ELEANOR S. TOWNS is a master communicator who enjoys an extraordinary reputation for motivating people, managing chaos, mediating conflict, and sustaining high performance during the most challenging of circumstances. As senior manager for the Southwestern Region of the United States Forest Service, she managed a budget of over $300 million dollars, a workforce of over 2,000 employees, and a land base of over 22 million acres in the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.

President William J. Clinton granted Towns Meritorious Presidential Rank for sustained superior accomplishment in the management of programs for the United States government. The award recognized her handling of the Los Alamos fire; undertaking restoration of Southwestern Federal forests; tackling grazing clashes between ranchers and environmentalists; diversifying the workforce; and testifying before Congressional committees on behalf of the Chief of the Forest Service.

One of her defining moments was serving as the top Forest Service official for the Cerro Grande (Los Alamos) fire of 2000. That experience taught her some of her most provocative leadership lessons as she presided over mobilization of internal and external resources, contacts with Cabinet level and White House officials, management of the worldwide press, startup of restoration efforts, and procurement of significant funding spikes for treating the woods. She is highly regarded for her cordial working relationships with members of Congress, and her collaborative efforts with cattlemen, environmental groups, industry representatives, and state, local, and tribal and pueblo governments.

Ellie has addressed many on natural and human resource issues. Audiences from senior corporate managers to students love her funny, frank, and down-to-earth presentations. Leadership and workforce survival tips are punctuated with some humorous and some riveting (but not-so-humorous) stories from the fires of 2000 and her thirty-year career in public service. Motivational commentaries on leadership, management challenges, natural resource conflicts, social issues, and workforce survival can be adapted for breakfasts, luncheons, and banquets; formal classrooms and large auditoriums; employee and student training sessions; and keynotes, kickoffs, and wrap-ups. Past audiences have included new and mid-career employees; students and graduates; community commemorations of American heroes such as Martin Luther King, Jr.; senior and mid-level managers; natural resource managers; employees preparing for leadership; corporate and agency leadership teams; and church groups. For a list of suggested topics and services to assist in matching her skills to your needs, visit the Topic List.

A native of Rockford, Illinois, a graduate of the University of Illinois, the University of New Mexico, and the University of Denver College of Law, she has served on advisory boards to the schools of Natural Resources for the University of Colorado School of Law and the University of Arizona. She is a member of the Colorado Bar, Member - Board of Directors and Chair, Conservation Committee of the National Forest Foundation, Member - National Speakers' Association, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a public service organization.