Our Staff
It takes a village to protect a prairie. Meet our talented team of leaders, specialists, managers and more – the people dedicated to making the American Prairie mission a reality.
Alison is the CEO of American Prairie. She has led the organization as CEO since February 2018 and had various leadership and management roles with the organization since 2007, including communications, marketing and branding, institutional partnerships and philanthropy. Ms. Fox holds an MBA from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University, where she focused on marketing and nonprofit management, and a BA in History from Dartmouth College. She is a member of the Big Sky Chapter of the Young Presidents Organization, Inc. (YPO) and the Advisory Board of William & Mary’s Institute for Integrative Conservation.
I value that American Prairie creates an opportunity for visitors to experience the awe-inspiring scale and natural beauty of an intact native grassland
As the Director of People and Culture, Alissa is driven by a passion for empowering American Prairie to thrive through their greatest asset: their people. With a deep understanding of human dynamics, organizational behavior, and a commitment to fostering a positive work culture, she aims to create an environment where employees are engaged, inspired, values driven, and empowered to reach their full potential. She firmly believes that the success of any company lies in its ability to cultivate a harmonious and inclusive workplace, where all individual's unique strengths are acknowledged and valued.
She holds a Masters in Human Resources and Industrial Relations from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In her career journey, she has had the privilege of working with diverse teams and industries across Montana and Western North Dakota.
In her free time, she loves to explore new trails during the summer and ski during the winter.
Amanda manages American Prairie’s social media presence and creates visual stories that help share the prairie experience with our community. She completed both undergraduate and graduate work at the University of Montana, and holds a B.A. in photojournalism and an M.F.A. in Integrated Digital Media. Amanda was born and raised in Townsend, Montana, and before joining American Prairie she worked primarily in journalism and higher education marketing. As a Montana girl, Amanda grew up fishing Canyon Ferry Lake and camping in the Big Belt Mountains.
“Public land access and the careful stewardship of our wild places is a heritage that I think many Montanans view as a sacred trust. I’m really proud to work for an organization that champions those values, and I’m excited to have the opportunity to share stories about the amazing people, landscapes and wildlife that call the prairie home.”
Anna helps guests plan visits to the prairie, familiarizes them with American Prairie's mission, and facilitates programming and activities at the National Discovery Center in Lewistown.
She holds a BA in History with a minor in Journalism from the University of Montana in Missoula. Her interest in conservation work began on a National Geographic Student Expedition to Switzerland and France that launched a passion for outdoor adventure and communication through writing and photography. Throughout school, her interest in the American West was fostered through research about the role of fine arts in the creation of the National Parks.
Originally from the Great Plains of Oklahoma, Anna has admiration for wide open spaces. Her family has taught her to love and appreciate the outdoors through fishing, hunting, and many roadtrip miles in their suburban headed to new destinations. She has spent summers in Lewistown and the Missouri Breaks for more than half her life visiting her grandparents and falling in love with Central Montana. In her free time, you can find Anna fly fishing, playing with her black lab Georgia, or reading a good book.
I’m so honored to be joining American Prairie in their ambitious efforts to protect the prairie ecosystem that I care so much about. The Missouri Breaks and its wildlife have long captured my heart and I look forward to sharing that passion with others.
Anne’s responsibilities involve organizational tasks that create engaging, enriching events. She joined American Prairie in the spring of 2017, having most recently worked for One Montana, a small nonprofit dedicated to creating a vibrant Montana by connecting rural and urban communities. Anne gained event experience working in press operations for several international sporting events, as well as through MontanaPBS. Born and raised in East Helena, Montana, Anne earned a BA in English from the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, Kansas.
I’m excited to work with such dynamic people in creating this unique Reserve because it allows the authenticity of the grasslands and its people to shine.
Beckie serves as the Operations Manager at American Prairie where she assists with the implementation of policies and procedures, provides assistance to the land acquisition team and assists with the administration of contracts, agreements and leases.
She holds a BBA in International Business from the University of Oklahoma and a Juris Doctorate from Oklahoma City University. Prior to joining American Prairie, Beckie worked as an attorney in Lewistown, Montana. Beckie continues to serve as guardian ad litem in Central Montana to help protect the best interests of children.
Having grown up in Oklahoma, Beckie has always had an affinity for prairie grasslands, but Beckie was particularly drawn to American Prairie’s project area along the Missouri River Corridor after a multi-day float trip on the Missouri River. Beckie appreciates the tranquility that the vast prairie landscape offers and is thankful for the opportunity to work for an organization that is protecting this beautiful ecosystem.
"I am truly honored to be a part of the dedicated team at American Prairie, contributing to the preservation of this stunning landscape for future generations. Working alongside my intelligent and thoughtful colleagues is a privilege, and together, we are committed to ensuring the enduring beauty of this natural treasure.”
Beth’s primary responsibilities include managing media relations, strategic communications and outreach for American Prairie. She grew up on the prairie in northeastern Montana and feels most at home on the wide-open landscape of American Prairie. Beth is an Emmy-nominated journalist who brings over 13 years of award-winning storytelling experience, with a strong focus on political and environmental issues in Montana. Prior to joining American Prairie, she served as News & Public Affairs producer for MontanaPBS and before that worked as news anchor, reporter, producer and content manager for CBS in Bozeman. Beth holds degrees in journalism and political science from the University of Montana.
It’s easy to get swept away by Montana’s dazzling snow-covered mountains and lush valleys, but the vast grasslands of this magnificent state hold an equally enchanting power. As a Montana native, I am thrilled to be helping to conserve the beautiful landscape I grew up in.
Catherine serves as Vice President of Philanthropy, and works with American Prairie's generous donors to further our mission to protect the prairie and keep it wild. She earned her BA in History and Spanish from Loyola University Chicago, which led to her entree into non-profit work with the Rotary Foundation. Prior to joining American Prairie, Catherine served as Vice President of Development at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and as Regional Director of Philanthropy at The Trust for Public Land. Outside of her work, you can find Catherine hiking, swimming, gardening, practicing yoga, and baking macarons.
"My grandfather was born and raised in the Burren of County Clare, Ireland. He spoke to me so often of its wildness and taught me that protecting such natural places is one of the best things we can do. I am honored to be part of American Prairie's legacy project that will protect and restore this incredible landscape."
Corrie works to increase awareness and support of American Prairie's conservation mission and to welcome the public to experience and enjoy the prairie. Born on a small farm in the foothills of Virginia's Appalachian mountains, Corrie moved to Montana in 2013, where she's worked since in outreach, communication, and education. She served for three years as the Outreach Director at AERO, working with farmers and ranchers around the state, and has been a naturalist and guide in Yellowstone National Park, a crew leader for the Student Conservation Association, and an adjunct professor at Carroll College and Helena College, teaching writing, communication, and environmental studies. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation, and is the author of two books, including a Montana Book Award Finalist. She currently lives in Lewistown.
I think many folks are aware of what an important model American Prairie is for large scale ecosystem and habitat conservation, but what also excites me is the essential value of American Prairie as an evolving model for collaboration - with our agricultural community, tribes, hunters and anglers, government agencies, and nonprofits. And also with schools, artists, explorers, and more. I'm so thrilled to get to work on building and strengthening those connections, while helping folks better understand, access, and enjoy the prairie.
Dakota serves as a part-time advisor focused on the relationship between American Prairie and the surrounding Indigenous communities. She holds an MA in Industrial Organizational Psychology from Montana State University and a BA in Psychology from the University of Montana. Born in North Dakota and raised throughout rural eastern Montana, Dakota primarily resided on and around several American Indian communities. She has been with American Prairie since its inception and for the vast majority of her career served in operational leadership positions. In 2017, Dakota transitioned to an advisory role, carving out more time to pursue her creative endeavors.
I have always been intrigued by the ambitious scale of American Prairie's vision and continue to admire the organization's consistent pursuit to engage people in a respectful, open-minded, and innovative manner.
Dan works as the safety manager for American Prairie and also assists with wildlife restoration projects. He received a BS in resource management from University of Montana Western, and is a trained facilitator in the fields of operational safety leadership and risk management. He is also a commercial rated pilot with the majority of his flight experience gained from flying small bush planes in Alaska, and he’s a member of the aircraft owners and pilot association.
Before joining American Prairie, Dan worked for 8 years as a non-game biologist for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department where he worked mainly with wildlife restoration projects involving trumpeter swans, bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and black footed ferrets. He also worked for the US Fish and Wildlife Service at the National Bison Range in western Montana and worked as a wilderness manager and pilot for over 20 years in Alaska.
Dan is a fourth-generation Montanan. His great-grandparents homesteaded along the front range, and he and his wife are currently building a house near the old family homestead. He was fortunate to be raised in a strong conservation-minded family which pointed him in the direction of a conservation career in order to give back. He grew up fishing and hunting the remote streams and lonely fields of Montana and continues to do so at every opportunity.
I am excited and honored to be a part of such an innovative and large-scale conservation project which will ensure biodiversity and public access in north-central Montana for generations down the road.
Dr. Daniel Kinka is American Prairie's Wildlife Restoration Manager. His primary responsibilities include restoring and monitoring wildlife on the Reserve and managing the wildlife-friendly ranching program "Wild Sky." He also acts as a liaison to scientists conducting research at American Prairie, other non-governmental organizations, agencies, and other external entities. He joined American Prairie in 2018, shortly after completing his doctoral degree in ecology at Utah State University. In graduate school, he studied the use of livestock guardian dogs to promote coexistence between large North American carnivores and ranchers. Originally from Florida and the Washington DC area, Daniel has enjoyed living “out west” since 2010. In addition to restoration ecology and applied science, Daniel harbors a deep passion for science communication, having worked as a science reporter for Utah Public Radio, publishing in High Country News, and serving as a National Geographic Society Fellow.
I was trained as a researcher and an academic. That is a noble career and we rely heavily on the work of research scientists to guide our restoration work at American Prairie Reserve. But, I consider it an honor and a privilege to head out everyday and do the hard and complicated work of actually restoring an ecosystem. I prefer getting my hands dirty, figuratively and literally.
David is the Kären and Jay Abbe Director of the National Discovery Center in Lewistown. He is responsible for providing leadership for the Center, ensuring an exceptional visitor experience, and developing educational programming that fits American Prairie’s mission.
He holds a Master’s in History from Missouri State University in Springfield and a BA in History from Missouri Southern State University in Joplin.
Over the last twenty years, David served as Executive Director of museums in western Oklahoma, Taos, New Mexico, and most recently, Meeteetse, Wyoming, where he helped educate the public about the endangered black-footed ferrets, the photography of rancher/photographer Charles Belden, and the history of the cowboy town.
David grew up in small towns and rural settings, where his family worked hard and enjoyed squirrel hunting, crappie fishing, Southern family dinners, holiday jam sessions with the relatives, and violent football games in the back yard. He still maintains his small house in Meeteetse, but now lives and works in Lewistown.
“I am excited to tell the story of the prairie ecosystem, the natural and human forces that shape it, and the good that American Prairie is doing for the land, future generations, and Montanans who love the outdoors!
Dusty coordinates all logistics for the American Prairie Field School located at Antelope Creek Campground. She works closely with American Prairie field staff as well as Yellowstone Forever instructors to implement a year-long prairie science program for middle school students from all around the state.
Dusty grew up in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona among the mighty saguaro cactus and mesquite trees. Her love for the outdoors began as a child — hence the nickname — continued to grow while working as a firefighter on a hotshot crew and smokejumper traveling all over the Western states. Before working with American Prairie, she worked in conservation education and fire prevention for the Forest Service as well as Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks as an office manager in Lewistown.
She enjoys sharing the outdoor world with children and looks forward to connecting kids with nature and the prairie in which we live. Dusty loves spending time with her family and doing anything that gets her outside.
I am so excited to be a part of American Prairie, conserving the prairie for my grandchildren and yours. American Prairie's educational work reminds me of a Wallace Stegner quote: 'Whatever landscape a child is exposed to early on, that will be the sort of gauze through which he or she will see all the world afterwards.
Ellen’s primary responsibilities focus on habitat restoration, currently in a part-time capacity. Before joining the Field team, Ellen was a graduate research assistant at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). She is originally from St. John, Washington and earned a B.S. from Washington State University in Natural Resource Sciences, minoring in Rangeland Ecology and Management. She graduated from UNL in December 2016 with an M.S. in Agronomy, specializing in Range and Forage Sciences. Ellen enjoys living on the Reserve and is most excited about working on a landscape-scale conservation project that is available to the public for their use and enjoyment.
There’s something about my upbringing on the family farm and my education in range science that just comes together beautifully to restore grasslands. It’s different mix of people and better than I ever imagined.
Ellie's role at American Prairie focuses on coordinating land acquisitions, managing water rights, and providing support for the organization's grazing lease program. She grew up in Colorado and New Mexico, walking desert arroyos, hiking mountains, and enjoying the big Western skies. She graduated from Middlebury College in 2016 with BA degrees in Psychology and Religious Studies, and a growing interest in environmental policy and conservation work. She completed a Master's Degree in Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School in 2023.
Ellie previously worked on the Marketing team for American Prairie, managing communications, fundraising, and outreach activities. She enjoys spending time outdoors—hiking, backpacking, running, and wading in rivers—and she's passionate about conserving wild landscapes for their ecological and societal value.
I enjoy working for American Prairie because I appreciate the scale on which it is operating: its ecosystem-scale approach to conservation, and its long term timescale that keeps in mind the earth, the wildlife, and the people of the future.
Garrett oversees and directs all aspects of American Prairie's land acquisition program, advancing our goal of assembling the largest nature reserve in the contiguous United States.
He received his undergraduate, graduate, and law degrees from the University of Montana, where he focused on environmental and natural resource law and policy, and was named to the inaugural class of Wyss Scholars. Garrett has spent his career in the non-profit conservation space, working to protect land, water, and wildlife at the national, regional, and local scale. In his spare time he enjoys reading and running, cycling and snowboarding, and exploring the road less traveled with his wife, kids, and dogs.
It's a singular honor to participate in such an ambitious project, one working to write the next chapter in America's public land legacy. I'm humbled to play a role in our effort to open a wild western prairie ecosystem for everyone to experience and enjoy.
Heather provides leadership for American Prairie’s finance, accounting, operations, human resources and risk management efforts. As part of the executive management team, she plays a critical role in developing and implementing the organization’s overall strategy. She serves as a strategic thought partner to American Prairie’s Board of Directors and acts as primary staff liaison to the Board.
Prior to joining American Prairie in 2016, Heather worked as Director of Finance & Administration for the Information Technology Center at Montana State University in Bozeman and as Senior Vice President and Director of Capital Markets for Wells Real Estate Funds, a national real estate investment firm based out of Atlanta. She holds an MS in Accounting from Wake Forest University and a BS in Accounting from Auburn University. Originally from Huntsville, Alabama, Heather’s admiration for the vast landscapes and wildlife of the American West began during a trip following high school graduation. She moved to Montana in 2013 to be closer to the outdoor experiences she loves so much.
We look to nature for restoration and solace, so having the opportunity to help steward the preservation of such a rich and diverse landscape is incredibly humbling. I’m inspired every day by the potential life-changing impact this conservation project will have on generations to come.
Henry's role at American Prairie is to provide support for the bison restoration program. This involves fencing, habitat restoration, and bison herd monitoring and handling. Before joining American Prairie in 2018, he worked various seasonal natural resources jobs. He holds an associates degree in Wildlife Resources Management. Growing up, Henry always imagined himself exploring wild places under big skies and found the prairies of north-central Montana the perfect place for just that.
Working under skies this big and in a landscape this vast, I understand how valuable restoration and rewilding of a grassland ecosystem is. To be part of this project that works towards making this incredible ecosystem whole is extraordinarily fulfilling.
Jane is responsible for American Prairie's organizational operations. This includes operational risk management and oversight of the safety program, insurance, and business operations such as contracts and permits. Prior to joining American Prairie in 2014, Jane worked as a Field Representative for U.S. Senators Max Baucus and John Walsh. She holds degrees in political science and Spanish language and literature from Montana State University and an MBA from the University of Montana.
I have a strong connection to the land and wildlife in Montana and am excited to be part of an organization working to preserve our natural treasures for future generations.
Katy supports operations of the Wild Sky Program and executes field projects on Wild Sky Ranches, including the Cameras for Conservation Program. She holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from Rocky Mountain College in Billings, MT. Before joining American Prairie in 2019, Katy was a field technician for various research projects that focused on grassland ecosystems in Montana. She also loves spreading a passion for the outdoors and has led student trips into the Beartooth Mountains and through the Upper Missouri Wild and Scenic River. Growing up in North Dakota, she loved visiting the western badlands. It's where she gained an appreciation for our public lands and prairie wildlife.
I have a strong connection to our Central Montana landscape. It holds many special memories for me. Working to protect this area so that generations to come have the opportunity for the same experiences is so rewarding.
Lars’ primary responsibilities include general maintenance and habitat restoration on American Prairie lands. Before joining American Prairie, he was the interim manager at the University of Nebraska’s Barta Brothers Ranch. He is originally from Chappell, Nebraska and received his education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he earned an MS in Agronomy specializing in Range and Forage Science and BS degrees in Rangeland Ecosystems and Fisheries & Wildlife. He is a member of the Society for Range Management and The Wildlife Society. Lars began working for American Prairie in 2013 and is excited to be part of a project that is effecting change over an entire landscape.
American Prairie has the ability to enrich visitation for a wide range of people and interests.
Lilly is responsible for providing support for the development team in both fundraising and organizational endeavors. Originally from Montana, Lilly holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy from Montana State University. Prior to joining American Prairie, Lilly worked for an international education nonprofit headquartered in Bozeman.
Montana is a special spot. I have been lucky enough to have had access to wild places for the majority of my life. Working hard to preserve them forever is an amazing experience.
Loandi serves as the Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer and Project Management to the Executive Team and Board of Directors.
Loandi holds an education background in Business Management and 10+ years portfolio experience in Project Management/President Office Support. She is originally from Pretoria, South Africa and was raised in Atlanta, Georgia, prior to relocating to Montana.
Loandi has an immense passion for the outdoors, including hiking, camping and wildlife. She is also an avid musician and believes music is her love language.
"I am so honored to be a part of something as incredible as American Prairie. I believe it serves as a beacon, not only for this generation, but many to follow. It is invaluable to be a part of something so much bigger than me.”
My role at American Prairie is to provide support for the bison restoration program. This involves bison handling, fencing maintenance and habitat restoration. I have a BS in Biology from the College of Charleston in South Carolina. Before joining American Prairie in 2022 as the Maintenance Technician, I owned a property management business in Charleston, SC for six years. I also worked in agricultural research at Clemson University. I am a passionate conservationist, hunter and angler and I am an active member of several conservation organizations. I spend my free time doing anything that will get me into the backcountry. I also enjoy doing all of my own meat processing, learning new recipes for wild fish and game and sharing those meals with others.
Before I discovered American Prairie, I thought that the era of large-scale conservation in the contiguous 48 states ended decades ago. I am excited to say that it is alive and well here in the Northern Great Plains of Montana!
Michaela is responsible for bringing awareness of American Prairie and building relationships with stakeholders in Washington, D.C. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from San Francisco State University and a Master of Public Policy in Environmental policy from UCLA. Prior to joining American Prairie, Michaela interned in the U.S. House of Representatives. Growing up on an avocado farm in California gave her space to explore nature and experience wildlife. From this exposure she became passionate about capturing the beauty of landscapes through photography. She grew up going on family camping trips, hiking, mountain biking, and off-roading. This fostered a great love of the outdoors and a strong desire to ensure that generations to come can enjoy it too.
“To be a part of the American Prairie team provides me with a unique opportunity to unite my love for nature and my love for politics to help reach the organization’s vision. Beautiful landscapes like this one hold a special place in my heart, it brings me great joy to help advance the work to conserve it.”
A native of Maine, Mike manages recreation across American Prairie’s hundreds of thousands of acres. Believing time spent outside is essential to stewardship, Mike's career has focused on the intersection of recreation and conservation. After graduating from Middlebury College, he managed the Appalachian Mountain Club’s alpine hut system in New Hampshire, then came west to work in Yellowstone National Park for the Yellowstone Forever Institute. Before joining American Prairie, Mike worked in Bozeman as the Program Director at Adventure Scientists. He fell in love with the prairie while directing Landmark, a three-year citizen science project on the prairie. Mike also has a background in education. He spent a year teaching at Ataturk University in Turkey on a Fulbright grant, and has led international photography workshops for National Geographic Student Expeditions. On weekends, Mike loves to ski, climb mountains, grow vegetables, ride motorcycles, and learn new languages.
America’s public lands are a deep source of my love for our country. Working in Yellowstone I often passed through the Roosevelt Arch with its inscription ‘For the benefit and enjoyment of the people.’ I’m excited to contribute to this century’s visionary public lands project and to build opportunities for visitors to explore their native grasslands.
Paul develops and executes marking strategies at the local, regional, and national levels to raise awareness for our organization and communicate our goals to the public. He holds a BA in Journalism and a minor in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from Penn State University. Paul has worked in marketing and advocacy in the hook and bullet market for over a decade. He has volunteered countless hours to Montana conservation organizations and serves as the Vice President of the Traditional Bowhunters of Montana.
I feel like I’ve finally found my calling to work for an organization that is focusing dedicated effort on the landscape I love the most.
Pedro works with the bison team in the field leading the implementation of everyday actions to reach the goals of American Prairie. He holds an MSc in Natural Resources Management and a BSc in Ecology from the Autonomous University of Chihuahua, Mexico. He is specialized in range and wildlife management and conservation and is certified in Holistic Management by the Savory Institute. He is an active member of the low stress stockmanship and regenerative grazing communities. Before joining American Prairie in 2022, Pedro was the ranch manager for Chapman Livestock LLC in northwestern Oklahoma. Prior to that he managed Rancho El Uno in Chihuahua, where he was also the manager of Mexico’s bison conservation herd. Growing up in northern Mexico and having worked in the Chihuahuan Desert for over 20 years, Pedro is hooked on wide open spaces, wildlife conservation and the culture and life on the range.
For me, working in American Prairie is about untaming the West and helping the buffalo and nature to do their job. That sounds really good to me.
Pete’s responsibilities include strategic leadership, fundraising, and organizational development. Prior to joining American Prairie in 2011, he served as Director of Development and Operations at Property and Environment Research Center, and as Executive Vice President at the Foundation for Research on Economics and the Environment, both in Bozeman. He has also worked as an instructor with National Outdoor Leadership School and served a term on the school’s Advisory Council. Originally from New York State, Pete holds an MS in Resource Conservation from the University of Montana School of Forestry and a BS in Geology from St. Lawrence University. He is active in his community serving as a director of the Bozeman Amateur Hockey Association, the Gallatin Valley Ice Foundation, and as a trustee of the Sourdough Volunteer Fire Department.
I believe that conservation of wild lands is a uniquely American idea, and I’m excited to be involved with the largest American conservation project in a generation.
Rachel manages American Prairie's development database. Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, she holds a Master of Science in Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures from Auburn University and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Berry College. Prior to joining American Prairie in 2013, she worked as a conservation technician on the Westslope cutthroat trout restoration project with Turner Enterprises at the Flying D Ranch in Bozeman.
I’m excited to join an organization that is working to conserve a unique part of American ecological history by uniting private individuals with a common goal.
Rhianyon serves as an Associate Philanthropy Officer, working with generous donors who are funding our work and long-term goals and vision at American Prairie.
She holds a BA in Public Health from the University of Arizona. Prior to joining American Prairie, Rhianyon was a Nonprofit Development and Administration Associate with Alexander | Carrillo Consulting, a nonprofit consulting firm in Arizona.
Born and raised in the prairies of Montana, she comes with a passion and curiosity for all species big and small who call the prairie home. She understands the value of working with our local communities, including her hometown, Lewistown.
“Joining American Prairie feels like a homecoming. I feel like I’m giving back to lands that raised me; to the cottonwoods I climbed as a kid; to the birds I excitingly spotted each time they return from migration; to the grasses that grew alongside me at all stages of my life. I feel honored to be part of an organization that works to ensure these incredible sights of the prairie are preserved and shared.”
Robyn is responsible for planning, organizing, and executing all aspects of American Prairie's Ken Burns American Heritage Prize. This role includes cultivating relationships with members of the National Jury and National Nominating Committee in preparation for the selection of each year's Prize recipient in November, strategizing with American Prairie's Development Team, and coordinating the Prize Presentation Event each May. A Montana native, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Montana State University. Robyn is active in the Bozeman community, and has served on the Sweet Pea Festival Board for 20 years. She also serves as a Trustee for Bozeman Summit School, where she was the Associate Head of School for nearly 13 years before joining APR in December 2013.
As a fourth generation Montanan, I’m eager to learn from and contribute to American Prairie Reserve’s courageous and progressive initiative to preserve a significant portion of this beautiful state for leisure, research, and enjoyment for many generations to come.
As the HR and Benefits Administrator, Sam maintains smooth daily operations, oversees payroll, and supports team needs, helping to foster a positive work environment. She has a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, and is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management and a Certified Professional of Human Resources. Sam moved to Montana in 2021 to work in Human Resources at Big Sky Resort, where her love for the mountains grew. Now, she’s excited to join American Prairie, a company dedicated to preserving Montana’s beauty. With a background in skiing and traveling to mountain towns, Sam is thrilled to live and work in a place where she can pursue her outdoor passions while helping protect the landscapes she loves.
“I’m thrilled to join American Prairie because, as a nature and animal lover, it’s incredible to help preserve Montana’s beauty and restore wildlife to their native habitats. Being part of a team that protects and celebrates the land makes my role truly meaningful, and it’s rewarding to see the impact we’re making.”
Samantha works with generous donors who are funding our work and long-term goals at American Prairie. Samantha is a Certified Specialist in Planned Giving, and has a Master of Public Administration from Montana State University and a BA in English from Bryn Mawr College. Before joining American Prairie in 2019, Samantha raised major gifts for Montana State University in Bozeman. Samantha grew up in Des Moines, Iowa and fell in love with the West and the prairies of the Northern Great Plains through time spent in Montana, Wyoming and Colorado.
I am continually inspired by the beauty of the landscape, the resilience of its wildlife, and the role we can play in conserving and restoring a vibrant shortgrass prairie ecosystem at American Prairie.
Scott’s primary role is leading American Prairie’s bison restoration program; including working with neighbors, agencies and partners around bison and setting long-term goals and strategic direction for the program. Scott moved to Montana in 2015 to join American Prairie. Prior to joining American Prairie, he was a Park Ranger for Sioux County Conservation in his home state of Iowa and earned his B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from South Dakota State University. Since a young age Scott has imagined intact prairies teeming with wildlife and living and working on the prairies of Montana offer just that.
Having intact ecosystems as a place for people to imagine and visit is an important part of the human experience. It is exciting to lead efforts to bring back a missing piece of that experience, the bison. Seeing pieces of an ecosystem come back together is so rewarding, and knowing it will be preserved in perpetuity is fulfilling.
Travis’ role at American Prairie consists of maintaining our land infrastructures and our growing number of buildings and vehicles, while actively ensuring that the organization’s monthly maintenance goals are met. Travis holds a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Conservation from the University of Rio Grande. Prior to moving to Montana, Travis spent 9 years in the construction field and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his role as Maintenance Operations Specialist. Originally from Ansonia, Ohio, Travis’ wanderlust led him to Montana in search of adventure and the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than himself. Travis has planted his roots in the prairie and treasures the sense of purpose and freedom that he has found here.
As the world grows more complicated and busy, the peace and tranquility of the prairie grow ever more important.
Trevor manages the accounting operations at American Prairie, ensuring transparency to both donors and the public. He holds a BA in Business and Accounting from Washington and Lee University and a Masters in Accounting from Boston College. Before joining American Prairie in 2018, Trevor worked as a public company auditor for PricewaterhouseCoopers in Denver, CO.
Trevor spent his formative years immersed in the natural world during his family's fly fishing adventures. As he grew older, Trevor pushed the boundaries of what his parents thought a fly fishing adventure entailed. He became enamored with the unrivaled beauty of an undisturbed river ecosystem. His adventures, once measured in miles of trail or river, were now and forever measured in miles from a road.
As I grew older, I did not fear America having too few roads. What I did, and still do fear, is that America will lose more, if not all, undisturbed, fully connected ecosystems. That is why I am thrilled to take part in a conservation project rooted in saving the unique prairie ecosystem for the benefit of the wildlife and people that inhabit it.
As the Accounting Specialist, Will processes vendor payments, records and tracks donations, and creates and produces financial reports. He also maintains the accounting system, internal controls, and helps to produce the annual budget. Will has a Bachelor's in the Science of Business with a Focus in Accounting from Montana State University, and after graduating he did corporate accounting for Enterprise Holdings in Bozeman. In his personal life he enjoys skiing, biking, and backpacking, and anything else that gets him outside. He likes to do trail work trips with the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness Foundation and helps out with Friends of Hyalite in the summer.
National Board of Directors
American Prairie’s National Board of Directors actively guides the organization’s direction, monitors governance and financial oversight, assists in fundraising, and assures effective leadership to achieve the organization’s mission.
Alan Airth is a member of the Board of Directors at Mars, Incorporated. He is chairman of the Board Digital Sub-Committee and the Board Advisor Search Committee, as well as serving on the Audit and the Benefits Funding & Investment Oversight Committees.
Prior to joining the Mars board in 2016, Alan was a successful commercial real estate executive. He has extensive experience in asset management, property investment, and executive leadership with a variety of national firms as both manager and owner. Alan was a trusted advisor to Bank of America and Wells Fargo Bank during the 2008-2012 great recession. He served on the SoCal Chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties Board of Directors for 10 years holding multiple leadership roles including President of the organization.
He serves on the American Prairie Board of Directors and the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Foundation Board. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Orange County Council, Boy Scouts of America, and a lifetime member of the National Eagle Scout Association. He holds a Fellowship with the National Association of Corporate Directors and is a member of the Private Directors Association. Alan has a Bachelor’s degree in finance and real estate from the University of Arizona and earned his MBA from The Anderson School at UCLA.
Alison is the CEO of American Prairie. She has led the organization as CEO since February 2018 and had various leadership and management roles with the organization since 2007, including communications, marketing and branding, institutional partnerships and philanthropy. Ms. Fox holds an MBA from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University, where she focused on marketing and nonprofit management, and a BA in History from Dartmouth College. She is a member of the Big Sky Chapter of the Young Presidents Organization, Inc. (YPO) and the Advisory Board of William & Mary’s Institute for Integrative Conservation.
I value that American Prairie creates an opportunity for visitors to experience the awe-inspiring scale and natural beauty of an intact native grassland
A seasoned technology and impact executive, Bill Hilf’s career spans more than 20 years leading complex business, product development, and philanthropic initiatives for global organizations such as Microsoft, HP, and IBM as well as a variety of start-ups in Silicon Valley and beyond.
Hilf currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Vale Group, formerly known as Vulcan LLC, the project management firm founded in 1986 by philanthropists Jody Allen and the late Paul G. Allen, co-founder of Microsoft. Hilf leads the company’s three focus areas comprising award-winning, sustainable real estate development, a diverse range of asset and project management supporting the Paul G. Allen Estate and Trust, and strategic advising to the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation and its portfolio of charitable investments in wildlife conservation, ocean health, vibrant communities, and the arts.
Hilf serves as board chair of the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence (AI2), is a board member for Woodland Park Zoo, and sits on the advisory board for Humanity 2.0. In addition, he is on the board of Grumeti Fund, dedicated to the conservation of the Serengeti, and serves as an advisor to X4Impact, a leading data insights and advisory services company for social innovation in the U.S. He is also founder of High Five Hope, a nonprofit to help homeless children experience greater confidence, leadership, and hope through the power of sports.
Hilf completed his undergraduate studies at California State University-Fullerton and received his master’s degree from Chapman University.
Bob Greenlee is the Chief Operating Officer of Tusk Holdings, a holding company that manages the operations of Tusk Venture Partners, Tusk Strategies, Pericles Group, and Tusk Philanthropies. He also currently serves on the boards of the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition and Institute, and as board secretary/general counsel to the Illinois Science and Energy Innovation Foundation.
Previously Mr. Greenlee served in various positions in Illinois state government, including serving ultimately as Deputy Governor, and as an attorney with Kirkland and Ellis LLP and The Quinlan Firm. Mr. Greenlee holds a BA from Yale University, a JD from the University of Chicago Law School, and a PhD in History of Religions from the University of Chicago.
Mr. Greenlee has a lifelong interest in conservation, and a long record of advocacy on behalf of conservation, environmental and clean tech causes, including work with The Rockefeller Foundation, Environmental Defense Fund, Good Food Institute, and the Citizens Utility Board.
Danny was born in Wichita, KS, and attended Duke University, graduating with honors in 1989. Danny earned his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in 1998 and joined the Private Wealth Management Group of Goldman Sachs in 1998. He was made a vice president in 2001 and has been on the firm’s Leadership Council since 2008. While completing his MBA, Danny was a summer associate at Kansas City Equity Partners, a private venture capital fund. He currently serves on the Steering Committee for the Duke Financial Economics Center in Durham, NC. He also chairs the Investment Committee for the I.A. O’Shaughnessy Foundation in St. Paul, MN.
Mr. Coulter served as Vice Chairman, Managing Director and Senior Advisor at Warburg Pincus, focusing on the firm’s financial services practice from 2005 - 2014.
Mr. Coulter retired in September 2005 as vice chairman of J.P. Morgan & Chase Co. He previously served as Executive Chairman of its investment bank, asset and wealth management, and private equity business. Mr. Coulter was a member of the firm’s three person Office of the Chairman and also its executive committee.
Mr. Coulter came to J.P. Morgan Chase via its July 2000 acquisition of The Beacon Group, a small merchant banking operation. Before joining The Beacon Group, Mr. Coulter was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the BankAmerica Corporation and Bank of America NT & SA. His career at Bank of America was from 1976 to 1998 and covered a wide range of banking activities.
He served on the board of Aeolus Re, MBIA, Webster Bank, Sterling Financial and the Strayer Corporation. He currently is on the board of The Providence Service Corp., Triton International, and Varo Money, Inc. He also serves on the boards of Lincoln Center, Carnegie Mellon University, Asia Society of Northern California, American Prairie Reserve, Third Way, Macaulay Honors College, and IQ2.
He received both his B.S. and his M.S. from Carnegie Mellon University and currently serves as a Trustee for Carnegie Mellon.
George joined Kelso in 1985 and is a Senior Advisory Partner and Managing Director. He has served as a director of more than 20 former Kelso affiliated companies and as lead director of two public companies. George earned an M.B.A. from the Stanford GSB in 1982 and a B.A. in Business Administration, summa cum laude, from the University of Puget Sound in 1978. He was a C.P.A. and holds a C.M.A.
He served as American Prairie's Board Chairman from 2013 to 2024 and has been a director since 2008. He is also a director of Rx Green Technologies, Square Roots, Survey.com, and Storefront. George is also an advisory director of Investco and US WorldMeds, and is also an advisor to the Investment Committee of the New York Botanical Garden and the University of Puget Sound. He served from 2010 for 6 years on the Stanford GSB Advisory Council and he was treasurer of the University of Puget Sound Board of Trustees, on which he served from 1989 for 23 years.
I was born and raised in SeaTac, Washington, and now live in Larchmont, New York. My family and I have been Montana property owners since 1997, with a ranch on the Boulder River near Big Timber. We enjoy spending time there fly fishing and hiking with family and friends.
A lifelong equestrian, Mrs. Mars is the owner of a working farm that specializes in organic farming and equine training and breeding. The O'Connors (David and Karen), Olympic Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medalists in the sport of Three-day Eventing, have trained and ridden her competition horses at her two locations in The Plains, Virginia, and Ocala, Florida. Mrs. Mars is the retired Vice President of Mars, Inc. – responsible for development of new food products and the marketing strategy of same. A strong supporter of conservation groups concerning land use and the environment. Advocate and supporter of women’s education and their employment in the business community. Historic preservation has long been a passion, and she is actively involved with Mount Vernon, Monticello, Montpelier, Library of Congress, Journey Through Hallowed Ground, and the National Archives. A passionate promoter of the arts – Chairman Emeritus of the Washington National Opera, Secretary of the Kennedy Center, a member of the board of trustees of the National Museum of Women in the Arts, as well as Vice Chairman of the National Sporting Library & Museum.
Jay and his wife, Karen, reside on their ranch and vineyards outside of Healdsburg, California, 70 miles north of San Francisco, where they grow grapes and produce a modest amount of wine. Jay is a retired technology business executive, having served as Chief Executive Officer of Optical Coating Laboratory in the late 1990s and President and Chief Operating Officer of JDS Uniphase, a fiber optics company, until his retirement in 2001. Prior to his operating roles, Jay also served for 18 years as a management consultant and senior partner with McKinsey & Company. Currently, he remains active as a director of several public companies, a trustee of his independent secondary school in Pennsylvania, and several local community organizations in Sonoma County. Having grown up outside of Philadelphia in a very East Coast family, where “the West” meant Ohio, Jay connected strongly to Montana during a summer job in 1961 working on the Minuteman missile complex in the central part of the state.
Launched in 2005, Mr. Talpins provides strategic direction for Element and is responsible for all major investment decisions for the Fund. Under his leadership, Element’s assets under management have increased from $250M at inception to approximately $14 billion today, and the investors in the Fund include some of the world’s largest pension, endowment and sovereign wealth funds.
Mr. Talpins conducts his philanthropy through the Jeffrey M. Talpins Foundation, which seeks to create opportunities for children to achieve their full potential, support the long-term prosperity for Israel, and conserve open spaces and wildlife. Mr. Talpins serves on the board of the Yale Tobin Center for Economic Policy and the Yale Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, served on the board of the Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ), and is active in numerous other charities and philanthropic organizations.
Mr. Talpins graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa) from Yale University with Distinction in Economics and Applied Mathematics (focus in Finance), and presently lives in New York with his wife, Mara, their two children, and family dog.
As a native Montanan, John attended the University of Montana before earning a graphic design degree from the Art Institute in Seattle, Washington, in 1987. In 2000, John founded Banovich Fine Art in Livingston, Montana. Subsequently, in 2012, opened Studio West in Carnation, Washington.
In 2004, John founded the Wildscapes Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)3. John’s extensive 30 years of travels revealed his aspiration to share his love for Africa, culminating in the inception of Banovich Wildscapes Travel in 2018 aimed at supporting keystone wildlife landscapes for critical conservation efforts. John is the executive producer of two award-winning documentaries, “The Edge of Existence” and “The Last Horns of Africa”.
In 2022, John became a member of the American Prairie board. Notable, he previously served on the boards of the Society of Animal Artists and the Craighead Institute. He is also a member of the Shikar Safari Club, holds a life membership with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and has been a distinguished member of the Society of Animal Artists since 1995. His accomplishments include receiving the CJ McElroy Award from Safari Club International and being nominated in 2023 for the Beretta Conservation Leadership Award. He has also acted as an Advisory Board Member for the Safari Club International Foundation. John established the “Award for Conservation Excellence – ACE” in 2017 and launched the Lion P.R.I.D.E. Initiative in 2007. He is recognized as an NBC “Cause Celebrity”.
Karen has devoted her energies to preserving America’s last few wild areas, believing land conservation and the preservation of natural habitats are key to providing a meaningful future for our children. Growing up in the wilds of Utah and then living and working in Connecticut and New York have led Karen to American Prairie, which she believes is the most exciting and meaningful land and wildlife conservation project in America today.
Along with serving on the American Prairie National Board of Directors, Karen serves on the boards of the Connecticut Land Conservation Council and The Nature Conservancy of Connecticut, and is actively involved with the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance and The Garden Clubs of America. Previously, Karen worked at the American Museum of Natural History. She enjoys travel, music, gardening, reading, puzzles, moments in nature, and above all, time with her four boys and husband, Sanjeev.
Karen received a B.A. in government from Harvard University and a M.A. in anthropology from Columbia University.
Kristine McDivitt Tompkins is the president and co-founder of Tompkins Conservation, an American conservationist, and former CEO of Patagonia, Inc. For thirty years, she has been committed to protecting and restoring wild beauty and biodiversity by creating national parks, restoring wildlife, inspiring activism, and fostering economic vitality as a result of conservation.
Kristine and her late husband, Douglas Tompkins, have protected approximately 14.8 million acres of parklands in Chile and Argentina through Tompkins Conservation and its partners, making them among the most successful national park-oriented philanthropists in history.
Through Tompkins Conservation and its offspring organizations, Rewilding Argentina and Rewilding Chile, she has helped to create or expand 15 national parks, including two marine national parks, in Argentina and Chile, and works to bring back species that have gone locally or nationally extinct, such as the jaguar, red-and-green macaw, and giant river otters in Northeast Argentina, as well as Darwin’s rheas and extremely endangered huemul deer in Chile.
Kristine served as Patron for Protected Areas for the UN Environmental Programme from 2018-2022. The recipient of numerous honors, she was the first conservationist to be awarded the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy. Her 2020 TED Talk "Let's Make the World Wild Again" has been viewed over two million times.
Liliane is a dedicated philanthropist committed to wildlife protection and driving sustainability initiatives. A native of Switzerland, she also has deep roots in the American West. For many years, she was responsible for the family’s bison ranch in Wyoming, where she focused on restoring the pastures, recreating native grasslands and became excited about forming natural open spaces with public access. This endeavor not only promotes sustainable agriculture but also contributes to biodiversity preservation.
Passionate about sustainability, biodiversity and wildlife conservation, Liliane combines her experience in bison ranching with support for academic institutions, providing support for environmental law and education programs, furthering her mission to protect the environment.
In addition to Liliane’s role as a director of American Prairie, she also serves on the Board of Trustees of Pace University and works closely with the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace which has one of the world’s best environmental law programs. She is also a member of the Leadership Council Steering Committee at the Yale School of the Environment and has been serving on the board of the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Wyoming for more than 15 years.
During her career Liliane gained broad financial expertise, which she now puts to use as the Managing Director of the Haub Family Office. She and her husband Christian have four children and divide their time between the United States and Germany.
Mara’s lifelong passion for wildlife began as a child and she has been actively involved with the Wildlife Conservation Society for almost 20 years, originally as a volunteer at the Central Park Zoo and she currently serves on their Council. She is passionate that educating children to appreciate wildlife is a key to society’s long-term support for the co-existence of humans with wildlife and wild spaces. Over the years, she has also volunteered at various education initiatives including the American Museum of Natural History and local schools. Mara loves experiencing wildlife and various cultures in developing nations, having traveled to over 40 countries.
Mara devotes the majority of her time to raising her two wonderful children and Italian Water Dog in New York. She looks forward to all the family time she spends with nature at their second home in Montana as well as looking forward to the day that large numbers of students from around the country can visit the bison herds and prairie dog towns on American Prairie.
Nancy Mueller’s interest in nature and marine preservation is derived from her worldwide experiences. Growing up in Latham, New York, she majored in biology and then chemistry at Russell Sage College in Troy, New York. Upon graduation, she joined her future husband, Glenn Mueller in Palo Alto, California, where he earned a Stanford MBA and she worked for Syntex Corporation in pharmaceutical chemistry.
Two children later and with a venture capital husband, Nancy started her own business, Nancy’s Specialty Foods, parlaying Nancy’s Quiche, both appetizers and entrees, to national distribution through retail and club store venues. She sold the business after 22 years of exciting entrepreneurism in 1999.
Widowed in 1994 and with a desire to dream, she had a Feadship Superyacht built for round-the-world cruising and SCUBA diving. Ten years later, after touring hundreds of remote islands and countries with friends and family, she sold the vessel and returned to a more normal life.
Nancy serves on the American Prairie National Board of Directors lives in Palo Alto, California, continues to travel extensively, and enjoys spending time in Hawaii.
Quique is a recognized leader with more than 20 years of experience as a founder, operator and investor in enterprise software and service organizations. Before starting Advisr in 2018, he founded Denali Strategy, a multichannel advertising platform and media consulting practice. Prior to that, he has held leadership positions in New York and London at Collective/Visto (acquired by Zeta Global), Digital Broadcasting Group (acquired by Alloy), Independent Television Networks and Operative. Quique is an active investor and serves on the board of several emerging technology businesses and funds. He lives in Bozeman, MT with his wife, daughter and son.
Steven N. Cousins is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Cousins Allied Strategic Advisors, LLC (CASA) that serves clients throughout the country. He was a partner at Armstrong Teasdale, LLP, a 250-person law firm with offices throughout the U.S. Mr. Cousins became Armstrong Teasdale’s first African American lawyer when he joined the firm in 1980. Four years later, he founded and chaired the firm’s first financial restructuring, reorganization and bankruptcy practice – the first associate to start a department at Armstrong Teasdale. In 1987, he became the firm’s first African American partner and one of the few in St. Louis. He served on the firm’s executive committee for 15 years and was one of Armstrong Teasdale’s top rainmakers for twice that long. He has represented global corporate clients such as Peabody Energy and Payless Shoes and high profile clients throughout the country, including a former U.S. Cabinet Member who was vindicated in a Justice Department investigation. He has been listed for 24 years in The Best Lawyers in America, named as a Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyer, and listed in Black Enterprise Magazine as one of the country’s top five bankruptcy lawyers. He is the 2017 recipient of the Martin J. Purcell award from the Missouri Bar Foundation. The award acknowledges an outstanding lawyer that has demonstrated an exceptional degree of competency, integrity, and civility in both professionalism and civic activities. Mr. Cousins received his JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1980 and BA from Yale University in 1977. An active community leader, Mr. Cousins was the general counsel and member on the executive committee of the St. Louis Regional Chamber of Commerce, vice-chairman of St. Louis Children’s Hospital board and is a St. Louis Art Museum trustee. In addition, he was outside general counsel for Concordance, a path-breaking program to reduce recidivism in St. Louis and beyond. He also served on Washington University’s National Council of the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement. He served as the initial co-chair of the St. Louis Internship Program, an inner-city youth jobs program, replicated in 38 cities with more than 3,300 alumni. In addition, Mr. Cousins is a co-founder of the St. Louis Public Schools Foundation, served as a member of the University of Missouri-St. Louis Chancellor’s Council and the national Board of Governors of the Association of Yale Alumni, and was a Webster University trustee.He currently serves on the National Advisory Board of Harvard's prestigious Hutchins Center for African and African American Research.
Susan Matelich is a philanthropist, gardener, and volunteer. She is a CPR instructor, a crewmember and Treasurer of her local Volunteer Ambulance Corps, holding NY State, National Registry EMT certifications with wilderness training. Susan and her husband George are dedicated to aiding first-generation college and graduate students with scholarships at several universities. In 2008, Susan joined the board of American Prairie, and currently serves on the Governance Committee and is the Chair of the Safety Committee. In the fall of 2015, Susan joined the Board of Trustees of the New York Botanical Garden and serves on their Finance Committee. Born in Alberta, Canada, Susan moved to New York and earned a BS in Marketing, cum laude, from NYU’s Stern School of Business, and enjoyed a career as a commercial fashion model and spokesperson. Susan currently resides in Larchmont, New York, when not fly-fishing with her husband and three adult children and son-in-law in Montana.
Emeritus Directors
American Prairie Emeritus Directors serve as loyal and informed advisors based on their strong tenure and outstanding service to the organization.
Ann, Founder and former President of American Leadership Forum-Silicon Valley (ALF), started the organization on July 1, 1988 and led ALF to April 2000. She continues her involvement with ALF as a Senior Fellow, speaker and advisor.
Subsequently, she has been a consultant to nonprofit organizations. She has participated on numerous boards of directors and advisory boards.
In 2000, Ann was asked by Sean Gerrity, who she worked with in ALF, to join the Board of Directors for American Prairie Foundation (later American Prairie). Soon thereafter, Sean invited her to become the first Chair of the Board. Following 12 years leading ALF, Ann agreed to chair the board for only one year because she wanted more discretionary time. She served on the American Prairie Foundation Board for nine years.
She received a BA in history from the University of Washington in 1962 and an MA in Education from Stanford University in 1964.
Ann lives on the Stanford campus with her husband, Bob DeBusk, a Professor of Cardiology Emeritus at Stanford Medical School. They have a married son, a married daughter and one granddaughter.
Clyde grew up on a farm in Rudyard, Montana, near the Canadian border, where he witnessed the painful and joyful cycles of agricultural life. Clyde is a well-known artist for his western landscapes, which capture the beauty, rhythm, and harmony of each place he paints. His paintings of the West are not theatrical sets intended to reinforce regional mythology, but rather of places that he perceives as already disappearing during his own lifetime.
He was fortunate to be encouraged by his family in the pursuits of art and appreciation of music. Clyde learned early on to work hard and persevere against many kinds of obstacles. Rather than demeaning Clyde’s interests, Clyde’s father, a practical but open-minded farmer, bought his twelve-year-old son’s first painting. Clyde attended Eastern Montana College, in Billings, Montana. He lives outside of Bozeman with his wife, artist Carol Guzman. Clyde became involved in American Prairie with hopes to further connections with artists and writers for inspirational results, and joins the Advisory Board after several years on the Board of Directors.
Elizabeth was an American Prairie Board member from 2002 to 2016, serving as Treasurer and a member of the Executive Committee. She first became involved in the project in 2001, just as American Prairie was being formed, and helped in the early years as Acting CFO.
She is a retired risk management executive whose career included senior market and credit risk management positions at Bankers Trust, Deutsche Bank, and Salomon Brothers. She was a Managing Director and Chief Credit Officer at Salomon Brothers from 1993 to 1997 when the firm was acquired by Smith Barney.
She has a BA from Harvard, where she studied French and German, and an MBA in Finance from New York University Stern School of Business. After retiring in 1999, she returned to South Strafford, Vermont, where she grew up. She loves living in Vermont and is active locally, serving as one of the Town's Trustees of Public Funds, as well as on the Endowment Committees of several local charities. She is an avid supporter of a number of conservation organizations in Vermont.
Gib Myers is emeritus partner of Mayfield Fund, a private venture capital partnership located in Menlo Park, California and was a Mayfield general partner from 1970 until his retirement in 1998. Since Mayfield’s founding in 1969 until his retirement, the firm invested in more than 350 companies and took approximately 100 companies public. Prior to joining Mayfield, Gib worked for Hewlett-Packard for four years in computer systems. He earned an A.B. degree in Engineering Science from Dartmouth College in 1964 and a M.B.A. from Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1966.
Gib is the founder and previous chairman of the Entrepreneurs Foundation (EF), a non-profit with the mission of developing corporate citizenship and philanthropic efforts to benefit the community. Before merging with the Community Foundation of Silicon Valley, there were 850 member companies, some 30,000 employees that helped more than 650 community organizations, and over $19 million in contributions that were made to the community. Gib is Vice Chairman of American Prairie after 10 years as Chairman.
Gib is a co-founder of the Center for Social Innovation at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Previously, he was a member of the Stanford Graduate School of Business Advisory Board, on the President’s Leadership Council of Dartmouth College, and a senior fellow and board member of the American Leadership Forum.
His personal interests are photography, skiing, golf and travel. Gib and his wife, Susan, live in Atherton and have two sons and a daughter.
Jeff Miller is President of JAMM Ventures, a business consulting company. Prior to establishing his firm, Jeff spent most of his career in operating companies. He was CEO of Documentum, Inc. (DCTM), an enterprise document management software company, from 1993 to 2001, and Chairman of the Board from 1999 to 2003, growing it from 15 employees into a publically traded NASDAQ company with 1,200 employees and revenues over $200 million. Jeff has more than 40 years of high tech experience, in semiconductors, hardware, and software companies, having spent the early years of his career at Fairchild Semiconductor and Intel, and holding senior marketing and general management executive positions at Adaptec and Cadence Design Systems. From 2002 through 2006, Jeff was a venture partner with Redpoint Ventures, focused on mentoring CEOs of several Redpoint companies, particularly those in the enterprise and infrastructure software markets.
Jeff has served on the Board of Directors of a number of high technology companies. He currently serves on the Board of one public company, ServiceNow (SaaS for IT; NOW NYSE). Jeff also serves on four philanthropic Boards: American Prairie (Emeritus Director); the Golden State Warriors Community Foundation (he is a minority owner of the GS Warriors); and two connected with Santa Clara University, the Board of Trustees and the Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship, where he Chairs the Advisory Board.
Jeff holds a Masters of Business Administration (1976) and a Bachelors of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (1973) from Santa Clara University.
Mr. Anderson founded Anderson Global Macro LLC in 2012 and serves as Chairman and Chief Investment Officer. He launched the Anderson Global Macro fund in May 2013.
From 2008 to 2011, Mr. Anderson served as Chief Investment Officer for Soros Fund Management and its principal entity, the Quantum Fund. Prior to joining Soros, Mr. Anderson was Vice Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of BlackRock, Inc. Mr. Anderson co-founded BlackRock in 1988. Prior to founding BlackRock, Mr. Anderson worked in fixed income research at The First Boston Corporation and in portfolio management at Criterion Investment Management Company.
Mr. Anderson has served on the Treasury Borrowing Advisory Committee and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Investors Advisory Committee on Financial Markets. He currently serves on the board of Rice University in Houston and American Prairie in Montana. Mr. Anderson earned a BS in economics and finance from Nichols College in 1981, and an MBA from Rice University in 1983.
Sean Gerrity is the Founder of American Prairie and served as its President and as one of three founding board members from 2002 to early 2018.
Throughout 2001, Sean worked with Curt Freese of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and many others to determine an effective approach to the soon-to-be American Prairie project. In early 2002, he became American Prairie’s President. His initial priority was to assemble and slowly build, from scratch, a new, free-standing, Montana-based organization that would convert what had long been a spectacularly creative and ambitious conservation idea — carried forward and promoted by WWF and others — into steady, measurable, on-the-ground action.
American Prairie started with just two full-time employees. Sean and Dakota Meeks, with contracted help from Kayla Gerrity, began building and shaping the new organization’s infrastructure, systems and processes, and marketing and fundraising strategies. Most important was fleshing out and further articulating the holistic, compelling vision that would galvanize human energy and guide the actions of American Prairie and its collaborators over the next 17 years.
In early 2018, Sean passed the CEO role to his long-time colleague and fellow executive team member, Alison Fox. By that time, the organization had grown to 35 staff and 18 board trustees, raised more than $125 million dollars in private funding and had purchased twenty-six properties totaling nearly 400,000 private and leased acres. American Prairie had also built and opened two public campgrounds, Kestrel, and the Danny, Joey and Gigi Enrico Science and Education Center, and had reintroduced bison to the prairie.
By 2018, the National Geographic Society had included American Prairie as one of their most important examples of successful large-scale conservation efforts in the world as part of their Last Wild Places initiative. In addition, the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute had officially partnered with American Prairie to lead its core science efforts.
Prior to joining the American Prairie effort, Sean was one of three original founders of Catalyst Consulting in Santa Cruz, California where he worked from 1985 until 2001. Catalyst, a firm specializing in organization development and management training and development, remains in business today and continues to work with clients around the world across a wide range of industries.
Sean grew up primarily in Great Falls, Montana, graduated from Montana State University and also attended the University of Oregon.
His current interests and projects include writing a book about his personal story of leaving private industry to take on the task of starting and building the American Prairie organization, and how he and his team kept the project moving forward during the very challenging early years. The book project is partially funded by the National Geographic Society and is scheduled for publication in early 2022.
He currently enjoys helping with American Prairie’s continued progress in his role as a board member, painting in oils and watercolors, and traveling and exploring the U.S. and the rest of the world with Kayla, his partner of 40 years. Kayla and Sean have a daughter Siri, a son Dylan, and grandson, Lewis.
Sean is a National Geographic Explorer and serves on the Advisory Council for African People and Wildlife, is on the Board of Directors for Namibian-based ORKCA, and the Advisory Council for the Kratt Brother’s Creature Hero Foundation.
Stephenie received her master’s degree in Liberal Arts from the University of Montana in 1984. She has written two books; The Lewis and Clark Companion and Why Sacagawea Deserves the Day Off along with numerous articles on western history. A passion for conservation and resource preservation sparked her ongoing involvement in several non-profit organizations including the Lewis and Clark Trust, American Prairie, and Preserve Montana. Governor Steve Bullock awarded her the Governor’s Humanities Award in February 2019. Stephenie lives in Helena, Montana with her husband John and enjoys paddling in the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument every summer.
Susan has been a board member of American Prairie along with her husband Gib since 2002. The opportunity to assemble a huge prairie ecosystem full of wildlife in the 21st century is very compelling and exciting to her. Every time she visits the prairie she enjoys being on the landscape and going to find the bison herd. She and Gib would love to see a herd of 10,000 bison in their lifetime.
Susan has an interest in food sustainability and has been a member of a food investor group through the Philanthropy Workshop in San Francisco. She is also involved with FoodCorps a national nonprofit that connects kids to healthy food in schools. The intersecting issues of food, health, wellness and social justice are important ones to her. Susan is a member of Impact Partners, a social interest film fund that invests primarily in documentaries. IP has supported a number of films at the Sundance Film Festival. She is also on the advisory board of the Bay Area Lyme Foundation. In the past she has served on an independent school board, Crystal Springs Uplands School and the Peninsula Bridge, an educational summer experience for underprivileged students. Susan has three children and eight grandchildren. She enjoys travel, golf, skiing, bridge, reading and spending time with her family. Susan holds a BA in German Studies from Stanford University.
Susan is an environmental and arts advocate. Before moving to Montana in 1992 with her family, she lived in Houston, Texas, where she was actively involved with the Contemporary Art Museum, The Menil Foundation, and the Museum of Fine Arts as a board member. Susan currently lives with her husband Roy in Missoula, Montana, and is vice president of SAROC, Inc., a family investment company.
Susan is co-founder/supporter of various non-profit organizations: Pacific Writers’ Connection in Honolulu, Families First in Boston and Missoula, Ohana Makamae, Hana Retreat, The Appleseed Foundation, ArtPix, and the PROP Foundation. She has served on the boards of the Orion Society, American Prairie, and the Charles Engelhard Foundation.
Tim Kelly is Executive Director of EarthHQ, the media arm of the Global Commons Alliance - a collaboration developed by world leading institutions, that brings together scientific, business, government, and nongovernmental organizations to maintain the resilience and stability of Earth’s natural systems.
Previously, Tim was a media executive, Emmy Award-winning film producer, and former President of the National Geographic Society. He also serves as an advisor to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and is Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Planet3. In addition, Tim serves on the Board of the African wilderness reserve & safari company Great Plains Conservation Trust, and on the Board of the leading environmental science journalism organization, Mongabay.org.
As President of the National Geographic Society, Tim transitioned the primarily print-based organization to a global multimedia force and engineered the launch of the National Geographic Channel, National Geographic Films, and a wide array of digital media products.
Bill has distinguished himself in diverse fields, including education, development, and entertainment. With enthusiasm and dedication, he has undertaken numerous challenges during his career. One of the greatest was his role as president and chief executive officer of the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts Foundation, which was charged with raising $257 million from the private sector toward the total cost of $275 million for a world-class performing arts center for Dallas.
A native of Dallas, Bill earned a Bachelor of Music degree from SMU in 1965 and a Master of Education degree from the University of North Texas in 1970. Returning to SMU in 1973, he devoted the next 25 years to a variety of roles, serving for the last seven years as vice president of Development and External Affairs. Bill left SMU in 1998 to become president and CEO of Up With People, headquartered in Denver. Two years later, he returned to Dallas to assume leadership of the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts Foundation.
In memoriam:
Erivan Haub
Advisory Board
The Advisory Board connects leaders from Montana and the broader region to American Prairie leadership, cementing a process for learning from regional and statewide individuals and communities, and ensuring consistent, and ensuring engagement with local priorities and concerns.
A 20-year resident of greater Glasgow, McKean is a journalist covering hunting, outdoor recreation, and conservation beats for a variety of publications. He's served as a newspaper editor across Montana and the Northwest, worked for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, and is a former Montana Fish & Wildlife commissioner. The former editor-in-chief of Outdoor Life magazine, McKean is currently Outdoor Life's Hunting and Conservation Editor and serves on the boards of the Mule Deer Foundation and Wild Montana. He coaches Glasgow's track and cross-country teams.
Bill Berg is a retired public land manager with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge System (NWR). His entire career was spent on the National Wildlife Refuge System in Montana and North Dakota. For the last 20 plus years of his career, he was the Deputy Project Leader of the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge. He also worked at the National Bison Range in the early eighties. Bill has a passion for public lands, good wildlife habitat, quality outdoor recreation, fishing, and hunting. He does wood working, spends time with family, and plays hockey in his spare time. He keeps involved by staying active with a variety of community service groups. His current challenge is trying to manage an exploding vole population, on a one half acre native/tame grass planting , that is destroying his adjacent garden.
Bill’s family has been ranching in Montana since 1956. He and his wife Dana have owned and operated their current ranch in Musselshell County since 1978. They have three children, two boys working in Montana, and a daughter, a fireman paramedic in Connecticut, who plans to return to the family ranch. During the last 40 years, Bill has worked with several local organizations and efforts committed to taking care of land and community. In 2019, he and Dana were the first Montana recipients of the Aldo Leopold Award. Bill participates as a rancher member, and sometimes facilitator, with several working groups in Central Montana, covering nine counties, including the Musselshell Watershed Coalition, Winnett ACES, the CMR Community Working Group, and the Musselshell Valley Community Foundation. Bill has assisted several ranch families with succession planning facilitation.
Bill has a particular interest in figuring out how ranchers and local communities monitor the health of their working landscapes and communities – particularly within the Grassland Biome of North America. Since February of 2016, Bill has facilitated a broad and diverse group of partners, called the Rangeland Monitoring Group (RMG), dedicated to finding an effective means to achieve this objective. Relatedly, he serves on the Planning Committee for the Central Grasslands Roadmap and the Life in the Land Project (lifeintheland.org). Certainly not unrelated, his practice as a Soto Zen Priest, has helped inform and support his appreciation for our shared interdependence and the need to imagine solutions respectful of everyone’s unmet needs.
Clyde grew up on a farm in Rudyard, Montana, near the Canadian border, where he witnessed the painful and joyful cycles of agricultural life. Clyde is a well-known artist for his western landscapes, which capture the beauty, rhythm, and harmony of each place he paints. His paintings of the West are not theatrical sets intended to reinforce regional mythology, but rather of places that he perceives as already disappearing during his own lifetime.
He was fortunate to be encouraged by his family in the pursuits of art and appreciation of music. Clyde learned early on to work hard and persevere against many kinds of obstacles. Rather than demeaning Clyde’s interests, Clyde’s father, a practical but open-minded farmer, bought his twelve-year-old son’s first painting. Clyde attended Eastern Montana College, in Billings, Montana. He lives outside of Bozeman with his wife, artist Carol Guzman. Clyde became involved in American Prairie with hopes to further connections with artists and writers for inspirational results, and joins the Advisory Board after several years on the Board of Directors.
Dave owned and operated the Lewistown News-Argus newspaper for 25 years, and later worked as internal operations manager for a national sporting goods buying group headquartered in Lewistown. He has been active in the community of Lewistown, serving on the school board and city commission, and currently as vice chair of a campaign to raise $15 million for a comprehensive cancer care center at Central Montana Medical Center.
An Army veteran, Byerly has been involved with a number of community and economic development efforts. He and his wife, Donna, are active in First Presbyterian Church in Lewistown, where she serves as interim music director and he as chair of the finance committee. They have three children and are grateful for the foundation of community and lifestyle that Central Montana, its schools and people, have provided for their family.
I was born (1950) and raised in Boise, Idaho. I retired in 2016 after a forty-two-year federal civil service career. Thirty-two years were with the National Park Service where I held various park and regional positions. The last fourteen years of my career, I served as Superintendent at Mount Rainier National Park, Interim Superintendent at Yosemite NP, and San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, and from 2011 until I retired in 2016, I served as Superintendent of Grand Canyon National Park. During this time, I also served as a National Park Service Senior Executive, a member of the National Leadership Council, along with the NPS Director, guiding NPS policy. As a senior executive, I served on various committees and boards, including the board approving all construction projects for the NPS.
I graduated in 1972 from the University of Idaho with a BS in Biology and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the US Air Force. In 1974, I earned a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Idaho.
I am married to my wife Barbara, celebrating our 50th anniversary this year. We have three children. All our children and their spouses and eight grandchildren live in Livingston, Montana.
Since retiring in 2016, I have been fishing, hiking, floating, hunting, golfing and engaging in all aspects of being a good, retired husband, father, and grandparent.
Dorothy grew up in Bozeman, Montana, received her BA from Colorado College in 1969, and her JD from American University in 1983. At the age of 23, Dorothy won a seat in the Montana House of Representatives where she served as the only woman in 1971. Serving eight terms she was known for her leadership on difficult issues she championed and her consensus-building approach. Dorothy was the Democratic nominee for Governor in 1992, campaigned by riding her horse across the state, and narrowly lost the race. Since that time she briefly taught at a small rural school next to the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, and worked in administrative positions dealing with water, the courts and criminal justice. She lives in Clyde Park with retired rancher Dan Hurwitz.
George is the Tourism Director for Discover Fort Belknap and Aaniiih Nakoda Tours. He has extensive experience in the tourism industry and is a former Vice-President of the Fort Belknap tribal council. He has knowledge in the Aaaniiih and Nakoda cultures and history on the Fort Belknap Reservation. George has been immersed in cultural education since his youth. His father, George Horse Capture, Sr., was a curator of the Plains Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming and he was also instrumental in establishing the American Indian Museum in Washinton, D.C. George Jr. has knowledge of horsemanship and practices traditional Nakoda & Aaniiih arts and crafts.
Jill Bough has been an integral part of building the growing community of Big Sky, Montana. She and her husband, Loren, were the founders of the local public high school which boasts numerous awards and an International Baccalaureate curriculum. Jill is a photographer whose work has been described as journalistic storytelling. Having lived in Russia for nine years, her projects primarily focus on Russia-related topics and people. She has exhibited in New York, Cambridge, Minneapolis and Moscow, Russia. Having grown up in Montana, Jill is passionately in love with grasslands and prairie. She and Loren own multiple ranches and split their time between the mountains of Big Sky and the prairies of Central Montana. She is excited to be part of the National Board of Directors and hopes that her Montana roots may benefit the organization.
Justin is a hunter and conservationist that was born and raised in eastern Montana. For the last decade he has lived in Glasgow with his wife, Kayleigh, and their two children. He is a founding member and President of Keep It Public, (a non-profit organization that supports public land and water by advocating for effective federal management and healthy ecosystems) through which he has shown a strong commitment to staying engaged with wildlife and land management decisions both in Montana and across the United States. When Justin’s not roaming around and enjoying Montana’s public lands, he can be found at work, where he is a trainman for BNSF Railway.
Lance Johnson is a fourth-generation Montana rancher with a keen sense of responsibility to be a good steward of the land he's been entrusted with. He realizes the management decisions he makes not only affect his bottom line, but his choices can also impact neighbors next door or those in the next county. Lance's first priority is to keep the land sustainable for generations to come, including for his two daughters. Lance has partnered with American Prairie through leasing on the PN property and the Wild Sky program. He has diversified his operation to include tourism and outfitting. His property boasts a glamping wall tent, trails, wildlife watching, fishing and hunting opportunities and can be found listed on sites like Hipcamp.
A Great Falls native and 4th generation Montanan, Randy practiced law for 30 years, and now enjoys retirement. He is a former Great Falls city commissioner and served three terms as mayor. Randy is also a former trustee of the Montana Nature Conservancy, a past President of the CM Russell Museum, and Chairman of the McLaughlin Research Institute for Biomedical Sciences in Great Falls. Randy has been married for 48 years to his wife, Nora, and they are parents to 3 sons and three grandchildren, of whom they are very proud.