Rocky Mountain Staff and Affiliates

AuguisteA@nwf.org

BaldesJ@nwf.org

Jason Baldes is a member of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe from the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming. He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Land Resource Sciences from Montana State University. Jason's interests have led to work and travel with Indigenous peoples in East Africa, New Zealand, Mexico, Russia, and Denmark. Much of his work has been surrounding the restoration of bison to the Wind River Indian Reservation. Jason currently serves as the Eastern Shoshone Tribal Buffalo Representative, and Tribal Buffalo Coordinator for the Tribal Partnerships Program of the National Wildlife Federation. Jason provides workshops and learning opportunities about Tribal history, water, bison conservation, wildlife/fisheries, and cultural connections with animals through song, story, and language. His efforts help people understand the complexities of contemporary issues through an Indigenous lense, bridging cross-cultural gaps and creating positive relationships with those who wish to understand more about Native American people.

BenjaminC@nwf.org

Craig helps affiliate organizations in Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming grow their capacity and achieve conservation victories. A veteran of conservation advocacy with extensive experience in both Wyoming and Washington, Craig has a proven track record of bringing together diverse coalitions and strengthening advocacy organizations to accomplish conservation goals. When he isn’t working, you can find Craig camping with family and friends across the West, skiing in the backcountry, or trail-running on our American public lands.

BlackA@nwf.org

A Santa Fe native, Andrew grew up fishing New Mexico’s rivers with his grandfathers, both WWII veterans. Andrew completed a joint degree Juris Doctor/Master of Divinity at University of Louisville School of Law and Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. After studying Truth and Reconciliation in South Africa, Andrew worked in the U.S. Senate as a field representative for U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Martin Heinrich covering issues of health, education, immigration, veterans, and public lands. While with Senator Bingaman, Andrew worked on the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony honoring the Navajo Codetalkers. While with Senators Bingaman and Heinrich, Andrew led anti-poverty initiatives building community-wide coalitions focused on education, engagement, and empowerment. Andrew's veteran advocacy lead to two new VA health clinics in Santa Fe and Raton. In promoting sportsman conservation, Andrew helped spearhead environmental coalitions that led to the protection of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, the Columbine Hondo Wilderness, and the Valles Caldera National Park Preserve. Andrew is an ordained Presbyterian Minister (PCUSA), an avid fly-fisherman, and passionate about the intersection of culture, community, collaboration, and conservation.

BrooksM@nwf.org

After spending more than two decades as a journalist, Mary Jo Brooks is thrilled to now be an advocate for something as important as the preservation of this nation’s public lands. As the communications manager for the public lands division of the National Wildlife Federation, she hopes to amplify the voices of the hunters, anglers, kayakers, bird watchers, and other outdoor enthusiasts who love and revere America’s vast national parks, wildlife refuges, and national monuments. When she’s not working, you can find Mary Jo hiking, snowshoeing, and camping in many of these beautiful wild spaces.

BrownleeM@nwf.org

The love of hunting and fishing struck her in her 30s and changed her life in deeply meaningful ways. She has pursued it with vigor ever since. Marcia is deeply passionate about providing opportunities for others to discover the bountiful gifts of our sporting heritage and to protect the lands, waters, and wildlife we rely on. She has a Masters in Education from Harvard Graduate School of Education. She cares deeply about supporting women on their journey as hunters, anglers, and conservation advocates.

CarpenterL@nwf.org

Lew Carpenter is the National Wildlife Federation's Director of Conservation Partnerships in the Rocky Mountain region and also works directly with National Wildlife Federation affiliates in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Nebraska. He also maintains a moderate role working with the National Wildlife Federation’s Austin office on restoring Louisiana wetlands.

His primary role is to advise the affiliate board directors in CO, NM, AZ, and NE on leadership cultivation, capacity building, and programmatic work (policy advice on regional and national issues)—where these groups should weigh in politically in their region to effect results.

At the end of the day, Carpenter’s job is about ensuring the long-term effectiveness of the National Wildlife Federation and its affiliates by building strong organizations, developing and supporting effective leadership, and creating strong networks of influential people to achieve national and regional conservation victories.

DreherD@nwf.org

GreeneM@nwf.org

Mary is the Public Lands Attorney for the National Wildlife Federation. Growing up she spent summers and vacations outdoors, whether it be on long hikes with her family or backpacking throughout the West. She is excited to use her role at the National Wildlife Federation to ensure that future generations can have these same experiences.

KindleA@nwf.org

Aaron is lifelong Westerner, originally from Wyoming, who possesses a deep appreciation for the West, its people, and its wild country. He comes to National Wildlife Federation from Trout Unlimited, where he worked on public lands issues for their Sportsmen’s Conservation Project for four and a half years. Aaron went to college in Gunnison, Colorado, and received his M.S. from the University of Montana. He is an avid hunter, angler, boater, and all-around outdoor enthusiast. He lives with his wife and two children in Salida, CO. Aaron focuses on hunter/angler conservation efforts throughout the West, including keeping public lands in public hands, responsible energy development, and elevating the National Wildlife Federation’s sporting voice across the country.

KnightA@nwf.org

Amanda Knight is the Design Coordinator for the National Wildlife Federation’s Early Childhood Health Outdoors (ECHO) program. She works to design engaging outdoor learning environments in hopes that daily contact with nature will help children to value healthy lifestyles and the natural world starting at a young age. Her role as a designer includes but is not limited to conducting site analysis, assisting with design workshops and trainings, preparing CAD base maps, drawing schematic plans, rendering illustrative plans, and action-planning with clients. Amanda’s favorite part of the job is experiencing everyone’s excitement in bringing an outdoor learning environment to life.

Amanda joined the National Wildlife Federation in June 2018 after graduating from The Ohio State University with a degree in Landscape Architecture and a minor in Society and Environmental Issues. While in school, her independent research focused on children and their relationship to the natural environment; more specifically, her final capstone project involved designing urban summer camps to connect youth with nature in the city.

Born and raised in Maine, Amanda spent her childhood weekend mornings designing houses on her family computer and playing in the woods behind her house with her brother, inspiring her love for the outdoors. When she’s not designing children’s environments, Amanda can be found exploring Denver with her friends, saving lucky rocks from her most recently hiked trail, or working on some crafty project that will probably end up as a birthday gift.

KonradiS@nwf.org

Sarah Konradi, PLA, ASLA, is a licensed landscape architect experienced in working with underserved communities to improve the quality of the outdoor-built environment to promote and sustain meaningful connections between young children and the natural world. Her work as Senior Design Associate at the Natural Learning Initiative, College of Design, NC State University, focused on improving children’s healthy development through design education and technical assistance for the implementation of naturalized outdoor learning environments. She has been involved in the programming and design of a wide range of outdoor spaces, including child care centers, schools, parks, community centers, public gardens, and other sites around the U.S. Sarah has worked for over five years on the development and implementation of the Preventing Obesity by Design program, addressing the obesity epidemic in young children attending child care by transforming child care outdoor learning environments (OLEs) into active, productive, best-practice demonstration sites.

MorrisMa@nwf.org

OlwellM@nwf.org

Growing up with one foot in the eastern deciduous forests and another in mountains of Colorado, Meaghan has always been most at peace when surrounded by nature. Meaghan’s career began in the nonprofit art world. As an operations professional in both the art and conservation fields, she managed construction projects, exhibition openings, major fundraisers, and everything in between. Meaghan joined the National Wildlife Federation’s Philanthropy department in 2014, organizing the Annual National Conservation Achievement Awards Gala. Since joining the Rocky Mountain Regional Center in 2015, Meaghan has led budgeting, program development, and regional management. Meaghan spends her free time hiking, climbing, and exploring throughout the beautiful state of Colorado with her husband and baby boy.

RomeroJ@nwf.org

SedlakA@nwf.org

FallonC@nwf.org

SimonC@nwf.org

Voggesser@nwf.org

Garrit Voggesser is the Director of the National Wildlife Federation’s Tribal Partnerships program. Garrit has worked with the National Wildlife Federation for more than 14 years, engaging tribes nationwide on a wide array of wildlife and habitat conservation issues, particularly western water issues; bison conservation; protecting tribal resources from energy extraction; ensuring equity for tribes in federal natural resource legislation and appropriations; and providing environmental education and outdoor opportunities for tribal youth. Prior to his current tenure, Garrit served as the National Wildlife Federation’s bison coordinator and as a tribal conservation consultant. Garrit received a Ph.D. in American Indian and environmental history from the University of Oklahoma in 2004.

WillmsD@nwf.org

David Willms is a Senior Director for Western Wildlife and Conservation. Before joining the National Wildlife Federation, David served as a natural resources policy advisor to Wyoming Governor Matthew H. Mead, and a natural resource attorney in both the public and private sector. He also teaches a graduate course on the Endangered Species Act at the University of Wyoming, and writes frequently on various wildlife and land management issues.

David received a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology and Management and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Wyoming. He lives in Cheyenne, Wyoming, with his wife and three young children.