About Tom Sadler

My story

For over 25 years I have worked in Washington, DC in the government relations game. Yeah, that means mostly I was a lobbyist.

In July of 2008 I left Washington, returned to civilization and started pursuing my passion for fly-fishing and conservation.

I hung out my shingle as The Middle River Group to provide organizations and businesses an experienced and authoritative voice for conservation issues. I work mostly on policy development, messaging, coalition building, and political analysis.

You can see what my current projects are on the Our Work page of the Middle River Group website.

I am also a columnist and freelance writer. I write a outdoor column for The News Virginian.

I also have this blog. It has all my columns and musings about things like fishing, hunting, cooking, politics and reflections on the events of the day. You can follow it on twitter @troutscoutblog.

When I have the time I still teach fly-fishing. Mostly I work with Dusty at Dusty Wissmath’s Fly Fishing School.

I also still do a little guiding, mostly in and around the picturesque mountain streams here in the Shenandoah Valley.

My greatest achievement is being married to Beth. She is an OR nurse, mother and fishing buddy.

Beside Twitter (@troutscout) you can find me on LinkedIn, Facebook and Fishington.

Here is the “offical” bio:

G.J. Thomas Sadler, Jr.

In July of 2008 Tom left Washington D.C. to pursue his passion for fly-fishing and conservation.  He started The Middle River Group in order to provide strategic and tactical marketing, communications and advocacy expertise to the conservation and wildlife management community and the hunting, fishing and shooting sports industry.

He also writes the “Outdoors” column for the News Virginian (Waynesboro). His column explores national conservation issues and efforts as well as offering information on hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation.

Prior to starting the Middle River Group, Tom was the Director of Program Development for the Trust for Public Land (TPL) in Washington, DC.  At TPL he was responsible for establishing stronger ties with the hunting and fishing community in support of TPL projects and programs and strengthening TPL’s involvement in existing federal programs, particularly those involving fish and wildlife habitat.

Before TPL he spent five years with the Izaak Walton League of America, serving as the Conservation Director his last two years.  His responsibilities included planning, oversight and implementation of the League’s conservation education and outreach programs, policy advocacy and development of the League’s legislative agenda and strategies.

Before joining the Izaak Walton League, Tom served as President of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation.  Prior to that he was a lobbyist for two major U.S. corporations, a regional representative for the U.S. Olympic Committee and a legislative assistant for U.S. Senator Warren B. Rudman.

Tom has been involved in coalition building and grass roots organizing for much of his professional career.  He has been active in creation of the American Wildlife Conservation Partners, FishNet, and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.

Tom’s volunteer activities reflect his passion for fishing and conservation. He currently serves on the Boards of the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, the American Fly-fishing Trade Association and the Valley Conservation Council. He has also served on the Boards of the Federation of Fly Fishers, Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing and the Shenandoah Mountain Rescue Group. He is the Virginia representative on Trout Unlimited’s National Leadership Council and is Vice-Chairman of the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture, a National Fish Habitat Partnership.

Tom spent twelve years as a public affairs officer in the Unites States Navy Reserve retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Commander.  He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of New Hampshire.

He is a lifelong fly fisherman and occasional guide and instructor. Tom, his wife Beth, and black lab Ashby live in the Shenandoah Valley town of Verona, Va