On December 31, 2017, the Sonoran Joint Venture bid farewell to long-time Science Coordinator, Carol Beardmore, who retired after a 27-year career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and more than forty years working in conservation. Carol joined the SJV staff in 2003. Over the ensuing fourteen years, she developed the strong biological foundation that guides our bird and habitat conservation efforts, created the SJV Science Working Group (formerly the Technical Committee), and has been a driving force for Coordinated Bird Monitoring throughout the SJV region, and especially in Arizona.