By Erika Flores
Communications and Marketing Director, Audubon Rockies, Audubon Southwest
Published November 04, 2026
This article is from Audubon Rockies
, Audubon's regional office for Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. Find your nearest Audubon office here.
Audubon is thrilled to welcome Julie Shapiro as Vice President of the Rockies region!
Julie brings more than 20 years of experience in natural resource and environmental policy, strategy, and management. She looks forward to working with the team to advance collaborative, science-based solutions for birds and the places they need throughout the Rockies.
We recently asked her a few conservation and bird-inspired questions to learn more about her:
Q: We’re so happy to have you on the team! Tell us what attracted you to this role?
A: I’m inspired by Audubon’s mission, values, and impact, and I’m thrilled to advance these in the Rockies region. Most of my career has focused on collaborative, science-based approaches to natural resource challenges in the American West and beyond, complemented by early work in environmental education. Audubon brings all this together. On a personal level, I love the Rockies, and my connections with people and places have been forged, first and foremost, by being outdoors. I am excited to advance work in land and water conservation, climate action, policy and community building to help protect the birds and habitats that make the Rockies so special.
Q: What are you looking forward to most as you join this team?
A: I’m looking forward to connecting with and learning from the amazing people and work happening here at Audubon Rockies and throughout Audubon. Through that connection and learning, I’m looking forward to helping strategically strengthen and grow our impact both internally and with external partners across all elements of our habitat, climate, policy, and community building work.
Q: When you imagine the future of Audubon in the Rockies region five or ten years from now, what would you like to see?
A: My hope is that bird populations, habitats, and communities across the Rockies region are thriving because of Audubon's work taking on the biodiversity and climate crises boldly, collaboratively, and with humility. I'd like to see climate-resilient lands, waters, wildlife, and ways of life where people connect with nature and work together to create lasting solutions. I also look forward to seeing Audubon continue to strategically build upon our existing efforts, partnerships, and leadership in the Rockies.
Q: What’s one word that describes your approach to conservation?
A: Collaborative.
Q: What’s the most memorable bird sighting you’ve ever had?
A: It’s hard to pick just one. The most memorable for me are those that create and solidify my sense of place here in the Rockies. I love seeing Western Tanagers at mountain lakes in the summer, and Ospreys and Bald Eagles soaring and diving and eating fish over the Green River and Colorado River while on a float trip. Living at an elevation of 9,000 feet, I also appreciate the birds that manage to stick around all year, like the Steller’s Jays that are easier to spot when the leaves fall and the snow falls, and the Hairy Woodpeckers, chickadees, and Dark-eyed Juncos that busily occupy themselves on the forest trails near my house, often in the company of the local moose, bears, deer, fox, and other four-legged neighbors.
Q: If your leadership style were a bird, what species would it be and why?
A: Maybe it’s too obvious, but let’s go with the Great Horned Owl. I aim to be a strategic, adaptive, thoughtful, and collaborative leader. I try to first listen, learn, and observe, see the big picture, build relationships, and understand the dynamics and connections around me. I strive to stay calm, make good decisions, and always keep learning. I’m results-oriented, I like getting things done, and I’ll act decisively when the moment calls for it. However, I believe that the best, most durable decisions and results come from good judgement, deep understanding, and include multiple perspectives.
Q: What’s your favorite spot in the Rockies that you’d recommend to everyone?
A: I have to stick close to home with that one – the Gore Range of Colorado. A lifetime wouldn’t be enough to fully explore it.
Q: Which gets your vote if you could only pick one? Hiking, skiing, camping, or floating in rivers?
A: Not a fair question! 😆 Many of these things can be combined into one activity or trip; does that count? I would be a happy person if I could cross-country ski every day in the winter and hike every day for the rest of the year.
Q: What’s one item you never forget to bring on an outdoor trip?
A: My dog would say I should never forget her – which is mostly true, however there are some trips she just can’t go on. 😊 The most important ‘item’ to remember – and that can travel anywhere - is gratitude. Followed by curiosity. If you pack those two things, it’s going to be a great trip.
Q: Anything else you would like to add?
A: Gratitude for this opportunity, and curiosity to discover all that the Rockies team will do together in the years ahead!
Thanks, Julie. We look forward to working with you! Check out Julie’s bio here.
