”
Steven Fuller
I’m encouraged by the active leadership that continues with our new executive and the redwood rising program. This will be a plus not only for replenishing and nurturing the redwoods but also creating jobs and helping the local economy in the surrounding communities.