About Steve Creech: Environmental Leader and Advocate

Steve Creech, a visionary environmental leader, has collaborated with world-renowned artist Wyland for over two decades. Together, they’ve built the Wyland Foundation into a global force for ocean and water conservation.

As President and CEO, Steve oversees the foundation’s overall strategy, directing innovative programs like the National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation, Streams of Hope, and the Wyland Clean Water Mobile Learning Experience. These initiatives reflect his deep commitment to community outreach and education.

A former environmental journalist, Steve brings a unique storytelling perspective to the foundation’s mission. He co-authored Hold Your Water: 68 Things You Need to Know to Keep Our Planet Blue and co-produced Wyland: A Brush with Giants for Discovery’s Animal Planet — blending science and narrative to inspire global audiences.

Steve recalls his first meeting with Wyland:

“I was leaving a career in journalism and marketing, having just taken my law school entrance exam. My interest in the environment was always strong, and I assumed I’d move into environmental law. I had recently written an article about Wyland for a magazine and knew a few people who worked with him. What struck me was how genuinely he connected with such a wide range of audiences. That felt rare — but also essential if we were going to create real, lasting change.

I thought I’d take on a few short projects before heading back to school. But as we started talking about how the future of our environment would hinge on how we managed our watersheds upstream — and how we could make those ideas relevant and meaningful to people — I pushed back my plans.

Twenty years later, the challenges have only grown: rising global temperatures, worsening droughts, plastic pollution, and the urgent need to inspire a new generation to pursue science and environmental action. The need for people to come together around these issues has never been greater.”

Under Steve’s leadership, the foundation has partnered with the U.S. Olympic Team, Toyota, and the United Nations Environment Programme. Steve’s environmental leadership has helped expand the foundation’s reach, promoting wide-scale strategies for communities to reduce water pollution, water-saving garden design, sustainability, and public art that fosters community engagement.

Empowering the Next Generation

Steve believes that environmental education should be hands-on, accessible, and rooted in action. His work demonstrates how art and storytelling can create real-world solutions to protect our water and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.

Steve and Wyland have worked tirelessly to create meaningful pathways for young people to protect our ocean and waterways. Their programs are designed to help students not only understand the issues, but also see how their education — especially in math and science — can become a powerful tool for change.

“Sometimes it’s difficult for kids to see schoolwork as more than just routine,” Steve says. “But when they realize that those same skills can protect marine life, restore habitats, and shape the future — it clicks. Our job is to spark that awe and show them how to turn it into action.”