After 20 years in the non-profit sector, Brandon Hayes launched Bold Bison in 2019 to provide forward-thinking communications services, strategy consulting, and facilitation support to the conservation movement. Brandon was Director of Communications at Openlands, Chicago’s regional land trust and leading conservation organization, where he directed all aspects of external communications, including messaging, printed pieces, website, traditional and digital media, creative design, and photo and video content. Brandon was Manager of Communications and Development at Marwen, which provides high-quality visual arts training to underserved Chicago youth. He was a publicist at Goodman Theatre, Chicago’s leading regional theater. He has also directed operas and plays in Chicago and metropolitan Detroit.
Brandon regularly presents workshops and trainings at national and regional venues. He is an essayist and photographer who has written extensively about the National Parks on AsTheyAre.org, where he chronicles his and his husband’s journey to visit all the US National Parks. His photographs of the National Parks are available on OutInTheParks.com, with a portion of proceeds benefiting each park’s associated friends group. Brandon has a BA in Humanities with concentrations in Art History, English, and History from the University of Michigan-Dearborn. He has a certificate in Training, Facilitation, and Consulting from the Center for New Leadership at Marlboro College. He serves on the boards of the Institute for Conservation Leadership and Chicago Artists for Change.