Staff Spotlight: Natalie Bennon
Natalie came to Sustainable Northwest to lead its communications work. She also supports fundraising efforts and serves on the leadership team.
“As a kid, those experiences in nature made me curious about the world outside and I came to care about that world. My parents never really understood me, but that was okay because nature was teaching me about myself and about the world around me.”
How did your childhood influence your decision to work in sustainability?
I grew up in Maryland on a tributary to the Chesapeake Bay. My parents and I waterskied almost every night when it was warm. We caught crabs using string, chicken legs, and a net. We swam in the river constantly. All of that was amazing. But my home life was far less than amazing. My parents struggled with addiction and mental illness during most of my childhood. So, when I needed to leave and find a place where I felt safe, I went to the river and the woods next to the river. Nature became my safe place and helped me survive. And when I was alone in the woods, I also got curious. What are those dots on the underside of fern leaves? What is this small, dead animal on the trail? (A mole). Why do that bird's legs bend backward? As a kid, those experiences in nature made me curious about the world outside, and I came to care about that world. My parents never really understood me, but that was okay because nature taught me about myself and the world around me.
How did your educational and career path lead you to Sustainable Northwest?
In college, I majored in English and minored in environmental studies and geography. But it took me a while to choose a major. There was no environmental studies major at my college yet. If there had been, my decision would have been clear. I loved geology and thought about majoring in that until I realized I had to take a lot of physics, chemistry, and calculus to major in geology – very hard subjects for me. Plus, most geologists end up working for major international petroleum companies, which is not what I wanted. I thought about majoring in business, with a focus on sustainability, but majoring in business was mostly my dad’s dream. I could not convince myself to take even one business class. I signed up for one and dropped it multiple times. I finally ended up at the career center, took all their tests, and decided on journalism. At this point, I had two years of credits under my belt, and the journalism degree required many prerequisites that I did not have. So, I switched to English, a shorter major. But I got a job at a local newspaper as an editorial assistant, which set me on my path. When I graduated, I worked in Washington, D.C., at a trade publication covering environment and energy news. I loved it, but ultimately, I wanted to live either in New England or the West. When I came to Portland, I realized journalism jobs pay terribly if you’re not in DC or maybe NYC. Nonprofit work paid more. So I switched and never looked back. I worked as a grant writer, public relations manager, communications director, and marketing director for several nonprofits, for myself as a contractor, and for a consulting firm before coming to SNW.
What do you like most about your position at Sustainable Northwest?
I love learning and writing about natural resource issues. The universe really showed me early on that natural resource issues are my passion, and that has never wavered. To me, something like the number of parts per million of pollution in our drinking water are important, but not interesting. Topics like prescribed fire, how to restore salmon runs, or how I can use communications to pressure decision-makers to conserve land are way more interesting to me.
I also love that Sustainable Northwest is a place where, if you want it, you can take on new and interesting projects and responsibilities. I have found it to be a place where taking initiative and responsibility is not only needed but encouraged and rewarded.
Passions outside of work: Rafting, Nordic skiing, and raising sons.
Something you think is overrated: Boba tea. It’s expensive. It’s high in calories. And it’s just not that good.
Favorite thing to do on a day off: Go to a Zumba class, on a hike, or to a river.
Favorite place in the PNW: North Umpqua River. I don’t fish, but it’s gorgeous and special and one of the first places I explored when I moved to Oregon.
Book recommendation: Solar Storm by Linda Hogan
Cats or dogs?: Dogs. Some cats are ok if they’re willing to act at least a little bit like a dog.
