Seth Hoffmeister
As Deputy Director, Seth leads our political program, manages the organizing and development departments, and helps develop our internal organizational systems. He helps steer Wisconsin Conservation Voters toward making political change in the state by making strategy and directing resources toward critical elections at the local and state level. Seth works across departments to keep the team focused on the mission and vision of Wisconsin Conservation Voters. He started with Wisconsin Conservation Voters as a Northeast Organizer in 2016.
My story
I grew up in Eau Claire where I spent a lot of my childhood playing up and down Otter Creek near my parents’ house as well as heading up to the Northwoods with my friends and family. Living on the outside of town, I saw many of my favorite berry patches, climbing trees, and trails developed into strip malls and parking lots as the city sprawled outward. I remember going to city council meetings at a very young age with my mother to oppose a condo development not far from our house. A short time later, after this development and many others were built, I had to stop swimming in the creek because the water had become too dirty. This had a lasting impact on me, and instilled in me a commitment to protecting our natural environment. When I was a little older, I worked at the summer camp I attended as a kid and had the very rewarding experience of showing a new generation the beauty of our natural environment and the importance of conserving it.
My first volunteer experience with Wisconsin Conservation Voters was in the 2008 election, where I realized that to protect our natural resources we need to engage in the political process. With this lesson fresh in my mind, I attended UW-Stevens Point, largely due to their strong conservation tradition. I got involved in many environmental and higher education issues and found community organizing to be the key to success for the issues I was passionate about. Upon graduation, I was thrilled to work for Wisconsin Conservation Voters in Appleton during the 2014 election. In the summer of 2015, after a stint as a camp cook at the same summer camp, I again joined the team as a Field Organizer with the Climate Action Program based out of Green Bay, where I currently reside. I am excited to continue the great work of this organization as Field Director.
Background
Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, major in social sciences, minor in anthropology
Student Body President, UW-Stevens Point Student Government Association
President, United Council of UW Students
Board of directors, United States Student Association
WISPIRG UW-Stevens Point Chapter Chair and State Board Vice Chair
University Leadership Award recipient, UW-Stevens Point
Interests
I enjoy hiking, biking, canoeing, fishing, camping, playing the mandolin and guitar, cooking and grilling, reading, seeing live music, and watching the Green Bay Packers.
I’m a conservation voter because we’re on the brink of causing irreversible and devastating damage to our natural environment, and if we wish to pass on a healthy and habitable planet to future generations tomorrow, we need to act to protect it today.
Favorite place in Wisconsin: The shores of Lower Long Lake and Lake Holcombe in Chippewa County
Email: seth@conservationvoters.org