06/10/2008 - April 11, 2008, Glen Echo, Maryland George Petrides, Sr., founder and chairman of Wild Bird Centers of America, Inc., recently received the Citizens Award for Exceptional Service by the Fish and Wildlife Service. This prestigious award recognizes private citizens and organizations for their significant contributions to the mission and goals of the Fish and Wildlife Service.
Petrides was honored for his assistance in improving the Service's bird watching and conservation programs throughout the National Wildlife Refuge System NWRS. In a letter announcing his award, H. Dale Hall, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, thanked Petrides for helping the Fish and Wildlife Service forge new partnerships, and for giving generously of his time, talents, and insights to make the refuges more birder-friendly while helping birders to better understand the roles of national wildlife refuges. Hall continued, "because of Petrides' contribution, the public is more aware of birds and their habitats, and conservation issues that are central to the mission of the Service."
The NWRS conserves some of our country's best migratory bird habitats, while offering more than 39 million annual visitors the chance to connect with the natural world. More than half of all federal lands designated by the American Bird Conservancy as globally significant Important Bird Areas are on national wildlife refuges.
George Petrides, Sr., is the chairman and founder of Wild Bird Centers of America, Inc., a specialized franchise with more than 85 stores nationwide. Petrides opened the first Wild Bird Center store in Cabin John, Maryland in 1985, and has subsequently grown the business into a leading franchisor in the birding industry.
Petrides serves on the Board of the Wild Bird Feeding Industry WBFI trade group as Chairman of the Retailer Committee as well as Trustee of the WBFI Research Foundation and leader of Project Wildbird, a scientific research program. He is also a member of the National Wildlife Refuge System Birding Initiative Team.
George earned a Master's Degree in Education from Michigan State University, and then went on to have several careers, including high school teacher, real estate agent, U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer, and Peace Corps official in Kenya and Washington, D.C. Petrides speaks several languages, including Igbo, KiSwahili and Setswana.
Petrides is an avid birdwatcher and has a keen interest in community development efforts and environmental issues. He has successfully integrated his passion with his livelihood and subsequently developed a leading franchise of Wild Bird Center stores, which serve, educate and support birders by providing quality products, expert advice and a trusted community resource. Petrides’s contributions have been instrumental to the growth of the birding industry and to building public appreciation for bird conservation throughout the United States.
For more information on Wild Bird Centers of America, Inc. visit the WBCA website at www.wildbirds.com or call 800 945-3247.