Gates Watson

Gates serves as the Northwest and Mountain Regional Director. Originally from western Pennsylvania, he moved to Montana in 2001 to work for The Conservation Fund and has led protection efforts there conserving over 300,000 acres across the state.

Gates now leads the organization’s conservation efforts across an eight-state region consisting of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, North and South Dakota, and Wyoming.

Gates’ focus on Montana land conservation has led to the protection of over 100,000 acres of land. He currently chairs the Fund’s  Land Conservation Loan Committee. Before joining the Fund, Gates worked for the Pennsylvania Environmental Council where he started an outdoor adventure program for inner-city children in Pittsburgh. Gates holds a business degree from Duquesne University.

In his spare time, Gates loves recreating outdoors with his family who are all avid skiers, boaters, bikers and general adventure seekers.