About Rob

Rob Novak is a communications professional specializing in strategic communications, public relations, content marketing, social media management and visual storytelling. He is currently the director of communications for the Warner College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University. Novak previously worked at the Larimer County Department of Natural Resources in a number of roles including environmental education specialist and community relations manager. At Larimer County he led the award winning ‘Plug in to Nature’ project on behalf of Great Outdoors Colorado to identify barriers and gaps preventing families from having strong connections to nature. In his personal time, he volunteered for hugely successful 2014 “Help Preserve Open Spaces” campaign doing website and social media management. The ballot measure associated with the campaign passed with an overwhelming 82% of the vote. He received a B.S. in Environmental Communications from CSU in 2007 and is currently pursuing a M.S. in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources. Novak has lived in Fort Collins since 2002. He is an avid photographer and loves outdoor recreation, especially skiing, cycling, hiking, backpacking, and fishing.

Education

B.S., Human Dimensions of Natural Resources - Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO, 2007

Awards, Honors, Grants

  • American Society of Landscape Architects - Project Excellence Award, Plug in to Nature, 2014
  • Colorado Chapter of the American Planning Association - Outstanding Project, Plug in to Nature, 2012
  • Colorado Lottery Starburst Award - Plug in to Nature, 2012
  • United Way of Larimer County Volunteer Coordinator of the Year, 2009

Presentations

How may we serve you

Rocky Mountain State Park Executive Conference, Cheyenne, WY, 2013

Using Social Media to Engage Visitors

Ranger Excellence School, Loveland, CO, 2014

Plug in to Nature

Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education Teaching Outside the Box Conference, Denver, CO, 2013

Creating Community Events with Impact

Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education Teaching Outside the Box Conference, Denver, CO, 2012

Keynote Speaker: Kid's Relationship with Nature

Adams County Open Space Forum, Adams County, 2012

Kids Relationship Status with Technology, It's Complicated

Colorado Open Space Alliance, Vail, September 2014

Strategies for Building lasting partnerships with volunteer organizations

Colorado Open Space Alliance, Crested Butte, September 2013

Plug in to Nature

Colorado Open Space Alliance Conference, Steamboat Springs, September 2012

Plug in to Nature

Colorado Open Space Alliance Conference, Glenwood Springs, September, 2011

Certifications

  • Systematic Development of Informed Consent by Institute for Participatory Planning and Managment, 2014
  • Project Management by Fred Pryor, 2012

Memberships

  • Public Relations Society of America