Keystone Elk Country Alliance Appoints Ben Porkolab as President and Chief Executive Officer

Ben Porkolab President & CEO of Keystone Elk Country Alliance

BENEZETTE, PA — The Keystone Elk Country Alliance (KECA) Board of Directors is proud to announce the appointment of Ben Porkolab as the organization’s next President and Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Jeff Gauger, whose leadership helped maintain KECA as one of Pennsylvania’s premier conservation and wildlife education organizations.

Porkolab brings more than two decades of experience in education, conservation outreach, community engagement, and organizational leadership to the role. For the past eight years, he has served as KECA’s Conservation Education Coordinator, where he has become a trusted leader, passionate advocate, and respected ambassador for Pennsylvania’s elk herd and the Pennsylvania Wilds.

Throughout his tenure at KECA, Porkolab has developed and implemented educational programs that have connected thousands of students, families, and visitors with wildlife conservation and Pennsylvania’s natural heritage. He has coordinated fundraising events, cultivated partnerships with conservation organizations and community leaders, recruited and trained volunteers and interns, managed educational budgets, secured grant funding, and helped strengthen relationships with donors and stakeholders across the Commonwealth.

“Ben has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to KECA’s mission and has earned the respect of our Board, staff, volunteers, members, donors, and partners,” said Charles Rosamilia, Chairman of the KECA Board of Directors. “His passion for conservation, proven leadership abilities, fundraising experience, and deep understanding of our organization make him exceptionally well-prepared to lead KECA into the future.”

The Keystone Elk Country Alliance Board of Directors conducted an extensive nationwide search to identify the organization’s next leader. After reviewing a highly qualified pool of candidates from across the country, the Board selected Porkolab based on his proven leadership, commitment to conservation, fundraising experience, and deep understanding of KECA’s mission and operations. Ben Porkolab’s role as President and CEO will be begin September 1, 2026, upon Jeff Gauger’s Retirement from the position.

A lifelong outdoorsman and conservationist, Porkolab’s dedication to wildlife extends far beyond his work at KECA. He serves as a Pennsylvania Game Commission Hunter-Trapper Education Instructor, is a member of the Cameron County Outdoor Youth Activities (CCOYA) Board, has attended the Safari Club International American Wilderness School as a student and as an educator, serves on the Penn State Wildlife Technology Curriculum Advisory Committee, and has spent ten summers working as an Alaskan sportfishing guide, experiences that helped shape his commitment to conservation, education, and responsible stewardship of natural resources.

Prior to joining KECA, Porkolab spent more than 20 years as an educator, including service as an elementary school teacher in the Cameron County School District. During his career in education, he built strong community partnerships, mentored fellow educators, and developed innovative learning opportunities for students. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and has been recognized for his contributions to conservation and education, including being named Pennsylvania Game Commission North Central Region Hunter Education Instructor of the Year and Bighorn Sheep Center Teacher of the Year.

As Conservation Education Coordinator, Porkolab helped expand KECA’s educational impact by developing engaging conservation programs, coordinating special events and field experiences, recruiting and mentoring interns, leading volunteer training efforts, and serving as a key representative of the organization throughout Pennsylvania. He also played an important role in planning and executing fundraising initiatives, including banquets, raffles, the Wapiti Waddle Duck Race, and the Golf Scramble, while helping identify and cultivate donor relationships that support KECA’s mission.

In his new role as President and CEO, Porkolab will provide strategic, operational, and fundraising leadership for the organization. He will oversee KECA’s conservation and education programs, visitor experience initiatives, habitat enhancement efforts, land stewardship projects, financial management, staff development, fundraising operations, membership growth, and strategic partnerships. He will also serve as the organization’s chief spokesperson and ambassador, working closely with donors, volunteers, government agencies, conservation partners, elected officials, and local communities to advance KECA’s mission.

“It is an incredible honor to be selected as the next President and CEO of the Keystone Elk Country Alliance,” said Porkolab. “For the past eight years, I have had the privilege of working alongside an outstanding team, dedicated volunteers, passionate supporters, and valued partners who care deeply about Pennsylvania’s elk herd and the future of Elk Country. This organization has become an important part of my life, and I look forward to building upon a strong foundation that has been established, while continuing to grow KECA’s impact in conservation, education, habitat enhancement, and community engagement.”

Porkolab assumes leadership of an organization that welcomes more than 330,000 visitors annually to the Elk Country Visitor Center, reaches tens of thousands of students through conservation education programming, and works collaboratively with public agencies, private landowners, and conservation partners to conserve and enhance Pennsylvania’s Elk Country for future generations.

The Keystone Elk Country Alliance Board of Directors extends its sincere appreciation to Jeff Gauger for his years of dedicated leadership and service. Under his guidance, KECA expanded its conservation impact, strengthened educational programming, enhanced visitor experiences, and further established the Elk Country Visitor Center as a world-class destination and gateway to the Pennsylvania Wilds.

The Keystone Elk Country Alliance is a nonprofit wildlife conservation organization dedicated to conserving and enhancing Pennsylvania’s Elk Country and elk herd for future generations through conservation education, habitat enhancement, stewardship projects, and land protection. Through its programs, partnerships, and the Elk Country Visitor Center, KECA inspires hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to appreciate, understand, and support wildlife conservation.

Media Contact

Jennifer Weld
Public Relations Director
Keystone Elk Country Alliance
Jennifer@kecaus.com

(814) 771 – 7723

Keystone Elk Country Alliance Dedicates Cogan Terrace in Honor of Founding President and CEO Rawley D. Cogan

Now Hiring: Conservation Education Coordinator

The Keystone Elk Country Alliance (KECA) is a nonprofit wildlife conservation organization that operates and manages the Elk Country Visitor Center in Benezette, Pennsylvania. KECA’s mission is “To conserve and enhance Pennsylvania’s elk country for future generations.” Our number one priority is conservation education.  KECA currently offers over fifty different educational programs for incoming students. These programs are not only cross-curricular, but many of them also align with the Pennsylvania State Education Standards. In addition, each program is age-appropriate, and many can be adapted to suit the needs of any age group from kindergarten to twelfth grade and beyond. These programs cover various aspects of conservation, environmental awareness, and good land stewardship practices—with a focus on elk and elk habitat in the Pennsylvania Wilds. A few topics include food web dynamics, habitat management techniques, and concepts of natural selection. KECA strongly believes that programs that expose our youth to nature are the best way to ensure it will be preserved in the future.

Job Description

SUMMARY: Coordinate, develop and deliver a successful conservation education program plan while working with Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) and other partners. Oversee the educational department and all of its components.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop lesson plans and serve as liaison between the Elk Country Visitors Center (ECVC) and School Districts in the region to attract educators and students to participate in educational programs.  Research state curriculum mandates and develop conservation education programs that meet these requirements
• Schedule programs at the Elk Country Visitor Center and coordinate events including outdoor expos, events and guest speakers
• Develop outreach programs to various Intermediate Units’(IU)and districts and conduct teacher workshops and training (i.e. Act 48 credits)
• Network with universities to attract college intern students
• Assist with Elk Country Visitors Center website content input and administration
• Facilitate offsite public relations events, activities and educational outreach opportunities (expos, outreach open houses, school districts, colleges, civic groups, youth field day events, Chambers of Commerce, tourism promotion agencies and IU’s)
• Collect and report Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) requirements annually
• Work collaboratively to develop a ECVC programming plan for DCNR State Parks annually
• Report Conservation Education Numbers to DCNR monthly
• Write articles for Tracks and Racks magazine
• Comprise the Con. Ed. budget and modify on an annual basis
• Promote KECA/Seneca Resources Company Scholarship and collaborate with selection committee for selections
• Update educational updates on mission priority projects, information and data collection
• Train educational staff and set expectations for KECA interns and PGC seasonal position
• Instruct and manage volunteers encouraging them to project professionalism in all their dealings with the public
• Conduct KECA Conservation Education (Con. Ed.) Committee meetings at least twice a year
• Work closely and collectively with KECA staff, interns, volunteers, members and other supporters
• Willingness to work on a non-traditional schedule. (various shifts and weekends are required at times)
• Other duties as assigned

 QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Ability to develop a coordinated education and program plan with involvement of many partners, developing lesson plans that meet Pennsylvania state curriculum mandates.  Effectively deliver programs to various and diverse audiences.  Emphasis on public and community relations.  Effectively manage the guests’ experience, coordinate the work of volunteers and interns including training and interact with government agencies as needed.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor’s degree required in education, conservation, wildlife management or related majors or a minimum of 5 years of educational experience.

 MATHEMATICAL and/or COMPUTER SKILLS:

Thorough knowledge of Word, Excel, Power Point and ZOOM required.

 REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to sense widely diverse audience’s educational needs and interests then adapt presentations accordingly.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: 

Act 48 Clearances, CPR/First Aid

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, talk and hear.  Some travel, primarily by motor vehicle will be required, as well as overnight educational opportunities. The employee must lift and/or move up to 45 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Environment will be diverse from office setting to outdoor activities.

KECA will provide a laptop computer, access to a 4-way print, copy, fax and scan machine, telephone (landline), desk area and cell phone bill reimbursement. KECA will provide a business credit card for work expenses as well as providing office supplies.

Salary:                      Starting salary of $57,000

 Days off:                    10 days vacation, 3 sick days, 3 bereavement days

Health Benefits:         Provided by KECA in a limited High Mark plan. (Employee Manual provided)80% KECA 20% Employee Split (effective June 1, 2022)

Retirement Plan:       Simple retirement plan administered by Northwest Savings Bank. Employer will match up to 3%.

Anticipated Start Date:     July 30^th, 2026

How To Appy:         Apply at  https://keystoneelkcountryalliance.bamboohr.com/careers/2 

                                  or

                                  Email cover letter, resume and up to three references to Ben Porkolab at Coned@KECAUS.com

Deadline to apply July 8^th, 2026