Executive Director, Dr. Franz J. Camenzind:
Franz has been involved with the Conservation Alliance for more than 20 years and has lived in Jackson Hole since 1970. He holds a B.S. in Biology from the University of Wisconsin, an M.S. in Zoology from Brigham Young University, and a Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Wyoming. He is a well-respected wildlife cinematographer and has produced films for ABC, Discovery, and National Geographic. Franz served as an Alliance board member from 1984 to 1996 before accepting the position as Executive Director in July of 1996. In addition to being the leading spokesperson for the Alliance and heading up the Alliance staff, Franz keeps close tabs on issues dealing with wildlife and land management issues.

Community Planning Director, Kristy Bruner:
After nearly four years of adventure and graduate school in Alaska, new Community Planning Director Kristy (Phlegar) Bruner is happy to return to the Conservation Alliance, and to the Greater Yellowstone, a landscape that feels like home. Born and raised in the mountains of Virginia, she headed west in 1994 to work in Yellowstone National Park and was hooked. Since that journey, she worked four seasons as a field biologist for the National Park Service in Yellowstone, plus several years for the Alliance, and was actively involved in several other nonprofits throughout the valley. In 2003, Kristy headed to Alaska, where she studied gateway community development issues. Kristy received a master’s degree in Urban Ecology / Greenways Planning from the University of Alaska in December 2007, and she has a bachelor’s in Environmental Science and International Relations from the College of William & Mary. She and her husband Luke, and dog Gibbon, are excited about their return and are grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such an incredible, incomparable place.

Finance Manager, Gail Fustos:
A Wyoming resident for almost 50 years, Gail moved to Jackson in 1987 after first falling for the area as a teen while working for the Youth Conservation Corps in 1973. An avid hiker and environmentalist, Gail literally walks her talk by commuting to work and running errands on foot or by bicycle all year round. “I became a genuine environmentalist for the same reason I became a vegetarian at age 15, when my falconer brother said to me, ‘Someone is killing the meat you eat’ after I told him how cruel he was to kill animals to train his birds of prey,” Gail said. “For the environmental movement to work, environmentalists need to live what they preach.” In her spare time, Gail often helps the Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation remove unused barbed wire fencing and maintains trails on and around Snow King during hikes to contribute to her community karma. Gail has a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the University of Wyoming.

Managing Director, Cindy Harger:
Cindy, a longtime local, joined the Alliance staff in May of 1999. For five years, she drew on her extensive background in journalism and environmental reporting to work as the Communications Director, where she edited newsletters, ads, alerts and the website. In 2004, she started to provide her leadership on outreach, development, communications and finance, and in January 2006, she officially became the Managing Director to aid Executive Director Franz Camenzind with administrative duties. Cindy graduated from Jackson Hole High School and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from the William Allen White School of Journalism at the University of Kansas. She recently earned her master’s degree in Organizational Psychology by traveling once a month for a program based in Seattle.

Communications Director, Dorothy Jankowsky:
Born and raised in Delaware, Dorothy became beguiled by the Tetons early on because her grandparents had a great old photo of the Grand in back of the woodstove at their farm. There aren’t a lot of mountains in Delaware... After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism from Northeastern University, and a varied career as reporter, editor and graphic artist, Dorothy finally arrived in Jackson Hole in 1995, the same week wolves were reintroduced in Yellowstone, to take a design job at the Jackson Hole News. Since then, she worked in both the editorial and advertising departments there, with a three-year hiatus designing magazines for Powder Mountain Press in Driggs. Volunteer activities have included stints at Habitat for Humanity, Teton Valley Humane Society and the Teton Literacy Program, but she’s glad to have finally found meaningful paid work at the Alliance. Dorothy and her husband, Dave, live in a fixer-upper in Victor, where her grandparent’s Teton photo hangs above the door.

Public Lands Director, Louise Lasley:
Louise joined the Conservation Alliance in June 2007 to take on the role of lead staff person for public lands and wildlife management issues within the Jackson Hole region. She is responsible for monitoring and commenting on environmental policy issues; developing and coordinating campaigns; and building collaborative relationships with officials, agencies, organizations and members. Louise has lived in Jackson Hole for 24 years and has a bachelor’s degree in geology. Her conservation advocacy experience includes work for the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative, and Africa Rainforest and River Conservation. She has consulted on wildlife biology issues, worked as a naturalist for the Bridger-Teton National Forest and has experience in other roles at organizations such as the Teton County School District, Teton Literacy Program, Gonnella & Sullivan, and the Teton County Library. “Louise has a wide breadth of knowledge and experience about the land and wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem,” said Franz Camenzind, Conservation Alliance executive director. “She has long been an asset to the community, and we are thrilled to now have her as part of our team.”

Office Manager, Heather Mathews:
For years, Heather Mathews’ warm smile has greeted thousands of Jacksonites and visitors at venues ranging from the old Betty Rock Cafe to the Animal Adoption Center downtown. Now her familiar face is a welcome sight at the Conservation Alliance’s front desk, where she took over as office manager extraordinaire in December 2006. Originally from Cleveland, Heather first saw Jackson during a family vacation at age 12 and said she “never forgot the mountains and rivers.” In Spring 1997, Heather heard Doug Smith talk about the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, where she was working at the time. “I knew I had to move to this area,” she said. Good as her word, Heather moved here to work for a dude ranch at the end of May 1997. Since then, she’s worked for Betty Rock, Animal Care Clinic and the Animal Adoption Center, all the while volunteering for the Alliance and for PAWS and RDOG. Heather enjoys biking, hiking, snowshoeing, “all kinds of skiing, and anything I can do with my husband and dogs outside in this amazing ecosystem.”

Intern, Becky Tillson:
From camper to counselor to conservationist, the Alliance’s newest intern Becky Tillson not only fell for the charms of Jackson Hole, she became committed to preserving them. Becky first laid eyes on the Tetons “years ago, from the back of a minivan” on a family trip, and it was love at first sight. A guest for one season at Teton Valley Ranch Camp, Becky later spent four summers working there as a counselor, then trip leader. “It was just an amazing thing to backpack here and get paid for it,” she recalls. The California native made her permanent move to Jackson in the throes of winter 2008, and started at the Alliance in August, pitching in on everything from selling raffle tickets to helping organize our Wild and Scenic film fest to putting together a Powerpoint presentation for our Don’t Poach the Powder campaign. Becky says that as as our fall intern, “I have loved learning about this incredible community in a very hands-on way, which has deepened my understanding of this place and of nonprofit work in general. The experience that I have been given here has and will continue to inform the path I will take in the future, to different jobs and to graduate studies.” She majored in International Relations and Environmental Studies at Brown University, graduating in 2007, and says she’s excited to focus on Jackson issues, including the Comprehensive Plan, future development and conservation.

Development Director, Lisa Vogelheim:
After serving on the Alliance’s Board for about two years, Lisa Vogelheim put on a different hat and joined the organization’s staff in January 2005 as development director. A registered nurse with experience in pediatrics, healthcare research and family outreach, Lisa is accustomed to wearing many hats throughout her career. She is excited about working to protect Jackson Hole's wildlife, curb sprawl and preserve open space, and brings with her an enthusiastic and community-oriented approach to the Alliance’s programs. During her tenure on the Board, Lisa became involved in fundraising and development for the Alliance while serving in an advisory role as Development Committee Chairperson. She now leads the Alliance’s work on fundraising, grants and membership drives. She graduated in 1984 from Eastern Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing.