BOARD OF DIRECTORS


Jeff Randa
Chair

Jeff has a significant passion for the outdoors, including public land stewardship and participating in numerous outdoor activities. His background includes forty years in developing and executing global business and marketing plans in the engineered plastics industry, leading to revenue growth and expanding brand awareness. Before retiring, he worked for leading global companies, including Dow and Avient. The last seven years were spent building a business which focused on working with leading name brand outdoor gear manufacturers, assisting in innovating new products for outdoor enthusiasts.

Jeff was a Board member for a business-to-business nonprofit for four years, gaining an appreciation for the nonprofit drivers versus those for a profit entity. He is currently a patrolling member with the Poudre Wilderness Volunteers and serves on the organization’s Board of Directors as well as on several committees.

Contact Jeff at [email protected]


Bill Hodge
Vice-Chair

Bill is the co-host of The Wild Idea podcast, and co-founder of Wild Idea Media. Bill previously served as for over four years as the Montana State Director for The Wilderness Society and Executive Director of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation and prior to that over 12 years as the Founding Executive Director of the Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards. He comes to NWSA having deep connections and passion for wilderness and for the work of NWSA. He served as NWSA Board chair during the early years of the organization and was instrumental in helping to shape the organization as it transitioned to hiring its first contracted staff member, Randy Welsh.

Contact Bill at [email protected]


Taylor Driver
Secretary

Taylor is an avid backpacker, nonprofit leader, coalition-builder, and lifelong public lands advocate. In her current role as Executive Director of the Nature and Wildlife Discovery Center in Colorado, she leads a mission-driven nonprofit with a focus on environmental education, wildlife rehabilitation, and outdoor recreation.

Contact Taylor at [email protected]

 


Sean Orner
Treasurer

Sean is a nonprofit leader, educator, and longtime small business advisor who is passionate about connecting people to meaningful outdoor experiences and stewardship of public lands. As Director of Buckhorn Camp & Retreat Center in Northern Colorado, she oversees a historic mountain facility that serves youth, schools, and community groups. With more than 15 years of experience supporting small business, Sean brings a practical, systems-oriented approach to nonprofit management and operations. Her work is grounded in building strong organizations, stewarding resources responsibly, and creating spaces that foster growth, learning, and connection.

Sean is also an active patrolling member with Poudre Wilderness Volunteers, where she has served on the Board of Directors as Secretary and later as Board Chair, and continues to lead as Chair of the Outreach Committee. Her work reflects a deep, hands-on commitment to stewardship and the protection of Colorado’s public lands.

Contact Sean at [email protected]


Bob Ratcliffe

Bob is recently retired from the National Park Service where he served as Division Chief, Conservation and Outdoor Recreation. In his most recent capacity, Bob oversaw a portfolio that included the NPS Office of Outdoor Recreation; the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) Program, National Trails System and National Rivers system among others. Previously, Bob served 24 years for the Bureau of Land Management in a variety of field and national leadership roles including over a dozen years as Deputy Assistant Director for Resources and Division Chief for Recreation and Visitor Services. He has spent much of the last four decades exploring public lands and developing new and progressive national policies conserving and restoring special places, enhancing visitor experiences, and partnering with gateway communities, recreation, and tourism interests in promoting responsible recreation and encouraging community engagement while balancing protection of resources. For over 40 years, Bob has run rivers in the West including time spent as a river guide and eventually a backcountry ranger on the Green and Colorado Rivers. Bob and his wife hope to spend more time at their home Bend, OR following their retirement.

Contact Bob at [email protected]


Simon Heinberg

Simon is currently pursuing a Master’s degree at the Duke Nicholas School of the Environment and previously served as Philanthropy Manager at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, managing the organization’s portfolio of grants. At Duke, Simon is pursuing a Master of Environmental Management specializing in ecology and conservation.

Simon is passionate about conservation and outdoor recreation. At the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, he oversaw the organization’s institutional fundraising and fundraised on behalf of the Conservancy’s work in landscape conservation, natural resource stewardship, trail maintenance, and outdoor volunteerism and education. Simon is also an avid outdoor enthusiast, and grew up canoeing, backpacking, and hiking in Vermont and New England. Simon has a B.A. in philosophy with a minor in economics from Pomona College. In his free time, he can be found hiking, skiing, or in the kitchen attempting recipes above his skill level.

Contact Simon at [email protected]


Quinn Brett

Quinn is an athlete, writer, and public speaker. She holds speed records and climbing records on many peaks across the globe. On October 11, 2017, she fell while climbing on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, now paralyzed from the waist down. Her injury spun up her advocacy on public lands, now thru an additional lens. She returned to work for the National Park Service before departing to work as the Development Director for a spinal cord injury education and advocacy non-profit, as well as starting an adaptive recreation consulting company. Her spirit for adventure did not fall away with her injury, Quinn is the first known hand-cyclists to complete the Tour Divide and has also hiked the rim to rim of the Grand Canyon in her mobility device.

Contact Quinn at [email protected]


None

Max Nathanson

Max is an avid outdoorsperson who is deeply passionate about stewardship, conservation, public lands, and rural communities. He has worked with Latino and Tribal communities across the country and brings extensive experience balancing rural economic development with conservation and stewardship. His resume includes leading outdoor recreation and renewable energy business development for Governor Jared Polis, supporting just transition efforts in coal communities, and designing disaster response preparedness for the Department of Defense.

Contact Max at [email protected]

 

 


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AGENCY LIAISONS


Steve Chesterton - USDA Forest Service

Brenda Yankoviak - USDA Forest Service

 


BOARD ALUMNI


Michelle Reilly, 2025

Ann Baker-Easley, past Vice-Chair, 2020-2025

Mike Splain, past Treasurer, 2020-2025

Kaitlin de Varona, past Secretary, 2021-2025

Ian Nelson, past Chair, 2019-2025

Randy Rasmussen, past Chair, 2017-2023

Dave Cantrell, past Chair, 2012-2014 & 2016-2023

Anne Sentz, past Secretary, 2016-2023

Sandy Compton, 2017-2023

Katie Currier, past Chair and Vice-Chair, 2016-2023

Chelsea Phillippe, 2020-2022

Andrew Downs, 2015-2021

David Kallenbach, 2019-2021

Zach Bumgarner, 2019-2020

Stuart Dodd, 2016-2019

Andrew Schurr, 2012-2019

Darcy Shepard, 2012-2018

Jennifer Tripp, 2016-2018

Eric Melson, 2016-2018

Doug Scott, past Chair, 2013-2017

Bill Hodge, past Chair, 2011-2016

Bob Hazelton, 2012-2016

Hawk Metheny, 2010-2016

Shaaron Netherton, 2010-2016

Celina Montorfano, 2010-2016

Adam Andis, 2010-2016

Daven Hafey, 2014

Margaret Shaklee, 2011-2013

Elaine Dermody, past Vice-Chair, 2010-2012

Jerome Wilson, 2010-2012

Heather Day,  2010-2011