Camuso to serve as Maine Audubon president

After an extensive year-long search, Maine Audubon is pleased to announce the selection of Judy Camuso as its new president. Camuso will assume the role held by long-time leader Andy Beahm, who will retire next month. She will become the first woman to lead Maine Audubon since its founding more than 100 years ago.

Judy Camuso, the former Commissioner of the Maine
Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, will
succeed Andy Beahm as president of Maine Audubon.
She will be the first woman to lead Maine Audubon
since it was founded more than 100 years ago.
COURTESY PHOTO 

Camuso brings more than 25 years of experience in wildlife conservation and protection leadership to the statewide nonprofit organization. For the past seven years, Camuso has served as the Commissioner of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

“We are thrilled to welcome Judy as our new president,” says Michael Catania, chair of Maine Audubon’s Board of Trustees. “Her deep commitment to conservation and proven leadership make her the right person to guide Maine Audubon forward into our next era. There is no denying that it is a critical time for Maine’s environmental efforts and Judy brings the vision and experience we need to advance our mission and further strengthen our impact across the state.”

Camuso began her career in wildlife at Maine Audubon nearly 30 years ago, starting as a seasonal biologist and then serving as the staff naturalist and Gilsland Farm center director for eleven years. In 2007, she left to join the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, where she advanced from assistant regional biologist to special projects coordinator, then director of the wildlife division, and was ultimately named Commissioner in 2019.

“Maine Audubon has always possessed a special place in my heart since I began my career there,” says Camuso. “I’m looking forward to leading Maine Audubon to new levels as the premier conservation organization in the state, and beyond. I truly believe people protect what they love, and I want more people to love the wildlife and natural resources of the state.” 

As Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner, Camuso initiated and funded numerous conservation programs in Maine, including research projects on many of our largest and most vulnerable species, prioritizing land and habitat conservation. Through her leadership, the department expanded and improved its communication and outreach, diversified its Advisory Council, and grew its budget, enabling the agency to better protect, enhance, and conserve Maine’s fish and wildlife resources.

She also served in several national roles including serving as vice chair of the North American Wetlands Conservation Board and President of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, where she was the first person from Maine to serve in this role.

As MDIFW Commissioner, Camuso energized the agency through an employee-driven strategic plan and a hands-on, collaborative approach with staff and partners that helped drive a period of unprecedented growth in outdoor participation and expanded opportunities for those who enjoy Maine's outdoors.  

Under Camuso's tenure, fishing and hunting license sales climbed to historic levels, with fishing licenses increasing by 9 percent and hunting licenses increasing by 10 percent. The department also expanded public access to the outdoors, conserved more than 30,000 acres of land for recreation and habitat – including nearly 8,000 acres of deer wintering areas – and added 20 new boating access sites. Hunters and anglers benefited from expanded opportunities, including additional youth hunting days, increased deer and moose permits and more ice fishing waters in northern Maine.

Andy Beahm, who originally served on Maine Audubon’s Board of Trustees before becoming the Executive Director in 2017, announced his plans to retire last fall. Beahm guided Maine Audubon first through a period of stability then into a period of growth, cementing Maine Audubon as the leading conservation organization in the state.

“I enjoyed literally every day of my career at Maine Audubon and have so much admiration for its highly capable staff and its thousands of volunteers,” says Beahm. “We have accomplished so much together. When you look at the empirical results of our work with indicator species, such as Piping Plovers and Common Loons, it’s clear that, together, we can greatly improve population levels even during a time of multiple conservation challenges. Over the last decade, we have greatly expanded the reach and relevance of our education, conservation, advocacy and properties work. I’m beyond thrilled that Judy will succeed me and am supremely confident that she can take Maine Audubon to even higher levels of impact.” <