Chip Heaps: In Memory
Chip Heaps was a dedicated and earnest member of the Waterfowl Festival family. After being a volunteer for many years, he was named to the Board of Directors in December of 2023. At the time of his passing, he was serving his second term on the board and was the chairman of the Conservation Committee. This important role was a natural fit for Chip, and he took it very seriously. He investigated each proposed project with site visits, research, and by holding conversations with the key project partners. Under Chip’s guidance over the last few years, the Waterfowl Festival awarded $85,000 in projects that supported youth initiatives, community education, and wetlands restoration. Each project was carefully planned and considered.
Chip’s full bio below notes his incredible love for the outdoors and his true passion for helping others support conservation and restoration of wetlands so that future generations would be able to enjoy them as well.
The Waterfowl Festival Board of Directors, Staff, and our extended family will miss Chip deeply and we extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.
Chip Heaps, Board Biography :
Chip Heaps was the Senior Director of Development in the Mid-Atlantic for Ducks Unlimited where his region is Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and DC until his retirement in May 2022. As the DOD he was responsible for identifying, cultivating, and soliciting major gifts from individuals, corporations and foundations to support the conservation mission of Ducks Unlimited. He worked closely with volunteers as well as conservation and development colleagues on initiatives and proposals for his donors and prospects. He started in this position in July 2008 and prior to that was Senior Regional Director working in the states of Maryland and Virginia for Ducks Unlimited.
As the Senior Regional Director (RD) he was responsible for organizing, servicing and maintaining all Ducks Unlimited committees and fundraising events within his region. He was responsible for developing and establishing new Ducks Unlimited area committees and fundraising events and ensuring compliance with operating and reporting procedures for fundraising activities within the region. He acted as a representative of National
Headquarters to further promote Ducks Unlimited to members of the local media and conservation organizations. He joined the staff of DU in June 1990 after working as a volunteer for many years in Maryland.
Chip is a 1979 graduate of Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, VA with a BS degree in Biology. Prior to coming to work for DU, he was in sales with The Thornley Company, a family-owned business in Wilmington, DE and before that was Safety, Health and Environmental Manager at Cello Corporation in Havre de Grace, MD for 10 years.
Other additional responsibilities include, Waterfowl Festival Board of Directors, State Campaign Chairman for Maryland Ducks Unlimited, over 20-year member of the Maryland Migratory Game Bird Advisory Committee, Board, member of Coastal Conservation Association Maryland and Board member of the Maryland Wood Duck Initiative.
Link to Obituary: https://www.mccomasfuneralhome.com/obituaries/charles-heaps
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