Q & A with Our New Executive Director, Neal Myrick

Before taking the position of executive director at Groundwire, Neal Myrick spent six years as the managing director of technology at Casey Family Programs, a national foundation focusing on issues of foster care. Prior to Casey, he spent a decade working for Seattle-based software companies including Visio, where he built and managed a worldwide team of IT professionals. He is an executive coach for nonprofit leaders and also a member of Social Venture Partners (Seattle) Environmental Advocacy and Policy Committee.

Get to know Groundwire's new executive director, Neal Myrick, in his own words. First we went a little serious, then we got all Actors Studio. Enjoy.

So the first question, pretty obvious.  Why Groundwire?

Groundwire has both a rich history of success and amazing potential. Gideon Rosenblatt, the previous ED, did an incredible job of positioning Groundwire with the right people and the right skills at the perfect time for helping environmental organizations take advantage of online and social media tools. Many can build websites and help organizations rack up followers on Facebook. Groundwire was one of the few organizations I knew of that can help environmental organizations turn Facebook fans and casual website visitors into engaged advocates.

If my gut is right, we’re at the base of a hockey-stick curve and we are about to go vertical. It’s incredibly exciting.

What are you most excited to take on?

I am excited to take on the world <grin>. Sylvia Earle, a well-known marine biologist, was quoted in a magazine in 2008 saying “the next ten years are the most important in the next 10,000.”  She was talking about saving marine ecosystems but I think it applies to the environment in general. At no other time has there been such a perfect combination of not only the will to change but the knowledge, tools, and systems to make it happen.  We are near the environmental tipping point so it is now or never.  

Making the monumental changes required to save our planet will require mobilizing tens of millions of people into action – that’s what Groundwire does best and that’s exciting.

What seems challenging?

Managing growth, increasing our impact, and dealing with the pace of change in society. Growth and impact are tied to funding.  We have some incredibly forward thinking and insightful funders in the Pacific Northwest who understand the importance of the work we do. We couldn’t have been so successful over the last 15 years without them. It could be challenging to get more traditional funders in other regions to understand our value proposition.

The pace of change will be challenging.  I remember reading about water conflicts starting to happen in some Middle East countries.  In fact there was some tussling between our own state of Georgia and its neighbors when the drought hit recently. I really don’t want to send my son to war over water when he’s 18 – he’s 2 now so it’s a realistic possibility if things don’t change.

The environmental movement is made up of a lot of groups doing good work. Anything you are particularly interested in learning more about? 

I am really interested in learning about what’s working and not working when it comes to bringing groups together. You hear a lot about how the environmental community is fragmented.  I don’t think fragmentation has at any time in history ever resulted in making substantive societal change. Change comes because people come together and focus.

We are lucky in the Northwest because funders and environmental organizations are on the leading edge of exploring collaborations and partnerships. Their expertise and thought leadership needs to spread throughout the country – quickly.

You’ve lived all over the Northwest – Eastern Washington, Portland, Seattle—tell us what you love about it.

I love the sun and warmth of Eastern Washington and Walla Walla wine. I love the marine air and trees in Seattle – as well as the innovation that goes on here. Portland is awesome. Small town, great food, highly functional mass transit system – and it’s flatter so it’s easier to ride in.

Let’s go a little Proust.  What’s your “chief characteristic?” 

Authenticity.

Your favorite bird? 

The kookaburra.  I lived in Australia and fell in love with it and the lorikeet. “Kookaburra” is fun to say and makes an incredible sound. The lorikeets are just amazingly colorful and joyful.

Do you have a motto?

Don’t be afraid of mistakes, just recover from them well.

Let’s go a little James Lipton/Actors Studio.  What sound or noise do you love? 

It has changed recently.  I love the lip-smacking sound my son makes before he’s about to take a drink of milk.

What sound or noise do you hate?

The sound of the ring tone on the first phone I bought after switching carriers several years ago. For some reason that ring tone makes my heart cringe.

You are an executive coach for nonprofit leaders. What’s one of your favorite tips you’ve shared over the years?

Board members are people too.  Don’t be afraid of them.