Meet the Team

Scott Laird joined the TRCP as Montana Field Representative in February 2016 after working for more than 25 years in natural resource conservation work across the West.

Scott earned a master’s degree in Veterinary Parasitology from Oklahoma State University and started his natural resource work as a conservation officer for the state of New Mexico. He then joined the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation where he worked for the next 14 years in several different conservation roles, most recently as director of private land stewardship. Scott also spent several years with the American Prairie Reserve as director of land acquisition.

Based out of the TRCP’s new office in Missoula, Mont., Scott works on behalf of sportsmen and women to protect the wildlife resources that we all love. He enjoys hunting and fishing in and around his home in Lolo, Mont., and spending time outdoors with his two children, Ali and Simms.

Jamelle Ellis joined the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership in 2022.

Jamelle spent the last three years as an environmental sustainability consultant specializing in developing mitigation strategies and environmental science research models for public and private organizations. She has more than 20 years of research experience focused on environmental contaminant delineation, exposures, and human health impacts. Jamelle has a broad range of experience in the environmental field, with engineering and science roles in academia, private, and public sectors. She has served as the technical liaison for remediation of hazardous waste at DOD sites and has extensive knowledge of federal environmental regulations including RCRA, CWA, NEPA, and MSFCMA.  She has also served as the principal investigator on a National Institutes of Health grant to establish and evaluate baseline health assessments related to environmental exposures associated with port expansion.

Jamelle earned her M.S. in Environmental Engineering and Science from Clemson University where she studied spectral evaluation of petroleum products in-ground at a DOE Site. She earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Health Sciences from the University of South Carolina where she studied exposures to methylmercury through fishing and fish consumption patterns.

She is a native of Charleston, SC and enjoys bicycling, water sports, gardening, and going on new adventures with her family.

Jamie Baker is a partner in the Washington office of Baker Botts, LLP, where he is Co-Chair of the firm’s Global Projects Department and serves as its International Partner, with responsibility for the development and coordination of their international practice across its foreign offices. Additionally, he sits on the firm’s ten-member executive committee. From 1982 to 1985, prior to joining Baker Botts, Jamie served as counsel to the U.S. Senate Majority Leader.

Lynn Gill joined the TRCP as its director of operations and people in June 2022.

Gill has over twenty years of experience in human resources and operations, including 11 years in nonprofit Human Resources.  Most recently she was the Director of Human Resources at Jefferson Consulting Group, a K street professional services firm.  At TRCP, Gill oversees all human resources and office operations.

Originally from Latrobe, Pennsylvania, she grew up spending time at her family cabin on the banks of the South Branch of the Tionesta Creek in Warren County.  Some of her fondest memories are her father teaching her how to fish, shoot, and helping him paint and tie the lead jigs he poured.  Hiking, boating on the Alleghany reservoir, and tubing on the creek were all popular pastimes.

Gill graduated with her bachelor’s degree from The American University in Washington, DC and holds a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification.  She currently resides in DC with her husband Hal and spends her free time reading and tending to her herb garden.

Jo Ann Barefoot is CEO & Founder of the Alliance for Innovative Regulation, Cofounder of Hummingbird RegTech, and host of the podcast show Barefoot Innovation. A noted advocate of “regulation innovation,” she is Senior Fellow Emerita at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for Business & Government, writing a book and series of papers on financial innovation and regulation. She has been Deputy Comptroller of the Currency, partner at KPMG, Co-Chairman of Treliant Risk Advisors, and staff member at the U.S. Senate Banking Committee.

Joel Webster joined the TRCP in 2007 and has spent much of the past two decades working alongside hunting and fishing groups, wildlife managers, decision makers, and agency leaders to shape federal public lands management for the benefit of fish, wildlife and sportspeople.

Webster was intimately involved in the conservation of national forest roadless areas and in the creation of the 2012 National Forest Planning Rule. He also helped lead a project alongside onX maps to identify 16.43 million acres of landlocked public lands across 22 states, while successfully advancing policies to open these lands to the public. Webster has worked to balance public lands energy development with other resources, safeguard big game migration corridors, and conserve unfragmented fish and wildlife habitat on public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

Webster lives in Missoula, Mont., and earned a Masters of Environmental Studies at the University of Montana.

Jen Leahy enjoys working collaboratively to secure durable conservation safeguards for Alaska’s finest hunting and fishing grounds. She helps shape complex land management decisions by amplifying the priorities of hunters and anglers.

Jen’s portfolio spans approximately 50 million acres of public lands and waters, from the coastal rainforest of Southeast Alaska to the Arctic tundra. She is proud to support the continuation of Alaska’s unique hunting, fishing, and trapping traditions.

Prior to joining the TRCP in January 2020, Jen served as the communications director at the Seward Chamber of Commerce, where she brought fresh perspectives to her work in sustainable tourism and rural economic development. Previously, she worked with fishing interests to reduce the bycatch of valuable species like Chinook salmon and halibut in Alaska’s federal fisheries.

Jen holds a bachelor’s degree from Washington State University with an emphasis in political science and sustainable development. She lives in Anchorage and on Prince of Wales Island.

As the CEO of LBP Manufacturing, Matt Cook brings more than 20 years of global foodservice industry expertise to the company. He leads LBP with a wealth of industry knowledge and a collaborative leadership style. LBP continues to spearhead revolutionary, sustainable packaging concepts in markets where their customers operate, and Matt unlocks opportunities to fuel strategic growth.

Carl Erquiaga is a native Nevadan with a passion for hunting, fishing, wildlife, and spending time in the outdoors. Born and raised on the family farm, Erquiaga says his first memory of participating in practical wildlife management was protecting pheasant nests in the hay fields as a young boy.

Erquiaga enjoys upland bird hunting and the occasional fishing trip, but his real love is big-game hunting. In the fall, he can be found in the arid mountains and deserts of Nevada in pursuit of mule deer, pronghorns, or bighorn sheep—a lifelong devotion. He has served for nearly three decades on the board of directors for the Fallon Chapter of Nevada Bighorns Unlimited, where he assists in trapping, transporting, and releasing wild sheep. He has also helped construct water developments all over Nevada.

Erquiaga is excited to play an even more active role in the wildlife and habitat conservation arena with the TRCP. Having served as an elected county commissioner, Erquiaga brings a unique perspective and deep understanding of local government priorities in relation to state and federal agencies, public lands management, and the on-the-ground economic benefits of hunting and fishing in Nevada communities. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Management from the University of Nevada-Reno and lives in Fallon, Nevada, with his wife, Lisa. They have three grown children who were raised with the same love of the outdoors.

Christian Fauser joined the TRCP in July 2023 as its Western Water Policy Associate.

Christian recently graduated from Northern Arizona University with an M.S. in Environmental Science and Policy. Within this role, Christian served as a researcher with the University’s “Free-Flowing Rivers Lab.” His research worked to inform State and Federal invasive fish management efforts on the Upper Verde River in Central Arizona; the only remaining perennial, free-flowing stretch of river in the arid State. He has spent the past two years working with a coalition of local and national NGOs, academics, and land management agencies who are seeking to secure a Wild and Scenic Rivers Act designation for the river. An early career water policy and conservation professional, Christian has worked on a wide-array of projects focused on conserving rivers and aquatic species through for the benefit of present and future generations in the Southwestern United States. Upon graduation, Christian received a River Studies & Leadership Certificate from the River Management Society.

Prior to moving to Arizona, Christian completed his B.S. in Resource Conservation and Climate Change Studies at the University of Montana. During his time in Missoula, Christian developed a passion for water policy and conservation through his coursework and volunteer roles with local water conservation and educational organizations. During this time, Christian also served as a representative to the Montana Governor’s Climate Council in supporting the state’s mission to adequately prepare communities for the impact of climate change on water availability. Last he gained valuable experience through his research which identified what aspects of water adjudications could help water users in the state secure adequate water supplies into the future. During his final year in Missoula, Christian was selected into the William A. Demmer Scholars Program which provides individuals with experience in policy making on a national level related to natural resources and conservation.

When not hard at work, you will likely find Christian biking, foraging, boating, and fishing in the diverse and beautiful ecosystems that makeup the state of Arizona. Christian resides in Tucson, Arizona.

Zach joined TRCP as the director of government relations in July 2023. 

Prior to joining TRCP, he spent nearly three years as the policy director for the Western Landowners Alliance. In this role, he led WLA’s government relations, policy development and advocacy work spanning a range of public and working lands conservation issues. Before that, Bodhane spent six years as the policy advisor for conservation and wildlife at the Western Governors’ Association. At WGA, he led broad stakeholder initiatives aimed at developing common ground solutions through the WGA Species Conservation and ESA Initiative and the WGA Working Lands Roundtable. 

Bodhane holds a B.S. in Natural Resources Management with a double minor in Fishery Biology and Watershed Science from Colorado State University. 

Originally from Colorado, Zach now lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife, son and dog. Despite missing the West, he enjoys the opportunity to get out of the city to mountain bike, hike and fish.

Josh joined the TRCP as its Wyoming community partnerships coordinator in November 2021. He became Wyoming field manager in February 2023.

Prior to joining the TRCP, Josh worked as a Professional Naturalist in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem for over a decade, seeking to instill a conservation ethos in visitors from all over the world. With a background in Natural Resources Management from Colorado State University, Josh is also an avid photographer and film producer, including the recent conservation film Denizens of the Steep.

When not working with diverse stakeholders to ensure a future for Wyoming’s wildlife, Josh enjoys pursuing high country mule deer and elk, fly fishing, whitewater rafting, backpacking, backcountry skiing, and many of the other outdoor activities that make Wyoming special. Josh and his lab mutt Ollie live in Cody, Wyoming.

Carlina has worked in various facets of the non-profit industry – from healthcare to foundation work. Most recently she worked as the Development Operations Officer for a healthcare non-profit in Ohio. There she over saw the planning and execution of two large donor-focused events and lead the optimization the internal donor database.

Croston is excited to bring her project management and event planning experience to the TRCP. She looks forward to curating events that further the TRCP’s mission, to preserve our nation’s wild spaces and to preserve public access to these spaces.

Croston grew up spending her summers in Southern Ohio swimming in creeks, riding ATVs, and getting lost in the woods – pastimes she is currently passing on to her daughter. Most spring and summer days you’ll find her kayaking the Cuyahoga River or hiking in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Mark W. Ray is a native Texan, and grew up in the coastal city of Corpus Christi, Texas. He attended Southwest Texas State University (Texas State University) on a golf scholarship, ultimately graduating with a BBA in Marketing. Mark then began a successful career in the Property and Casualty Insurance business, specializing in blowout insurance for the oil and gas exploration industry. Having served on numerous in-surance company advisory councils and boards during his career, he was ultimately elected Chairman of the Board of the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas, the largest professional agent’s association in the nation. After merging with Higginbotham Insurance in 2020, Mark is still active in advising his clients on risk management issues.

A lifelong, avid outdoorsman, Mark began volunteering at the local level of the Gulf Coast Conservation As-sociation in 1986, serving as Chapter President from 1995 to 1997. During this time, Mark was appointed to the Management Committee of GCCA Texas, which ultimately became the Coastal Conservation Associa-tion, Texas. In 2007, Mark was elected Chairman of the Board of CCA Texas, a role in which he served until April of 2022. In June of 2022, Mark was elected Chairman of CCA National.

In addition to his CCA affiliation, Mark serves as Chairman of the Center for Sportfish Science and Conser-vation which is an entity housed in the Texas A&M University System, serves as Board of Director member of the Center for Sportfish Policy, Trustee of the Texas Foundation for Conservation and Board member of Building Conservation Trust (the national habitat initiative of CCA). Previously, Mark has served on the South Texas Advisory Council of National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and The Texas Advisory Board of The Nature Conservancy. He is a Life Member of CCA, Texas Wildlife Association, Ducks Unlimited and the International Game Fish Association. In 2018, Mark was honored to receive the prestigious Harvey Weil Sportsman Conservationist of the Year award.

Jared Romero joined the TRCP as director of strategic partnerships in February 2021.

He is a 5^th generation Coloradoan from the San Luis Valley. His love for the outdoors stems from his time camping, hunting, and fishing in the Rocky Mountains with family and friends.

Jared earned a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from Colorado State University-Fort Collins and his master’s in Applied Natural Science from Colorado State University-Pueblo. He has worked in various aspects of conservation, ranging from boots-on-the-ground work as a wildland firefighter to research in ecological toxicology to experience as an educator and administrator. Jared spearheaded the development of One Health education and research at Boise State University. One Health focuses on the interconnected relationship of animal, human and environmental health through engaged collaborative thinking and complex problem-solving.

He is leading our efforts in thoughtfully engaging new communities and elevate their voices in support of conservation, hunting and angling. Through partnerships he is working to make the conservation table large enough, so that anyone who wants to participate can.  He truly believes in the mission of TRCP and ensuring quality places to hunt and fish for all Americans.

Madeleine West joined the TRCP in January 2019.

Previously, West served as assistant director for parks, wildlife, and lands at the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. In this capacity, she developed state-level policy primarily related to wildlife, outdoor recreation, state lands, and forestry issues. She also led DNR’s engagement in federal policies related to sage grouse and mitigation. She had been with the agency since 2013.

West has also served as wildlife program director at the Western Governors’ Association, lobbied in the Colorado State legislature, consulted as a mediator/facilitator in Washington, D.C., and liaised with Congress while with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Oceans, Environment, and Science.

West holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Colorado Denver’s School of Public Affairs and a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental and natural resource policy from Bates College. She resides in Denver, Colorado and enjoys spending time outside with her family.

Early on, Terry Hamby developed a keen interest in conservation and the preservation of public lands as he grew up enjoying hunting and fishing in the bio-diverse regions of Western Kentucky. His experience on public lands and reclaimed strip mines fostered a keen interested in accessibility and the management of public lands, as well as conserving our resources for future generations’ enjoyment. Terry is an advocate for sustainable land management practices through the utilization of cover crops, adaptive grazing, compost, no- till, and soil health improvement practices.

Terry is a fifth-generation soldier, a Vietnam veteran, and retired from the U.S. Army Reserves. After his retirement for military service, he founded a company providing complex logistic and support services to the U.S. Armed Forces.

Terry is a long-time member and supporter of the TRCP and its partners, Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, and Quality Deer Management Association.

Joshua Walters joined the TRCP as its director of program development in October 2021.

Joshua is an experienced nonprofit fundraising and financial management professional, and he has worked in higher education fundraising and financial services in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Morgantown, W. Va.

A native of West Virginia, Joshua is a passionate outdoorsman and conservationist. He volunteers with the Ruffed Grouse Society and the National Wild Turkey Federation. In his spare time, you’ll find him at his cabin surrounded by the Monongahela National Forest and with his English setter, Berkeley, hunting ruffed grouse in the Appalachian Mountains.

Shawn Gorman’s L.L. Bean career began in 1991, when he joined the company’s Marketing department as an analyst. He went on to hold several leadership positions in Marketing, International, E-Commerce, Partnership Marketing and Creative. His accomplishments include introducing the company to online and email marketing, integrating L.L. Bean’s brand strategies across channels, and leading L.L. Bean’s cobranded credit card program – one of the most successful in the country.

Rob Thornberry, who joined the TRCP in February 2016 as the Idaho Field Representative, has spent his life chasing animals and fish across the West’s stunning public lands. A journalism graduate from the University of Colorado, Rob reported on outdoor issues for nearly three decades and wrote a weekly outdoor column for The Post Register in Idaho.

Public lands have been his playground since he first started chasing sage grouse across the rolling hills of northwestern Colorado. When not working to ensure sportsmen’s access to public lands, Rob can be found swinging a steelhead fly, busting through rapids, or hunting for elk in his beloved eastern Idaho. He and his wife Margaret are proud parents of two grown children.

Meredith joined TRCP in November 2023 as the Chief Development Officer, where she works to build meaningful philanthropic partnerships that advance TRCP’s mission. Previously, she served in leadership fundraising roles at Trout Unlimited, NPR and other cultural organizations in Washington, D.C.

Meredith holds two bachelor’s degrees from Emory & Henry College and a master’s in nonprofit management from Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs.

Meredith spent her childhood recreating in and around the Great Lakes and continues to find great happiness and solace while outside in our shared wild spaces. Away from the office, Meredith and her husband, Jason, can be found hiking, biking, running, paddling, and adventuring the world in search of delicious food and beautiful scenery. Meredith also shares her life (and couch) with two rescue dogs, Ceci and Ruby.

Daniel Morgan joined the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership as Director of Communications in May 2023.

Daniel is a life-long outdoorsman and fly-fishing enthusiast. His love for the outdoors originates from the time spent with his grandfather exploring the woods and streams of upstate NY each summer during his youth. He attended college at St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY and following graduation, Daniel pursued his passion for the outdoors professionally.

Most recently, Daniel spent five years as Vice President of Marketing at Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, a national non-profit serving military personnel and veterans through the sport of fly fishing. During his tenure, he was responsible for the organization’s marketing, communications, and partnerships supporting over 200 program locations serving thousands of veterans in need annually.

In 2016, Daniel was selected to serve on Facebook’s prestigious U.S. Small-Medium Business Council and currently serves as a founding member of Meta’s Boost Leaders Network. He is a long-time volunteer in his community with Trout Unlimited, the Cazenovia Lake Association, and Madison County Watershed Council.

Daniel resides in upstate New York with his wife and two sons. When not at work, you can find him prowling his nearby woods and trout streams with fly-rod in hand.

David Pelikan is the Climate Solutions Coordinator at the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. In this role, he focuses on advancing nature-based approaches to climate challenges, engaging partners and members in initiatives that champion climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience.

Before joining TRCP in October 2023, David worked as a policy associate and lobbyist with Conservation Minnesota, a state affiliate of the League of Conservation Voters. In Minnesota, he helped advocate for constitutionally dedicated conservation funding, Tribal-led elk reintroduction, lead service line replacement, carbon-free energy standards, PFAS prevention, and more.

David earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and environmental studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison before completing a master’s in sustainable development at the University of St Andrews. While studying, David took on internships with pro-environment campaigns, nonprofits, and elected officials – including Conservation South Africa, former Wisconsin Secretary of State Doug La Follette, Kohl for Congress, Kaul for Attorney General, and others.

Born and raised in Wisconsin, David’s passion for conservation grew on the shores of Lake Michigan, the hills of the Kettle Moraine, and the islands of the Apostles. Now based in Washington, D.C., he’s taking the time to explore the public lands and waters of the DMV.

Kendra Davis, Director of Foundation Relations at the TRCP, joined the Partnership in January 2012. After graduating from Middlebury College in 2006, Kendra moved to Washington, D.C. where she worked at Trout Unlimited. Kendra worked for TU for four years, first from the organization’s D.C. headquarters and later from Portland, Maine.

Kendra’s affinity for the outdoors stems from her childhood in the Adirondacks. Her family spent summers camping and winters skiing. Both Kendra and her brother Lowell have competed in Nordic skiing and biathlons. Kendra plays piano, guitar and banjo and enjoys time spent with family and friends. She currently resides in Portland, Maine.

Liz Ogilvie is our chief communications and operations officer. She leads the communications team on marketing, public relations, and partner outreach. She also oversees the operations of our three offices, staff, and finance. Before joining the TRCP in 2021, she worked in various segments of the recreational fishing industry—from retail to television to nonprofits—for more than 25 years. Her work on the national industry initiative to Recruit, Retain, and Reactivate anglers was honored by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies as well as corporate partners, Lew’s Fishing and Fishing League Worldwide. She was also featured in the report “The Outdoors Drives Jobs: Career Paths in the Outdoor Recreation Economy,” published by the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable.

Fly fishing is Liz’s passion, and she loves to share her global adventures in the hopes to inspire more women in their own travel. She also spent seven years as a fly fishing instructor with L.L.Bean and continues to volunteer with local and national charities to bring more enthusiasts to the sport.

Clarke Ohrstrom is the founder and CEO of Finest Butcher and Primalurge Foods and the CEO of Whitewood Stable, Inc., a cattle and horse farm in The Plains, Virginia. He is also the founding Partner of Whitewood Farm Mitigation Bank, Northern Virginia’s largest wetlands and riparian credit bank. Clarke is the Co-Executive Director of The Ohrstrom Foundation, and serves on the board of the National Sporting Library and Museum in Middleburg, Virginia.

Chris Metz has more than 25 years of experience leading high-performing companies and brands in the consumer and durable goods industries, most recently as Chief Executive Officer for Vista Outdoors, a leading global designer, manufacturer, and marketer in the outdoor sports and recreation industry. Before becoming Vista Outdoor’s CEO, Chris served as the president and CEO of Arctic Cat from 2014 to 2017. Before becoming Vista Outdoor’s CEO, Chris served as the president and CEO of Arctic Cat from 2014 to 2017. Prior to Arctic Cat, he was managing director of Sun Capital Partners from 2005-2017, Inc., a leading global private equity firm. Prior to Sun Capital, Metz worked for Black & Decker from 1992 to 2005. During his tenure with the company, he was president of the Hardware and Home Improvement Group from 1999 to 2005 and held various leadership positions including president of Kwikset Corporation, president of Price Pfister, president of Baldwin Hardware, and general manager of European Professional Power Tools and Accessories, during which time he lived in Frankfurt, Germany.

Metz serves on the boards of Central Garden & Pet Company, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and marketing from the University of Delaware and earned a master of business administration degree from the Kenan Flagler School of Business, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Metz is an avid hunter, angler, cyclist, and skier.

Becky Humphries started her career in wildlife as an employee of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and joined the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in 1978. Her 32-year career with the agency was a progression from field biologist positions to Wildlife Division Chief and culminated with her last seven years as Director.

In 2011, Becky left public service and joined Ducks Unlimited as Director of Conservation Programs. In 2013, The National Wild Turkey Federation enticed her to join them in South Carolina as the Chief Conservation Officer. In 2016, Becky was named Chief Operations Officer and in April of 2017, she was named as the CEO for NWTF.

Ryan Lockwood joined the TRCP as its marine fisheries communications manager in April 2023. He oversees communications and public relations for campaigns centered on marine fisheries conservation, the Florida Everglades, and aquatic invasive species.

His prior background blends communications expertise with a passion for natural resources conservation. He dedicated 10 years to managing communications, wildfire information, and public relations for a state forestry agency, and prior to that served as an editor and digital communications professional in the private sector. Holding degrees in both environmental science and technical journalism, Lockwood also has garnered experience working in the environmental science, wildlife management, and ecological research arenas.

Always eager to convey the importance of scientific research, he has published works related to watershed health, wildlife ecology, and the calibration of NASA satellite imagery. On the other end of the writing spectrum, his innate drive as a storyteller has resulted in authoring two published ocean-thriller novels.

Lockwood is a lifelong sportsman. He grew up hunting elk and pheasants in Colorado, and now stalks invasive wild boars and tries (but often fails) to land slot redfish and spotted seatrout in the inshore waters near his home in coastal Florida. He enjoys scuba diving and surfing, and prefers to spend his weekends outside with his wife and two kids.

Born and raised in Lansing, Michigan, Bill Demmer is the CEO of Demmer Corporation – a manufacturer of tools, dyes, and special machinery. Mr. Demmer graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in 1970, and has spent his entire career with Demmer Corporation. He is also the CEO of River Caddis Development, LLC, a real estate acquisition and development firm.

Formerly the president of the Boone and Crockett Club,Bill is also heavily involved with Michigan State. Through Boone and Crockett, he began the William A. Demmer Scholars Program as a partnership between the club and the school, which encompasses a senior-level class on advocacy in natural resources and an internship in Washington, D.C. (the TRCP has been a lucky recipient of a Demmer Scholar for the past 5 years). He has also been instrumental in starting the MSU Fly Gals program, which introduced female undergrad, graduate, and PhD students to the art of fly fishing, as well as raising funds for the Demmer Shooting Sports, Education, and Training Center. Through a generous donation, Bill and his wife Linda have endowed the Chief Conservation Officer position at the TRCP.

Weldon Baird is the Managing Partner of The Baird Group in Atlanta, GA. He specializes in the evaluation, design, and implementation of executive benefit and estate planning insurance solutions. For more than 40 years, Weldon has advised companies and individuals on comprehensive executive benefit, retirement, and estate planning strategies. His work enables companies to cost-effectively offer non-qualified plans and is instrumental in helping executives to bolster their retirement income.

He is a former board member of The Emory Board of Visitors and of Trout Unlimited, where he met and worked closely with the TRCP’s president and CEO, Whit Fosburgh. He is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys hiking, hunting, biking, and fly fishing, in venues worldwide.

Jaclyn Higgins joined the TRCP in September 2021 as its forage fish associate. She became forage fish program manager in January 2023.

Jaclyn’s work focuses on menhaden conservation in the Gulf and Atlantic, as well as on federal forage fish management issues and Atlantic herring advocacy. Her primary efforts involve working with national and local partners to create science-based solutions to forage fish management, in order to enhance the health of sportfish populations. Originally from Missouri, Jaclyn earned her bachelor’s degree in biology and marine science from the University of Alabama. She later became a scuba diving instructor in Panama and managed a diving company while working on coral reef conservation and community outreach initiatives. Jaclyn received her Master’s in Marine Conservation from the University of Oviedo in Spain, where she worked on state-level policy for the Asturian algae fishery. In her free time, Jaclyn enjoys scuba diving, water sports, hiking, and spending time with friends and family.

Marcel joined the TRCP as the Southwest Field Manager in October of 2023. Marcel most recently worked as the Assistant Director of the Environmental Center at Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO Prior to that, he was Animas Riverkeeper/Water Program Director at San Juan Citizens Alliance in Durango, CO, a Geologist at the US Geological Survey in Columbia, South Carolia, and an editorial assistant at the Journal of the American Chemical Society in Salt Lake City, Utah. Marcel received a BS in Environmental Geoscience from the University of Utah.

Born in Salt Lake City, Marcel grew up hunting and fishing with his family and friends in the Wasatch Mountains, the Uintah, and the wilderness areas of Southern Wyoming, where his family maintains a small ranch. Southwest Colorado has been his home for the last 6 years, where he and his wife, Bria, have spent their time exploring the mountains and rivers of the 4 Corners region.

Aaron Field joined the TRCP as director of private lands conservation in June of 2022.

Previously, Aaron worked with North Dakota State University Extension and the North Dakota State Soil Conservation Committee as a leadership development specialist focusing on Soil Conservation District supervisors and staff. Aaron also spent four years as an assistant professor in the Agriculture and Rangeland Management program at Chadron State College in western Nebraska, where he taught courses in rangeland ecology and management.

Aaron earned his PhD in range science and an MS in natural resources management from North Dakota State University. His research there focused on monitoring changes in rangeland plant communities under different combinations of livestock and wildlife grazing. He also holds a BS in biology from the University of Jamestown.

Aaron resides in western Minnesota, where he enjoys fishing and hunting, especially for upland birds and waterfowl with his American Water Spaniels.

Alex Funk joined the TRCP in August 2021 as its director of water resources and senior counsel.

In his role with the TRCP, Funk focuses on water policy and strategy. Funk previously served as the Agricultural and Rural Resiliency Policy Specialist at the Colorado Water Conservation Board, where he acted as the agency’s liaison to agricultural stakeholders on federal and state water policy issues. In this role, he also assisted with the implementation of the Colorado Water Plan and represented CWCB in multiple venues, including Colorado’s Natural Working Lands Task Force and the Colorado River Basin Salinity Forum. Previously, Funk was the Western policy director for the National Young Farmers Coalition, focusing on Farm Bill policy, and a fellow with American Rivers.

Funk earned his Juris Doctorate from Vermont Law School and his bachelor’s degree in Environmental Policy and Planning from Virginia Tech. He serves on the South Platte Forum Board and the Colorado State University Food-Energy-Water Graduate Program external advisory board. He lives in Denver, Colo., with his family and can frequently be found mountain biking, backpacking, climbing fourteeners, and paddling his kayak around the West.

Jon Holst joined the TRCP as Colorado field representative in March 2021.

Holst brings to the TRCP 27 years of experience working on wildlife conservation and federal public land policy issues. Most recently, Holst worked for Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and lead the agency’s engagement in energy development and federal public land planning in the southwestern part of the state. Working with a broad coalition of stakeholders, Holst played a lead role during the state’s original creation of oil and gas regulations pertaining to wildlife, as well as the recent update to those regulations. Prior to working at CPW, he worked for the Colorado Department of Transportation on wildlife and transportation issues. He has also served as in-house counsel for an oil and gas company, and as a consultant on federal public land development and wildlife conservation issues for a variety of private and non-governmental organizations.

Holst is a lifelong sportsman who grew up trapping and hunting in rural Colorado. When trapping muskrats could no longer pay the bills, he enrolled at Colorado State University where he earned a B.S. in biology and a M.S. in wildlife biology researching mule deer and elk migration patterns and behavior at road crossings. He also earned a J.D. at the University of Colorado School of Law.

Holst currently lives in Durango, and in his off-time can be found hunting, exploring on his mountain bike (sometimes hunting and exploring on his mountain bike), or planning his next travel adventure with his wife and two kids.

Aileen Lee is the Chief Program Officer leading the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation’s Environmental Conservation Program.

Prior to joining the foundation, Aileen was an associate principal at McKinsey & Company. She currently serves on the boards of the Windward Fund and the Climate and Land Use Alliance. She has previously served as chair of the board of the Environmental Grantmakers Association and treasurer of the Western Conservation Foundation. Aileen also volunteers in her hometown of Los Altos Hills as co-chair of the Environmental Initiatives Committee.

Nick serves as Chief Operating Officer for Ducks Unlimited, Inc., headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. His participation on the TRCP board serves to further galvanize a long-standing, strong, and productive partnership between DU and TRCP. Prior to his work at DU, Nick served in several roles over a 30-year career with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission including eight years as the agency’s Executive Director. He is a past president for the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies; a fellow of and board member for the National Conservation Leadership Institute; professional member of the Boone and Crockett Club; and board member for the Council to Advance Hunting and Shooting Sports. Nick is a Certified Wildlife Biologist with a Bachelor of Science Degree in biology from Georgia Southern University and a Master of Science Degree in Wildlife Management from Auburn University, and he serves on advisory committees for wildlife/biology/science programs at both Universities. He enjoys hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, and boating with family and friends.

Alex Aguirre joined the TRCP as the Wyoming Community Partnerships Coordinator in May of 2023.

Prior to joining the TRCP, Alex directed Dano Youth Camp, a nonprofit located in Park County, Wyoming whose mission is to develop young leaders by taking youth on extended backpacking trips. His duties included participant recruitment, staff hiring, public outreach, fundraising, and leading trips. Alex graduated from the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor of Science in Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management in May of 2020.

Growing up in northwest Wyoming, Alex was introduced to spending time outdoors from a young age, and his appreciation for wildlife and nature only grew. He spends his free time outside and enjoys many activities including skiing, fishing, hunting, and camping. Bowhunting is his passion, and he especially enjoys accompanying family and friends on their own hunts. High country mule deer have his heart, but he still believes archery elk hunting is hard to beat. Alex resides in Powell, Wyoming with his dog, Mitty, who accompanies him on his many adventures.

Christy Plumer joined the TRCP as the chief conservation officer in September 2016.

Previously, she spent a year working to advance solar and renewable energy policy with SolarCity as their northeast campaign director. As director of federal land programs at The Nature Conservancy, Plumer lobbied for improving conservation funding levels through the federal appropriations process, enhancing natural resources policy, and creating proactive solutions for fish and wildlife habitat conservation. She also spent two years as director of government relations for The Conservation Fund and seven years on Capitol Hill working for moderate Republicans, including Sen. John Chafee and Sen. Bob Smith. Plumer also served as staff director for the Senate Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Water under then-chairman Sen. Lincoln Chafee.

She holds a B.A. in Biology and Environmental Studies from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.A. in Environmental Studies from Brown University. She loves to flyfish, kayak, hike, and photograph beautiful spots in the great American outdoors.​

Ian Nakayama joined the TRCP in June 2021 as its government relations associate.

He has worked in legislative offices since 2019, previously as an intern in Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton’s office, and for Delegate Paul Krizek in the Virginia General Assembly.

A native Virginian, Nakayama studied Physics at the University of Virginia. He grew up fishing with his family and enjoys running, backpacking, and golfing in his free time.

Noah Davis joined the TRCP team as Communications Manager, Western Conservation in February 2023.

The former conservation and wildlife editor for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Noah is also an active freelancer who has published work focused on hunting, fishing, and conservation in the country’s top publications for the last decade. He’s excited to share the stories that will engage hunters and anglers to fight for and conserve the animals, landscapes, and access points they hold dear.

Raised in central Pennsylvania where he learned to fly fish for native brook trout and hunt big-woods whitetails, Noah now lives in Missoula, Montana, where he chases Westslope cutthroats and mountain mule deer with his wife Nikea.

Sanjay Patel is chairman international and senior partner of Private Equity at Apollo Management. He was formerly managing partner of Apollo European Principal Finance based in London. He joined Apollo Management in 2010 as head of International Private Equity. He is a member of the firm’s management and investment committees.

Sanjay was previously a partner at Goldman, Sachs & Co. and was co-head of European and Indian Private Equity for the Principal Investment Area. He was a member of the Goldman Sachs Partnership Committee and a member of the Investment Committee of the Goldman Sachs Foundation.

Greg Booth joined the TRCP team as Controller in May 2023.

After receiving his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration from California State University, Fullerton, Greg began his career with Ernst & Young in southern California where he became a licensed CPA. It was after relocating to Missouri that his interest of flyfishing and turkey hunting was born and has since flourished. It was not until Greg took a position at the world headquarters of an international church that he found his nonprofit calling. After 22 years, he continues to uphold the fiduciary obligation of all nonprofits to be good stewards over the resources entrusted to them to support the organization’s mission.

Greg spent the last five years as the Director of Finance and Administration at the national headquarters Camp Fire, one of the oldest youth development organizations in the country. It was during that time that he saw the critical importance of an affirming organizational culture and actively upholding values that recognize and appreciate the worth of all persons, not just for the work they perform but for the people they are.

Having been privileged to have parents who provided outdoor opportunities whether in the woods, on the water, or in the desert, Greg has come to appreciate the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful environment in which we live. He also recognizes the responsibility to protect that environment and those opportunities for future generations. When not playing with spreadsheets, hunting or fishing, Greg spends his free time cycling or sailing. He and his wife enjoy their two dogs and their growing family, which now includes two grandchildren.

Rue Mapp is the Founder and CEO of Outdoor Afro. From its grassroots beginning, Outdoor Afro is now recognized by organizations for its role in addressing the ongoing need for greater diversity in the outdoors.

In 2010, Rue was invited to the Obama White House to participate in the America’s Great Outdoors Conference, and subsequently to take part in a think-tank to inform the launch of the First Lady’s “Let’s Move” initiative. She was appointed program officer for the Stewardship Council’s Foundation for Youth Investment to oversee its grant-making program from 2010-2012. Her work has also been recognized with numerous awards and distinctions, including: The Root 100 as one of the most influential African Americans in the country (2012 and 2016), Outdoor Industry Inspiration Award, National Wildlife Federation Communication Award, and Family Circle Magazine selected Rue as one of America’s 20 Most Influential Moms. In 2014, she was appointed to the California State Parks Commission by Governor Jerry Brown. She was named a National Geographic fellow, and is a lifetime member of Delta Sigma Theta, Incorporated.

Tiffany joined the TRCP as director of climate solutions in February 2021.

She has over 15 years of experience in environmental health, most recently at Chevron, where she had the opportunity to shape environmental and sustainability strategies and build partnerships for careful stewardship of the environment.

Originally from Kentucky, and with limited entertainment options in rural Appalachia, she quickly learned to appreciate the gift of having a national park for a backyard.

Turner holds a B.S. in Environmental Health Science from Eastern Kentucky University and an M.P.H. in Environmental Health Science from the University of Michigan. She loves hiking, kayaking, camping (just don’t ask her to build a fire), and helping her children fill up their national park passports.

John Gans joined the TRCP as Northeast field representative in early 2017.

A lifelong angler who grew up fishing the rivers and ponds of Vermont, his work is primarily focused on fisheries and expanding TRCP’s profile in the Northeast. An energetic communicator, Gans seeks to bring together and motivate like-minded sportsmen who support science and policy directed at sustaining abundant fisheries. He holds a BA from the University of Vermont, where he studied environmental advocacy. When he is not working on issues impacting recreational fishing, you can find Gans fishing for striped bass in his home waters of New York or traveling in pursuit of redfish, tarpon, permit, bonefish, bass, and trout.

Alexandra Kozak joined the TRCP in October 2021 as its Pennsylvania field manager.

Alex was most recently a government relations and grant writing consultant with Aspire Grant & Development LLC, working on a variety of clients’ funding needs. She has over 14 years of experience in public policy and political outreach. Previously, Alex served as manager of government and community relations in Duquesne University’s Office of Community Engagement. As district director for former Congressman Keith Rothfus, she oversaw the Representative’s Western Pennsylvania operations. Prior to joining Rothfus’ staff, she lobbied on local, state, and federal issues in Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney’s Pittsburgh office. Alex also worked for the former Secretary of Health and Human Services, Dr. Tom Price, as his legislative director while he was vice chair of the House Budget Committee and a member of the House Ways and Means and Education and Workforce committees. Prior to that, Alex was finance and budget director at the National Republican Senatorial Committee, where she was responsible for the committee’s quarterly reporting to the Federal Election Commission. Off Capitol Hill, she has also worked for The Heritage Foundation and the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Alex earned her B.S. from Saint Vincent College and her M.S. from California University of Pennsylvania. She also holds a Certificate of Study in British Politics from the University of Cambridge. Alex has participated in congressional fellowships with the Cato Institute, Foreign Policy Initiative, and Partnership for a Secure America. In 2018, Alex was named one of The Incline’s Who’s Next in Politics and a finalist for Junior Achievement’s Inspiring Success Non-Profit Award.

Alex resides in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, Pa., with her husband and son.

Glenn Hughes is the president of the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the sportfishing industry’s trade association. His responsibilities include fulfilling the association’s mission of looking out for the interests of the sportfishing industry and the entire recreational fishing community. That includes leading the government affairs team to ensure the industry remains strong while providing sound policy for clean water, abundant fisheries, access to fish, as well as strong trade and commerce.

“I am proud to serve on the TRCP Board because of the incredibly valuable partnership our two organizations have regarding access to water and conservation of our nation’s fisheries.”

Prior to joining ASA, Glenn worked for more than 20 years in Florida as VP/Group Publisher of the Bonnier Marine Group, where he lead iconic brands such as Salt Water Sportsman, Marlin and Sport Fishing magazines and related properties.

Sam Kasner joined the TRCP as its development and events manager in March 2022.

Prior to working with the TRCP, Sam worked as an events coordinator for the World Wildlife Fund, where she managed donor events across the country. Sam earned her MBA at the University of Mary Washington while working as a graduate assistant for new student orientation. She also earned her BS in Psychology from UMW.

Born in New York City, Sam grew up in Northern Virginia playing soccer, reading, hiking, and camping. Sam currently resides in DC and can be found at various sporting events, trying different restaurants, or on long walks with her dog, Kanto.

Grace is a rising 3^rd year joint degree student at Vermont Law and Graduate School, working towards completing a JD and Masters in Environmental Law and Policy. Grace grew up in Western Massachusetts but found her passion for Environmental Law during her time working in Utah. When Grace is not studying, she enjoys skiing, reading, and spending time with her dogs and family.

Rod Nelson is a retired Schlumberger, Ltd. executive, having worked 35 years for the international company, the last 20 of which were in global roles. At Schlumberger, he was an officer of the corporation and Chairman of Schlumberger Technology Corporation, the US subsidiary.

Rod was most recently President and Managing Director of Liquid Robotics Oil & Gas, a joint venture between Schlumberger and Liquid Robotics, Inc., and was previously on the board of Vitruvian Exploration and Airswift, Inc. He is currently Chairman of Ashmin Holding, Ltd. and a board member of Premier Oilfield Group.

He enjoys most outdoor pursuits including hunting, fishing, and golfing and is passionate about expanding participation in our outdoor heritage.

Chris Macaluso is the Center for Marine Fisheries Director for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. He works with a host of advocacy and conservation organizations to advance habitat restoration efforts across the Gulf and improve federal fisheries management law and policy.

Macaluso is an avid angler and duck hunter and a lifelong Louisiana resident who has worked in the outdoors communication field for more than 20 years, hosting hunting and fishing radio shows and working as a freelance outdoor and sports writer, radio and TV host. He became the first-ever communications director for the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority in 2006 and handled media relations for the Authority during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.

He left state-government in late 2010 to work as the Coastal Outreach Coordinator for the non-profit Louisiana Wildlife Federation helping to start the Vanishing Paradise Campaign that worked with outdoorsmen and the hunting and fishing industry to pass the RESTORE Act in 2012 before taking his current role at TRCP in 2013.

He and his wife Katie have a young son and daughter who both enjoy spending time in the swamps and marshes of Louisiana and the beaches along the Gulf Coast.

John Redpath is the Chief Executive Officer of TrailStone, LLC, a global energy merchant focused on trading and providing risk management services to wind and solar asset owners. TrailStone employs 130 staff with offices in Austin, New York, London, and Berlin. The company trades physical and financial energy products in all major markets, and currently manages over 5 gigawatts of renewable power generation on electricity grids in Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, Spain, and the United States.

Prior to founding TrailStone with four partners in 2013, Joh had a 20-year career on Wall Street as a commodity trader and trading manager, with particular focus on energy and agricultural markets.

John currently serves as a director to a number of small GreenTech start-up ventures and is also on the board of Trout Unlimited’s Clearwater Conservation Fund.

Paul Vigano is the Managing Partner of J.H. Whitney & Co., a U.S. focused middle- market private equity firm, and chairman of the Firm’s Investment Committee. He has been with the firm for over 16 years and leads the consumer products and specialty manufacturing investment teams.

Select boards that Paul has served on include: Pure Fishing, Brooks Sports, Igloo Coolers, Ariat, Confluence Outdoors, and Ignite Restaurant Group.

Simon Perkins is President of Orvis and is the third generation of the Perkins family to lead the company since 1856. He joined Orvis in 2012 and has filled leadership roles across merchandising, adventures, and brand marketing teams, serving as vice president of brand marketing, and chief operating officer overseeing the execution of the company’s long-term strategic planning.

Before joining Orvis, Simon spent 11 years as an upland hunting and fly fishing guide in Montana, sharing his love of the outdoors, fishing, and hunting with clients. In his time at Orvis, he has championed projects aimed at diversifying the sport of fly fishing, such as the 50/50 On the Water initiative and the Breaking Barriers Award, which highlights individuals broadening the fly fishing audience.

James Wicks joined the TRCP team as Digital Marketing Manager in May 2023.

Formerly the Digital Media Specialist for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, James worked in still image, video production and digital media marketing. James is also a freelance photographer who’s been published in some of the country’s leading hunting and fly fishing publications. He studied Media Arts at the University of Montana.

A lifelong outdoorsman, James firmly believes in the mission of the TRCP and hopes to highlight the stories of conservation work, policy and the individuals who work to ensure the future of hunting and fishing. James Lives with his wife Susanna and son Jackson in Missoula, MT. On the weekends they spend time outdoors, rafting, hiking, skiing, hunting and fishing.

As the Colorado Field Representative for the TRCP, Liz focuses on federal and state policy and planning initiatives that will affect Colorado’s high-value wildlife habitat and opportunities to hunt and fish. In order to effectively track important processes and develop well-informed positions, Lizcoordinates with state and federal agencies’ staff; participates in Colorado-focused cooperatives, working groups, and alliances; and communicates regularly with staff and volunteers from numerous local, state, and national organizations representing a wide range of interests.

In Colorado and nationally, TRCP’s mission is to guarantee all Americans quality places to hunt and fish, and Liz’s input into USFS Forest Management Plans, BLM Resource Management Plans, energy leasing and development proposals, regulation changes, recreation development proposals, state and Congressional legislation, state and federal rulemakings, and state plans is all intended to achieve this important mission.

Liz’s curiosity about public land access and how decisions are made inspired her to earn a Master’s degree in Environmental and Natural Resources Policy at the University of Colorado Boulder. Her curiosity about why the natural world is the way it is led her to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Geology at the University of California Santa Cruz. She lives in Denver but feels very lucky to also spend a lot of time in Grand County.

Elle Benson joined the TRCP as a contractor in July 2022 and became the full-time Southwestern water program coordinator in January 2023. She works on water policy in New Mexico, with an emphasis on the Rio Grande, Gila, and San Juan rivers.

Before serving in this role, Elle was a legislative correspondent for Senator Ben Ray Luján, working on the environment and natural resources portfolio. In this position, she facilitated stakeholder relationship building, recommended legislative action, participated in drafting legislation, and managed a constituent outreach portfolio.

Previously, Elle conducted her master’s thesis in Gila, New Mexico, working with irrigators to identify various policy priorities related to drought mitigation and response. In graduate school, she held internships in Xochitil Torres Small’s congressional office and at Lawrence Berkeley National Labs, where she did research on global desalination policies.

Born and raised in southwestern New Mexico, Elle developed an early relationship with the outdoors by horseback riding through the Gila. In her free time, she can be found hiking, backpacking, and taking her dog on strolls near the bosque.

Michael joined the TRCP in the summer of 2018. He is a native Oregonian who grew up on a small farm just a stone’s throw from the mouth of the mighty Columbia River. Early childhood trips salmon fishing on the Columbia and learning to stalk elk in the mossy forests of the Pacific Northwest hooked him with a passion for hunting and fishing in his home state.

Michael attended the University of Montana, where he received a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Biology, and has since worked for federal agencies and nonprofits. Most recently, he led the development and implementation of public and private land stewardship projects throughout eastern Oregon.

He currently lives outside of Sisters, Oregon, with his wife and two boys. In his time off, you can find him with his family, camping, fishing, and hunting in the many diverse landscapes of Oregon’s wild country.

Alston Watt is the Executive Director of the Williams Family Foundation of Georgia. Prior to joining the Foundation, she worked in Haiti and Bangladesh for CARE, administering programs in microcredit, health, and water. Alston and her husband, Philip then moved to Zambia to both work for the North Luangwa Conservation Project. They returned to Atlanta where she worked for the Emory School of Medicine evaluating teen clinics and training 3rd year medical students in reproductive health before moving to Thomasville, Georgia.

As the only daughter of an only daughter, Alston grew up hunting with her brothers, cousins, and uncle during the holidays. She has two sons and their family is never happier than when enjoying the outdoors fishing, hunting, and hiking.

K.C. Walsh is a lifelong angler and was the President and majority owner of Simms Fishing Products for nearly 30 years. K.C. also serves on the boards of the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and the Property Environmental Research Center (PERC).  He was appointed as a Commissioner to the Montana Fish & Wildlife Commission in January 2020.

K.C. and his wife live in Martinsdale, Montana.

Steve Rinella is the host of the Netflix Original series MeatEater and The MeatEater Podcast. He’s also the author of six books dealing with wildlife, hunting, fishing, and wild game cooking, including the bestselling MeatEater Fish and Game Cookbook: Recipes and Techniques for Every Hunter and Angler.

Less concerned with trophies and killshots, Steve’s work largely focuses on the culture, process, and history of hunting and game animals. Most importantly, he is known for his efforts to convey the value of hunting to a general audience and for his efforts to promote the work of conservation organizations and the preservation of public land.

Howard originally came from Duluth, Minnesota where he graduated from the University of Minnesota, Duluth with a Bachelor of Accounting degree in 1979.

He worked in public accounting for 7 years including his time with the national accounting firm of KPMG where he was the Supervisor in charge of Business Advisory Services for the Twin Cities area.

He came to Pheasants Forever (PF) in 1987 as their first Director of Finance.  He held the position of Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer before he became the President and CEO from 2000 until his retirement in 2023.  In his time with PF, it grew from a $1 million to an $100 million dollar organization with 750 chapters in 40 states and 400,000 supporters.  In his time with the Organization, it impacted over 22 million acres of wildlife habitat.

Howard is a National Board of Director of the Wildlife Management Institute.  He also served on the boards for the Council to Advance Hunting and Shooting Sports, the American Wildlife Conservation Partners, and was a Member of the Wildlife Hunting Heritage Conservation Council.

Howard and his wife Wendy have been married for 43 years and live in White Bear Lake, Minnesota where he enjoys chasing the wily ringneck with his two sons as well as chasing three young grandchildren.

I Ling Thompson is the Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing & Communications Officer at The Trust for Public Land. Since joining The Trust for Public Land in August 2019, she has focused on driving a strategic repositioning of the near 50-year-old organization’s national mission to create parks and protect land for people. She is also spearheading the organization’s national trails initiative to connect communities to nature and each other.

Prior to this role, I Ling served as the Managing Director, Global Communications, for The Nature Conservancy, the co-sponsor of Women in Nature, and as a fellow on the Executive Team. Over her 14-year career with TNC, she held other leadership positions including Deputy to the Chief Conservation Officer, and Field Marketing Resource Center Director. Between roles with TNC, I Ling served as Vice President of Marketing & Communications for the Outdoor Industry Association, where she engaged with the TRCP while leading the iconic 2012 Outdoor Recreation Economy campaign.

I Ling is passionate about giving voice to diversity to address our planet’s greatest conservation challenges.

After graduating with Honors from Harvard College, Tod Sedgwick became a journalist, publisher, entrepreneur, Ambassador, and has been active in the nonprofit sector. As U.S. Ambassador to the Slovak Republic, Tod brought the bilateral relationship to the highest levels. Prior to his appointment as Ambassador, he was the President & CEO of Sedgwick Publishing Company, as well as the founder of both IO Energy, LLC and Pasha Publications. Tod also served as Director of the Sedgwick Land Company and the President & CEO of Red Hills Lumber Company.
Tod is also involved with the Winous Point Conservancy, which preserves wetlands habitat on the Lake Erie marshes, and Tall Timbers in north Florida, which he works with to preserve the quail and turkey habitat at Mill Pond Plantation in Thomasville, GA.

Brian Yablonski is the executive director of the Property and Environment Research Center (PERC). Previously, he was a PERC board member as well as an adjunct fellow since 2003. In his work for PERC, he has published research articles on wildlife as well as public and private land management.

Prior to PERC, he was the director of external affairs for the Gulf Power Company and the vice president of public affairs for the St. Joe Company. Early in his career, Brian served as director of policy and deputy chief of staff for Florida Governor Jeb Bush, where he helped craft the administration’s major policy initiatives, including Everglades restoration. He was policy director for Governor Bush’s successful 1998 gubernatorial campaign, and in 1996 co-authored a book with Mr. Bush, Profiles in Character. From 1989 to 1990, he worked as a personal staff assistant to President George H.W. Bush.

An avid outdoorsman, Brian splits his time between Bozeman and a cabin in Emigrant, Montana, where he enjoys hiking, hunting, fly fishing, and mountain biking.