Where are they now: Bill Hodge

You cannot tell the story of Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards without talking about Bill Hodge. Bill was the Executive Director of SAWS from 2010 – 2019. If 2010 stands out for some reason, it might be because that was the year SAWS was founded.

Bill was part of a group that identified the need for wilderness stewardship across the Southeast. Born from this need was an organization that would stand shoulder-to-shoulder in partnership with the United States Forest Service to ensure wild places received the attention they deserved. When it was apparent that more workforce development was needed, Bill helped create the Wilderness Skills Institute.

Throughout his work, Bill sought to develop current and future leaders of the conservation movement. “I loved sitting around the campfire with so many wonderful SAWS employees at the original basecamp, which was our home. Dreaming big and laughing hard made any early struggles something we would overcome together,” Bill said.

The original SAWS headquarters in Tellico Plains, TN.

Despite the important role he played in the history of SAWS, Bill is quick to point to the contributions of others. “I did not start SAWS alone. I did it in partnership with my wife Laura (AKA SAWS Mom). She was a guiding hand to everyone,” he said. “She also led the charge to get the Tennessee Wilderness Act passed by Congress and signed into law.”

Bill is now the President of a fast-growing media company called Wild Idea Media. The company engages in storytelling for a wild and connected world. He also co-hosts the Wild Idea Podcast which explores the intersection of wild nature and our own human nature. He attributes part of his success with Wild Idea to the work he did with SAWS. “Launching SAWS also launched my public land conservation life chapter and lit a fire in me for the care of the entire National Wilderness Preservation System,” Bill commented. “That fire still burns red-hot and helps guide me as I develop this new endeavor.”