Charting the Next Era of Impact: National Park Foundation Lift Team Comes to Cape Cod

Friends of the Cape Cod National Seashore recently participated in a first-of-its-kind partnership engagement through a grant from the National Park Foundation. FCCNS was selected as the first park partner organization in the country to take part, marking a significant milestone for both our organization and the broader national park partner community.

This engagement brought together the FCCNS board, staff, and park leadership in a collaborative workshop designed to strengthen alignment, clarify purpose, and define a bold path forward. Centered on the question, What is our North Star for the next 5 to 10 years, participants worked to define a shared long-term vision, better understand FCCNS’s evolution, and explore how Friends organizations grow in scale and impact.

Guided by an expert leadership team, the process created space for honest reflection, strategic thinking, and renewed alignment. The Lift Team included:

• Katie Mates: Consultant with 25 years of leadership across government and nonprofit sectors, with expertise in partnerships, strategic planning, and facilitation. She held senior roles with the National Park Service and was the founding executive director of the National Park Friends Alliance.

• Katie Bliss: Conservation leader with 30 years of National Park Service experience in interpretation, education, supervision, training, and instructional design. She served as Service-wide Training Manager for Interpretation and Education and led strategic planning and innovation in conservation education across multiple parks.

• Cassius Cash: President and CEO of the Yosemite Conservancy and former superintendent of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. He previously held leadership roles with the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service, including Boston National Historical Park and Boston African American National Historic Site, and is nationally recognized for advancing innovative park funding and visitor initiatives.

• Eric Stiles: President and CEO of Friends of Acadia, bringing over 25 years of conservation leadership and a strong commitment to environmental and social justice. His career includes leadership roles at New Jersey Audubon, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, where he advanced conservation impact and philanthropic growth.

• Deb Yandala: Former CEO of Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park from 2002 to 2025, where she grew the organization’s budget from 1 million dollars to 8 million dollars and expanded staff from 24 to 100 while deepening community engagement. She is a past president of the National Park Friends Alliance and has advised the National Park Foundation on major initiatives.

This investment by the National Park Foundation marks the beginning of an exciting new phase for FCCNS. With stronger alignment, a clearer vision, and a shared commitment to partnership, FCCNS is well-positioned to deepen its role as a vital philanthropic and strategic partner to the Cape Cod National Seashore.