Refuge Nature Store at ‘Ding’ Darling names new manager
Ann-Marie Wildman, who has served on the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge Board of Directors since 2017, recently accepted the position of manager at the Refuge Nature Store at the Visitor & Education Center at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel.
Wildman moved to Sanibel more than nine years ago when she married the late Don Wildman, a former DDWS board member. She had previously lived in The Whistler Ski Resort in British Columbia, Canada, where she owned a fine art gallery for 16 years. Prior to that, she worked in Honolulu for 20 years for a major art gallery, where she represented such celebrity artists as Tony Curtis, Anthony Quinn and Red Skeleton.
“Ann-Marie is an entrepreneur bringing more than 34 years of customer service experience and 29 years of direct retail experience,” DDWS Executive Director Birgie Miller said. “With an impressive set of skills in management, sales, negotiations, marketing, and communications, she also understands the mission of the DDWS and the work of the refuge. Her abilities in working with people of all ages, including volunteers and donors right here on the island and at ‘Ding’ Darling have been and continue to be very effective.”
Since moving to the island, Wildman has been involved at “Ding” Darling as a Refuge Nature Store volunteer and on such committees as the Learning Lavatories and Upcycle Festival. As a board member, she served as liaison to the Nature Store. She steps into the position being vacated by former store manager Jeanne Walsh, who will be moving to Maine in July.
“Jeanne worked so effectively with the entire DDWS team and volunteers and brought the Nature Store to a new level of quality and increased sales, so it is with much sadness that we say farewell,” Miller said. “But it is her success that Ann-Marie will carry forward, working with the rest of the DDWS team, refuge staff, and loyal volunteers.”
DDWS operates the Refuge Nature Store, proceeds from which benefit wildlife, habitat conservation, education, and research projects taking place within the refuge complex.