The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation named Dave Chanda as its vice president of state agency engagement.
Chanda is the former director of the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. The RBFF said he will call on nearly 40 years of experience at the state agency to help the RBFF reach its goal of increasing fishing participation to 60 million anglers in 60 months (60 in 60) by working to improve angler and boater recruitment, retention and reactivation (R3) programs among state agencies throughout the country.
“We know reaching the 60 million-angler mark will take considerable effort from the industry and our state agency partners,” RBFF president and CEO Frank Peterson said in a statement. “Dave’s vast knowledge of how state fish and wildlife agencies operate will be a tremendous asset in implementing efficient and effective angler and boater R3 programs at state agencies across the country, and to reaching the 60 in 60 goal.”
Chanda’s career at the New Jersey agency included the last 11 years as its director. He is a former president of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies and was a member of the RBFF’s board for nine years. In his new role, which started Thursday, Chanda will analyze and optimize the angler and R3 efforts of state agencies across the country.
“RBFF’s mission to increase fishing and boating participation is one that’s been incredibly relevant my entire career,” Chanda said. “I look forward to transforming my years of experience at a state fish and wildlife agency into actionable programs and recommendations for RBFF’s state agency partners to implement.”
