EDGEFIELD, SC — The National Wild Turkey Federation welcomes its newest board member to serve on the National Board of Directors. William (Bill) D’Alonzo will join the National Board of Directors, taking over from Robert Higginbotham, a long-serving board member and former national president who passed away in March.
“My goals and vision for my role as a new board member will be to serve and do whatever I can to further the efforts and excellent work that the NWTF has done,” D’Alonzo said. “I have great respect for the NWTF, having worked with them as a landowner on the Eastern Shore of Maryland to conduct a very successful restoration of the eastern wild turkey in Kent County, Maryland.”
The NWTF owes its achievements, in part, to the dedicated efforts of its volunteer-run National Board of Directors. Committed to advancing the NWTF mission, the board of directors plays a critical role in setting organizational goals, objectives, and strategies, thus shaping the future of mission-driven initiatives.
D’Alonzo is a highly accomplished individual with extensive experience in the financial industry and a strong commitment to land conservation and wildlife habitat restoration. As the former CEO and Chairman of Friess Associates and Chairman of Brandywine Funds, he led the growth of Friess Associates from a small team to a staff of 40+, navigating through challenging periods such as the 9/11 tech stock bubble attack, the Middle East conflict and the Great Recession. D’Alonzo has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance from Widener University.
Beyond his professional career, D’Alonzo is active on several nonprofit boards, including Delaware Wild Lands, University of Delaware College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Advisory Board, Wetlands America Trust, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy and the Nemours Foundation. Throughout his tenure, he has chaired various committees, demonstrating his commitment to conservation, public policy, strategic planning, investment, audit, finance, governance, development, and executive affairs. .
“Since I was a child, I have always had a heart for wildlife and conservation,” D’Alonzo said. “Seeing all the places I hunted disappear when I was young, seeing habitat and wildlife disappear with it broke my heart.”
His genuine passion for habitat conservation and commitment to future hunters is evident throughout many aspects of his life, including his Lifetime Patronage of the NWTF. Additionally, D’Alonzo personally owns and operates five farms spanning 1,800 acres, all of which are under conservation or agricultural easements.
He is happily married with two children and divides his time between residences in Wilmington, Delaware and Naples, Florida.
Current National Board of Directors
Harlan Starr – President
Bryan Perry – President
Shackelford Parks – Vice President
Ronnie Reagin – Treasurer
Phil Savage – Secretary
William (Bill) D’Alonzo
david baron
Mark Brinkmeyer
richard childress
Ray “Bear” Davidson
Linda Demmer
Dr Robert Dettmer
dal dyches
craig harris
chris hinkle
ben noble
marcia polhamus
joe shults
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested more than half a billion dollars in wildlife conservation and has conserved or improved more than 22 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The organization continues to advance wildlife conservation, forest resiliency, and robust recreational opportunities across the US by working beyond borders at the landscape scale.
2023 is the 50th of the NWTFhe Anniversary and an opportunity to push the organization’s mission into the future while honoring its rich history. for his 50he Anniversary, the NWTF has set six ambitious goals: positively impact 1 million acres of wildlife habitat; raise $500,000 for wild turkey research; increase membership to 250,000 members; dedicate $1 million to education and outreach programs; raise $5 million to invest in technology and the people of NWTF; and raise $5 million to build a $50 million endowment for the future. Learn how you can help us achieve these lofty goals.