Board of Directors
John Hendricks
ChairmanJohn S. Hendricks is the Founder and Chairman of Discovery Communications, the world’s number one nonfiction media company. Hendricks created Discovery Channel in 1985 as the first cable network in the United States designed to provide high quality documentary programming enabling people to explore their world and satisfy their curiosity. For nearly 25 years, Hendricks has been the driving force behind Discovery’s dramatic growth, including the expansion of Discovery Communications from its core property, Discovery Channel, to current global operations in more than 170 countries and territories reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers. Under Hendricks’ leadership, Discovery’s stable of networks now encompass more than 100 networks of distinctive programming representing 27 entertainment brands including TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Investigation Discovery, Planet Green and HD Theater. Discovery’s other properties include Discovery Education, Discovery Commerce and a portfolio of digital services including HowStuffWorks.com. In September 2009, Discovery announced that Hendricks is leading the development of a new, landmark original series, “CURIOSITY: The Questions of Life,” scheduled to premiere on Discovery Channel in early 2011. Inspired by Hendricks’ vision, CURIOSITY will tackle the fundamental questions and underlying mysteries of our time through 60 one-hour episodes spread over five years. The series will be complemented by educational content for schools, deep-dive online content, and related learning retreats at the Experius Academy, also founded by Hendricks, which provides a unique leisure-time destination for individuals who share a passion for learning, a thirst for adventure, and a desire to live an inspired life. A visionary in the media industry, Hendricks has been honored with a Primetime Emmy Award and with the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences highest honor, the Governors Award, for conceiving the TLC series, Great Books. The Ark Trust named him a recipient of the Genesis Award for lifetime achievement for his efforts in raising awareness around the globe about animal issues. Hendricks also has been recognized as the first corporate leader to receive the National Education Association’s Friend of Education award for “innovations in education and technology and greatly expanding educational opportunity for America’s schoolchildren.” Hendricks serves on the board of directors of a number of non-profit organizations including the United States Olympic Committee and is Chairman of the National Forest Foundation. Before 1985, Hendricks founded and served as president of the American Association of University Consultants (AAUC), a private consulting organization that specialized in television distribution, marketing and fundraising for educational programs and services. Hendricks holds a B.A. in history (magna cum laude, 1974) and an honorary doctorate (1991) from the University of Alabama, Huntsville.
David Bell
Vice ChairmanDavid Bell has deep experience in the Marketing Services sector having been CEO of three major industry companies - Bozell Worldwide, True North Communications and The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. The various positions Mr. Bell held at Bozell Worldwide led to his becoming its CEO where he became a major factor in building the company from a $12 million company to one worth over $600 million, making it one of the ten largest global agencies. Following the acquisition of Bozell by True North, he was named CEO of that fourth largest Agency Holding Group. Following the acquisition of True North by the Interpublic Group, he was named CEO of this second largest Agency Holding Group with 44,000 employees and nearly $7 billion in revenue. The shareholder value of each company had increased by over 50% in each case. Mr. Bell is the only industry executive ever to lead all industry associations - The American Association of Advertising, Agencies American Advertising Federation, The Ad Council, and The Advertising Educational Foundation. All of these achievements were recognized by his peers, who elected him to the Advertising Hall of Fame in 2007. Mr. Bell was a senior advisor to Google from 2006 to 2009 and is currently a senior advisor to AOL for its comeback. He is also the non-executive chair of two unique global agencies, Creative Realities and Gyro. He is an independent director of Warnaco and Lighting Science Group. Mr. Bell continues his passion for start-up and early stage internet/technology companies, holding several board positions including: Double Verify, Stylesight, Your Tango, Resonate Networks, Vizu and Media6degrees.
Craig R. Barrett
Vice ChairmanDr. Craig Barrett is a leading advocate for improving education in the U.S. and around the world. He is also a vocal spokesman for the value technology can provide in raising social and economic standards globally. In 2009, he stepped down as Chairman of the Board of Intel Corporation, a post he held from May 2005 to May 2009. Craig Barrett was born in San Francisco, California. He attended Stanford University in Palo Alto, California from 1957 to 1964, receiving Bachelor of Science, Master of Science and Ph.D. degrees in Materials Science. After graduation, he joined the faculty of Stanford University in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and remained through 1974, rising to the rank of Associate Professor. Dr. Barrett was a Fulbright Fellow at Danish Technical University in Denmark in 1972 and a NATO Postdoctoral Fellow at the National Physical Laboratory in England from 1964 to 1965. He is the author of over 40 technical papers dealing with the influence of microstructure on the properties of materials, and a textbook on materials science, Principles of Engineering Materials. Dr. Barrett joined Intel Corporation in 1974 and held positions of vice president, senior vice president and executive vice president from 1984 to 1990. In 1992, he was elected to Intel Corporation's Board of Directors and was promoted to chief operating officer in 1993. Dr. Barrett became Intel's fourth president in 1997, chief executive officer in 1998 and chairman of the Board in 2005. Dr. Barrett served until June 2009 as Chairman of the United Nations Global Alliance for Information and Communication Technologies and Development, which works to bring computers and other technology to developing parts of the world. He chairs Change The Equation, a national education science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) coalition, Achieve, Inc. and Dossia, and vice chairs Science Foundation Arizona and the National Forest Foundation. Dr. Barrett is president and chairman of BASIS School, Inc. and a member of the Board of Directors of K12 Inc., Society for Science and the Public, Arizona Commerce Authority Board, and Grameen Intel Social Business. He was appointed by the President of the Russian Federation as International co-chairman of the Skolkovo Foundation Council and serves on the Council for Foreign Relations Task Force on U.S. Education Reform and National Security, the advisory board of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, the faculty of Thunderbird School of Global Management, and is Honorary Chairman of the Irish Technology Leadership Group. Dr. Barrett has served on numerous boards, policy and government panels, and has been an appointee of the President's Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations and the American Health Information Community. He has co-chaired the Business Coalition for Student Achievement and the National Innovation Initiative Leadership Council, and has served as a member of the Board of Trustees for the U.S. Council for International Business and the Clinton Global Initiative Education Advisory Board. Dr. Barrett has been a member of the National Governors' Association Task Force on Innovation America, the National Infrastructure Advisory Council, the Committee on Scientific Communication and National Security, the U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum, past chair of the National Academy of Engineering, and formerly served on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Semiconductor Industry Association, the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering, and TechNet.
Bradley K. Johnson
TreasurerBrad Johnson served for eight years as chief administrative officer and chief financial officer of REI, the national retail cooperative providing high-quality outdoor gear and clothing. Prior to joining REI, Johnson had 20 years’ experience as a retail industry executive, having served as chief administrative officer and chief financial officer for Lands’ End, Inc. and chief financial officer of Cornerstone Brands and Wilson’s Leather. Johnson was responsible for finance, human resources, information services, logistics, real estate, legal, construction, investor relations, and catalog production at various times in his career. He currently serves as a board member for the National Forest Foundation and The Grange Supply. He has served on multiple corporate boards and advisory boards for Utah State University and Brigham Young University. Johnson is a graduate of Utah State University and received an MBA from the University of Utah. He enjoys cycling, hiking and mountaineering.
Timothy Proctor Schieffelin
SecretaryTim Schieffelin is an advisor to Source Capital Group, Inc and to JSBO Realty & Capital, Inc Previously, Mr. Schieffelin was a Senior Vice President with Bank of America’s Private Bank. Prior to that, Mr. Schieffelin was with Citigroup for 27 years as an executive in various capacities in the institutional group and in their private banking group. While at Citigroup, he was appointed to the Board of the International Operations Association, a division of the Securities Industry Association. During his tenure in Citigroup’s Private Bank, he became a Managing Director. Mr. Schieffelin serves on the Executive, Finance, Audit and (co-chair of) Development Committees of the National Forest Foundation, for which he also serves as the Board Secretary, and on the Board, Investment and Downeast Campus Committees of the Maine Sea Coast Mission, the Descendants Advisory Board of the Friends of John Jay Homestead and their Scholars Committee, and Board and Investment Committee of Sand Pond Corp. He serves on the Deerfield Academy Parents’ Committee. He is a former Vestry member and Finance Committee member of Christ Church Greenwich as well as an EfM program graduate. He is a member of the Pilgrims of the United States and a life member of Squadron A Association. Mr. Schieffelin is a Certified Investment Management Consultant (CIMC/IMCA), has his Series 7, 63 and 79 licenses, and his NY real estate sales license. He is a graduate of Washington & Jefferson College where he served as a two-term Trustee. Mr. Schieffelin is married with four daughters.
Peter B. Foreman
Executive Committee MemberPeter Foreman lives in Chicago and is married with 2 children and 4 grandchildren. He is an avid traveler, fisherman, and outdoorsman. Professional: Mr. Foreman has been involved in investment management for 39 years. Mr. Foreman has been involved in the securities industry since 1960. He began his career as a sales trainee for Glore, Forgan, Wm. R. Staats, Inc. He became a shareholder of the firm in 1964, and Senior Vice President and Director in 1967. From 1969 through 1975, Mr. Foreman was a Vice President, Director and shareholder of R.J. Levy Harris & Co., the original predecessor to Harris Associates, L.P. In January of 1976, Mr. Foreman became a founding partner of Harris Associates, L.P., an independent investment advisory firm specializing in the management of equity and balanced portfolios for families and institutions, and was highly instrumental in the development of the firm's business. In 1994, Mr. Foreman left Harris Associates L.P. and started his own investment management firm, Sirius Corporation. He manages Procyon Partners, a limited partnership focusing on fund to fund investing. Education: Undergraduate work done at Hobart College and Colorado State University. Civic: Mr. Foreman currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the John G. Shedd Aquarium as well as the Board of Directors of the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Tom Tidwell
Chief, U.S Forest Service - Ex-officioChief Tom Tidwell grew up in Boise, Idaho, and graduated from Washington State University. He has spent 32 years with the Forest Service in a variety of positions. He began his Forest Service career on the Boise National Forest in fire, and has since worked on eight different national forests, in three regions. He has worked at all levels of the agency in a variety of positions, including District Ranger, Forest Supervisor, and Legislative Affairs Specialist in the Washington Office, where he worked on the planning rule, the 2001 roadless rule and the Secure Rural Schools County Payments Act. Tom served as the Deputy Regional Forester for the Pacific Southwest Region with primary responsibility for fire and aviation management, recreation, engineering, state and private forestry and tribal relations. Under Tom’s leadership, there was a significant increase in the Region’s effectiveness to reduce hazardous fuels, and improved cooperation with CALFIRE on wildland fire suppression. Prior to becoming Chief, Tom served as the Regional Forester for the Northern Region, with responsibility for the national forests and grasslands in northern Idaho, Montana, North Dakota and portions of South Dakota. As the Regional Forester, Tom encouraged and supported community-based collaboration to find resolution on how and where to use active management to restore forest health and address wildfire threat to communities, and to provide protection for the values of unroaded landscapes. Tom’s field experience includes working from the rural areas of Nevada and Idaho all the way to the urban Forests in California and the Wasatch-Cache National Forest in Utah, where he served as Forest Supervisor during the 2002 Winter Olympics. Tom has extensive fire experience, beginning as a firefighter, and accumulating nineteen years as an agency administrator responsible for fire suppression decisions.
Tom is married to Kim, and they have one daughter, MacKenzie.
Mike Brown
Board MemberMike Brown, Jr. is a Founder and General Partner at AOL Ventures, the venture capital and R&D arm of AOL. At AOL Ventures he focuses on investments in the consumer internet space in the U.S., U.K. and Israel and works closely with portfolio companies’ betaworks, 20x200, bit.ly, Movie Pass, gdgt, Metamarkets and Solve Media. In a prior life, Mr. Brown worked for the investment arm and incubator of Richard Branson’s Virgin Group and focused on creating new Virgin businesses and investing capital in early stage digital media and consumer service businesses on behalf of the British entrepreneur. Earlier he co-founded the largest healthy vending company in the US (www.healthyvending.com) and began his career at Morgan Stanley. Outside of his professional life he serves as a Director of the Columbia College Young Alumni Fund Development Council and The Hope & Heroes Children’s Cancer Fund. Mr. Brown is a graduate of Columbia University with a B.A. in International Relations and is based in New York, NY.
Coleman Burke
Board MemberColeman Burke is the founder and Managing Partner of Waterfront Properties located in New York, New York since 1983. The commercial real estate company specializes in office, retail, art gallery, museum and storage properties with holdings in New York, Maine, Massachusetts, and Colorado. Three of the properties are landmarked and two have undergone substantial renovations. One is nominated to be included in the Maine and National Register. Prior to founding Waterfront Properties, Mr. Burke was a partner at the law firm of Burke & Burke for 13 years, 1970-1983, where he was a corporate and tax attorney and served on the Executive Committee. He received a law degree at Case Western Reserve University School of Law. He served as a lieutenant JG in the U.S. Navy aboard a destroyer, USS Rowan DD 782, during the Vietnam War, after graduating from Yale in 1963. He was the Main Propulsion Assistant to the Chief Engineer, Communications Officer, and a Fleet Officer of the deck. Mr. Burke has spent almost forty years dedicating his services to the environmental movement; in particular, the preservation of our oceans, forests, wetlands, and clean water. He is an investor in clean energy and a proponent of LEED certification for new construction or restoration. His hobbies are amateur geology and amateur paleontology. He serves on the Deep Ocean Exploration Institute at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. He surveys geology on his own at the Yale University Science Libraries before leading field trips to identify dinosaur bones in Wyoming, Montana, and Patagonia. Within the past two years, he has given the Burke Auditorium at Kroon Hall to the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. He has established the Coleman P. Burke Chair in the areas of tax, trusts and estates in honor of Professor Leon Gabinet at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Burke serves as a trustee of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the National Forest Foundation, the Leadership Council of The Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies, The Yale University of Forestry & Environmental Studies and the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History. He is a director of the National Parks of New York Harbor Conservancy covering the 26 national parks in New York Harbor. He serves on the Science Committee of The New York Botanical Garden. He was a former trustee of St. Paul’s School, The Leakey Foundation and the Professional Children’s School and a former member of the Board of Overseers of Case Western Reserve University School of Law. He is a retired member of the New York Bar. He is a lifetime member of the Sierra Club. Mr. Burke is a member of the New York Real Estate Board, the Bedford Historical Society, Pjepscot Historical Society, the Nantucket Historical Society, St. Matthew’s Church, and the Society for Vertebrate Paleontology. Mr. Burke has spent fifteen years finding dinosaur bones in Patagonia and Wyoming and has contributed many of them to museums. He has led flag expeditions for the Explorers Club to Patagonia on paleontological digs for dinosaur bones and to Tierra del Fuego to locate and descend rivers never attempted before. He is an avid player of golf, tennis, ice hockey, skiing, shooting, fishing and sailing. He has four children who join him on such activities – two in San Francisco and two in New York and Portsmouth, New Hampshire; seven grandchildren. He is writing a book about Charles Darwin’s early years in South America.
Blaise Carrig
Board MemberBlaise Carrig is President - Mountain Division of Vail Resorts, with oversight of the company’s mountain resort operations. He had been Co-President since September 2008. Previously, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Heavenly Mountain Resort since January 2008 and prior to that had served as Senior Vice President since 2002. From 1997-2002, Mr. Carrig was the President and Managing Director for The Canyons in Park City, Utah. Prior to 1997, he served as the Managing Director of the Sugarbush Resort in Warren, Vermont. Mr. Carrig has been active in the ski industry, having served on the boards of the Vermont Ski Area Association, Ski Utah and the California Ski Industry Association. Mr. Carrig currently serves on the Executive Board of the National Ski Areas Association; the Board of Directors of the Tahoe Baikal Institute, an international environmental organization; the Board of Directors for the Tahoe Fund; the Board of Directors for the National Forest Foundation; and also serves on the Nevada Commission on Tourism.
Caroline Choi
Board MemberCaroline Choi is Vice President, Regulatory and Environmental Policy for Southern California Edison (SCE), responsible for the integration of environmental regulatory activities with economic regulation and resource planning, and for non-rate or procurement related California Public Utilities Commission regulations. Prior to joining SCE, Choi was executive director of Environmental Services & Strategy at Progress Energy. Since 1997 she served the company in various roles, including director, Energy Policy & Strategy and manager, Federal Public Affairs. Choi serves on the EEI Environmental Executive Advisory Committee. She is a graduate of Dartmouth College.
Robert Cole
Board MemberRobert G. Cole is shareholder with the law firm of Collins Cockrel & Cole. Bob’s legal practice focuses on all areas of local government law, with an emphasis on general counsel representation of municipalities and special districts. His work includes serving as Town Attorney for Gypsum and Pagosa Springs, Colorado, general counsel for numerous emergency service providers, and assisting clients with water supply development, public lands and environmental issues. Bob organized the City of Centennial, Colorado, a large Denver area city, and served as its first City Attorney. Bob received his law degree from the University of Colorado in 1986, where he emphasized natural resource law study and was the President of the Environmental Law Society. Bob received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1980 from Oklahoma State University in Forest Management. Before law school, Bob worked for nine years for the United States Forest Service on the Sequoia, Cleveland and Klamath National Forests in California, primarily in fire management and timber management, and also worked as a paid-call firefighter with Tulare County/California Division of Forestry. In addition to serving on the National Forest Foundation Board of Directors, Bob is a member of the Denver, Colorado, and American Bar Associations; Denver Metro City Attorneys Association; Society of American Foresters, Fire and Economics, Policy and Law working groups and previously Chair for the Mile High Chapter; the National Fire Protection Association Wildland Fire Working Section; an associate member of the Colorado State Fire Chiefs’ Association and the Association of Retired Forest Service Employees; and a former member and Vice-Chair of the Clear Creek County Planning Commission and Upper Bear Creek/East Mount Evans master plan task force. Bob is married to Patty McInnis-Cole. They have four young children and live in Evergreen Colorado, where their interests include family outings in the mountains and forests of Colorado, fly fishing, bicycling, and youth sports.
Bart Eberwein
Board MemberBart Eberwein, Executive Vice President, Hoffman Construction Company, with offices in Portland and Seattle, and projects throughout the West. Hoffman is 85-years old, with annual sales bouncing between $600 million and $1.4 billion over the last 15 years. Recent notable projects include the Seattle Library (Rem Koolhaus); Experience Music Project (Frank Gehry); Tacoma Art Museum (Antoine Predock); Seattle City Hall (Peter Bohlin); Doernbecher Children’s Hospital (Bob Frasca). Hoffman clients with wide name recognition include: Intel, Hewlett Packard, Boeing, Philips, Fujitsu, Westin and Marriott Hotels. Mr. Eberwein, is a father of Ella, Hayden and Douglas and husband of Jill. Oregon Arts Commissioner; founding Board member of CAWS (Construction Apprenticeship & Workforce Solutions, Inc.) Past Board member of Cycle Oregon, Architecture Foundation of Oregon, Portland AIA, Oregon Literary Arts, Oregon Symphony, Northwest Youth Corps. Avid cyclist. Collector of modern first editions and other literary ephemera.
Robert Feitler
Board MemberRobert Feitler has served as director and chairman, executive committee of Weyco Group Inc., manufacturer, purchaser and distributor of men’s footwear since 1996. Previous to this position, he was president and chief operating office from 1968 to 1996 and president, treasurer from 1964 to 1968. Mr. Feitler earned his bachelor’s degree from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and obtained his J.D. from Harvard University. He currently serves as Trustee Emeriti for the University of Chicago and a Life Trustee for the University of Chicago Hospitals and Healthcare Systems. His civic involvement also includes serving as chair of the Smart Family Foundation and the Smart Museum, as well as director of the TC Manufacturing Company. Mr. Feitler is married to Joan Feitler and has four children, Pamela, Robert, Jr., Richard, and Dana (deceased).
Barry Fingerhut
Board MemberBarry K. Fingerhut has been the Chief Executive Officer and majority equity owner of Certification Partners, LLC (CP) since the fall of 2010, moving to Paradise Valley, Arizona from New York City, to manage the Company. CP is the leading vendor-neutral Certification Company for developing requisite IT skills for careers within the emerging markets of the Web, and a Select partner to a number of Certification Associations in helping to build and maintain their Web presence for their members. Previously, Fingerhut has been involved in many phases of the investment business. From 1981 to 2004, he served as President of GeoCapital, LLC (a registered investment advisory firm), which was sold in 1997 to Affiliated Managers Group. Prior to that, he served two years at First Manhattan Co. and four years as a limited and then general partner at Weiss, Peck & Greer. Fingerhut has focused much of his career on public and private investing in small capitalization companies (defined primarily as under $1 billion in equity valuation), in the for-profit education and training, publishing, media, consumer services, hydrocarbon and financial services industries. In 1992, he co-founded Wheatley Partners, a venture capital partnership, specializing in investments in new technologies and services, and serving both corporate and public institutions. Currently, there are five outstanding partnerships. In 2004, he formed Fingerhut Management, a family-and-friends investment office in New York City. In 2009, he co-founded Caregiver Institute, LLC, to address the enormous challenges of aiding home caregiver workers in the United States. Caregiver Institute utilizes immersive learning technologies to serve the skills and enhance the emotional sustenance of the caregiver demographic. Since 1992, Fingerhut has served on a number of public and private boards of directors, with current positions at Caregiver Institute, Edufund Inc. (Global Student Loan Corp.), Aequus Technologies, Certification Partners and YourTango.com, among others, and a current public Board position at Carriage Services, Inc. (He presently serves as Chairman of YourTango.com, and Caregiver Institute, LLC). In the non-profit sector, Fingerhut has served as President and now board member of F.E.G.S. Health and Human Services System in New York City. He also serves on the board of overseers for the Stern School of Business a New York University, and as a board member of Achievement/First Corp., and extraordinary Charter School operation in New Haven and New York City. Fingerhut earned his B.S. degree with distinction from the University of Maryland (1967) and his M.B.A. in Finance/Investments from New York University (1969).
Lee Fromson
Board MemberLee Fromson is a Senior Vice President of Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) in Kent, Washington. REI is an outdoor retail co-op dedicated to inspiring, educating and outfitting its 4.7 million active members for a lifetime of outdoor adventure and stewardship. Founded in 1938 by a group of Pacific Northwest mountaineers seeking quality equipment, REI operates retail stores nationwide, two online stores – REI.com and REI-OUTLET.com – and an adventure travel company, REI Adventures. REI offers products from all of the top brands for human-powered outdoor recreation, including its own line of award-winning gear and apparel. Lee oversees the company’s merchandising strategy, financial planning, inventory management strategies and vendor partnership development. In addition to the NFF Board, Lee also serves on the Board of Advisors for the Appalachian Mountain Club and continues to participate in their semi-annual strategy planning sessions. Founded in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club is America's oldest nonprofit conservation and recreation organization. He also serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Mountaineers. The Mountaineers was formed in 1906 and is dedicated to enriching the community by helping people explore, conserve, learn about and enjoy the lands and waters of the Pacific Northwest. Lee holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, and a Masters of Business Administration Degree from the University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho.
Roje Gootee
Board MemberDr. Roje S. Gootee co-owns and manages Rush Creek Ranch, 3,083 acres of forest and rangeland in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon. At the time of the purchase, improper management by former owners had left much of the property in significantly depleted condition. Thirteen years of active restoration have resulted in substantial improvement, and the property is now an ATFS-certified tree farm. Dr. Gootee is a former United Statement Forest Service employee, having worked as a Range Conservationist on the Modoc National Forests, and a Forester on the Sam Houston and Mount Hood National Forests. She now works as a private consultant specializing in natural resource stewardship and policy, in addition to managing her family’s ranch. She holds a baccalaureate degree in Forest Science from Utah State University, and a Ph.D. in Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences from Washington State University. Her research focuses on the social and legal interference between private forests and environmental regulatory policy. Her research results have been presented in a variety of academic and professional settings including the Thomas Foley Institute, Yale University, and international conferences in Slovenia, France, and Ireland. Her consulting work is directed toward improving public understanding of environmental issues and working toward socially and ecologically sustainable policy solutions. She is an adjunct faculty member at Washington State University, a member of the State of Oregon’s Committee for Family Forestlands, a member of the Operations Committee of the Blue Mountains Forest Partners, and is the environmental advisor for the Franciscan Montessori Earth School, a private school in Portland, Oregon. She is also a member of the International Society for Environmental Ethics, the International Union of Forest Research Organizations, the Society of American Foresters, the Society for Range Management, the Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals, and the Oregon Small Woodlands Association.
Patricia Hayling Price
Board MemberPatricia Hayling Price is President of LiveWorkStrategize LLC, an executive coaching and talent development consulting practice. As a strategic thought partner she supports individuals and organizations wishing to reach higher levels of effectiveness and reward. Her two decades of success at IBM in sales, consulting and as a global marketing executive serve to inform her practice. Prior to her years at IBM Patricia worked for several years on-stage and on-camera as a performing artist. This experience translates to a keen sense for image and communication effectiveness to shape the total presentation of her clients. Her client list includes: MasterCard, Fannie Mae, Marsh McLennan, TIAA - CREF, Ernst and Young, Goldman Sachs, M6D, Rutgers University MBA Program, UNCF - MERCK Science Initiative, College of New Rochelle’s Doctorate Program in Leadership, Pace University Center for N-F-P Management, The Harlem Children’s Zone, Right Management, Viacom, Reed Elsevier/Lexis Nexis and Ambassador Andrew Youngs’ Good Works International Leadership Team. Patricia follows her philosophy to “meet client exactly where they are,” partnering to develop and execute winning strategies; helping clients to harness effective problem solving skills and communicate with clarity, confidence and courageous authenticity… for a winning performance. Patricia has served as a speaker and facilitator for the Forbes Woman in Leadership Conference, Cornell University Graduate Woman's Forum, the Executive Leadership Council’s (ELC) Black Women on Wall Street Symposium, MasterCard’s Global Woman’s Summit, MasterCard’s Coaching Panel, The Westchester/Fairfield Executive Women’s Society, Google’s DNG Panel, Clorox Professional Development, MLT Houston Leadership Development Project at Rice University and MasterCard’s Multicultural Leadership Summit. In the media realm, Patricia has written a quarterly coaching column for the Network Journal and served as a featured guest on a segment of NPR's "All Things Considered", where she conducted a live coaching session on air. Patricia also serves as Managing Director at Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) where she has built and leads it’s Career Advancement Program (CAP) for rising, diverse, mid-level executives from an array of Fortune Companies. CAP was originally funded by Yale School of Management and is now a self sustaining program. It has been under the design and leadership of Patricia from conception in 2008 until today. Yale, Wharton and the Corporate Executive Board have hosted CAP’s acclaimed Leadership Horizon Seminars. Her contributions to community include service on the board of the American Heart Association of Westchester, Westchester Medical Center Board (nominated by Governor Pataki), The International Marketing Research Association Board, The Westchester Clubmen Gala Committee, The Harlem Junior Tennis & Education Program Board and The Bruce Museum of Greenwich Connecticut Gala Committee. She has also served in program development for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Red Cross of Westchester. Patricia is a Charles P. Dana Fellow, a Thomas J. Watson Fellow and a graduate of Colgate University. Patricia resides in Westchester County New York where she and her husband Dr. Thomas Price have raised their daughter who attends the University of Pennsylvania and their son, a policy director in Washington DC…and an accomplished musician.
Damien Huang
Board MemberDamien Huang is currently SVP Merchandising at Eddie Bauer Inc. Eddie Bauer is one of the great original outdoor brands, and operates over 300 Retail and Outlet stores in the United States, Canada, and abroad. In addition, Eddie Bauer maintains a robust catalog and online business. Damien oversees the product strategy for the company, including the development of Eddie Bauer product across many different categories, lifestyles, and adventures. Prior to joining Eddie Bauer, he was VP of Design, Development, and Merchandising at Patagonia Inc where he led a strong expansion of the Patagonia business and sustainability initiatives. Damien graduated Magna Cum Laude from Duke University with a Bachelor of Arts and earned an MBA from the University of California-Berkeley Haas School of Business. An avid skier, snowboarder, climber, backpacker, and fisherman, Damien lives in Seattle with his wife and two young sons.
Jeff Paro
Board MemberJeff Paro, Chief Executive Officer of InterMedia Outdoors, Inc. (formerly Primedia Outdoors, a division of Primedia) is a 30-year industry veteran of enthusiast media. Jeff joined Primedia in 2002, and under his leadership assembled the outdoors’ leading multimedia franchises to form what is now InterMedia Outdoors, Inc., America’s largest outdoor multimedia enthusiast network. Intermedia Outdoors network serves and fuels the passions of over 50 million American Sportsmen. This brand portfolio includes such venerable franchises as The Sportsman Channel, Barrett Productions, Fly Fisherman, Florida Sportsman, Petersen’s Hunting, In Fisherman, Bowhunter, Gun Dog, Wildfowl, Shallow Water Angler, Shooting Times, and others. Prior to joining Primedia Jeff spent 6 years with Times Mirror as VP Group Publisher for Field & Stream and Outdoor Life Magazines, Sr. Vice President of Times Mirror Magazines, and President of The Outdoor Company (Field & Stream, Outdoor Life, and Outdoor Explorer). And he began his career with The New York Times Sports & Leisure Division, where he held a variety of sales, and management positions with Golf Digest, Tennis, and Snow Country Magazines, including National Sales Manager for The Tennis Company, and Publisher of Tennis USTA and Tennis Buyers Guide. Jeff likens his last ten years in the outdoors as “coming home”. His lifelong passion for the outdoors includes fly-fishing, skiing, backpacking, boating, upland bird hunting, mountain biking, and “anything that will get me and my family outdoors”. Jeff is a graduate of the University of Colorado, with a BA in Economics and Political Science. Jeff, his wife Pam and two children live in Short Hills, NJ.
Jack Sahl
Board MemberDr. Jack Sahl, Director of Environment & Resource Sustainability, Southern California Edison (SCE), is responsible for the development, strategy, and implementation of SCE’s sustainability programs for internal operations. This includes activities related to energy and water conservation at SCE facilities; increasing transportation and transport (and logistics) fuel efficiency; chemical management; material reuse, recycle and disposal; and working to ensure that product life-cycle assessments are integrated with the SCE Supply Chain. These initiatives are coordinated with the SCE’s generation and transmission initiatives and customer Demand Response and Energy Efficiency programs. Jack leads the implementation of the SCE policy for electric and magnetic fields, spanning the frequency range of 0 Hz to microwave telecommunications. Jack is also responsible for SCE’s Charitable Contributions in the area of ‘Environmental Giving’. Prior to this assignment, Jack headed SCE’s Corporate Environment, Health & Safety department and was responsible for all aspects of worker safety and environmental policy and programs for the company’s 50,000 square mile Service Area and a work force of 15,500. This included performing necessary environmental studies to support the CEQA EIR application for electricity generation, transmission, and distribution capital projects. A former research scientist and founder of a consulting company, Sahl has 35 published scientific reports and has worked in Canada, Europe, Australia and Japan. Sahl earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of La Verne and holds master’s degrees in epidemiology and environmental health from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and the University of Minnesota, respectively. He earned a doctorate in epidemiology from UCLA. Jack currently holds the position of Adjunct Professor at UCLA School of Public Health, in the Department of Epidemiology. Jack serves on the Board of the Los Angeles Conservation Corp, the Steering Committee of Freedom to Roam (focused on habitat connectivity in response to climate change), the Steering Committee of the Sequoia and Kings Canyon Parks Foundation, the Stakeholder Advisory Committee of the Western Governor’s Association Wildlife Council, the TWU Sector Council for the NIOSH National Occupational Research Agenda, and EPRI’s Occupational Health and Safety Science Advisory Panel.
Susan C. Schnabel
Board MemberSusan C. Schnabel is a Managing Director of Credit Suisse in the Asset Management division and Co-Head of DLJ Merchant Banking Partners, based in Los Angeles. She is responsible for originating new investments and monitoring existing investments and serves on its Investment Committee. Ms. Schnabel is also a member of the Investment Committee of Hudson Capital, a joint venture formed by Credit Suisse to invest in alternative energy. Ms. Schnabel joined Credit Suisse First Boston in November 2000 through the merger with Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (DLJ), where she was a Managing Director. Prior to the merger, Ms. Schnabel spent three years at DLJ Merchant Banking Partners, and was responsible for directing DLJ's principal investing activities in the Los Angeles office. Prior to that, Ms. Schnabel served as Chief Financial Officer of PETsMART. Previously, Ms. Schnabel worked at DLJ starting in 1990 and has held various positions in their investment banking operations, specializing in public and private high yield debt and equity financings and mergers and acquisitions advisory for a variety of industries including retail, telecommunications, technology and consumer products. Prior to that, she worked at Drexel Burnham Lambert, Beverly Hills, in 1988 as an Associate. Ms. Schnabel serves as a Director of Deffenbaugh Industries, DenMat Holdings, Enduring Resources, Laramie Energy, Luxury Optical Holdings, Neiman Marcus, Specialized Technology Resources Inc. (NYSE: STRI), Summit Gas Resources, Target Media Partners, Total Safety USA, and Visant Corp. Ms. Schnabel also serves on the Board of Directors of the National Forest Foundation and the Los Angeles Music Foundation and is a member of C200. Ms. Schnabel holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University and an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School.
Mary Smart
Board MemberMary Smart, a graduate of Columbia University is affiliated with a variety of organizations, benefiting education, the environment, medical research, the arts and social welfare. Her father was one of three visionary brothers who founded the Chicago-based Esquire Magazine in 1933. Esquire was one of the first men’s fashion and lifestyle magazines distinguished by its high quality literary and editorial features which helped change America’s cultural landscape in the 19th century. Coronet Instructional Films, the nation’s first producer of education and training films during the Cold-War era was another venture of the Smart Family. The family is one of the founders of the Smart Museum of Art at the University of Chicago in 1974. This university museum promotes understanding of the visual arts and their importance to human history and culture. Mary’s first involvement with social service organizations occurred in 2004 when Community Service Associates, Inc. in Mount Vernon, New York was a recipient of a Smart Family Foundation grant under Mary’s sponsorship. Community Service Associates provides programs that nourish the physical needs as well as social and psychological needs of the poor and disenfranchised. Mount Vernon is the eight most populous city in the State of New York. It is a predominantly African-American city in a majority Caucasian country. The northern half of Mount Vernon has a suburban presence with tree lined streets and close knit homes side by side while the southern portion of the city has a very urban feel, nearly mirroring its border with the New York City Borough, The Bronx. The city’s downtown business district is also located on the city’s southside, which features the City Hall, Office buildings, and other municipal establishments. Mounta Vernon was named after the Viriginia plantation where George Washington spent his final years, just as neighboring Wakefield was named after the plantation where he was born. Mount Vernon has in recent years undergone a transition from a city of homes and mediocre businesses to a city of regional commerce. Between 2000 and 2006, the city of Mount Vernon’s economy grew 20.5%, making it one of the fastest growing cities within the country for having such a large magnitude of diversity for a city of its size. Mary Smart serves on several non-profit boards, including: The Buehler Center on Aging at Northwestern University, an agency working to improve the quality of life and quality of care for older people. The Origins Institute at Arizona State University, a trans-disciplinary institute focusing on issues with origin from evolutionary biology to nano-technology as well as the origins of the universe. The institute conducts research and provides public outreach and education about the institutions, which have evolved to consider these issues. The Federal Homeland Security Foundation (FEHSF) assists Federal Agents and law enforcement officials through supporting their families with emergency funding, financial assistance and community outreach. In particular, FEHSF provides monetary support to families of agents and officers who are seriously injured or killed on duty protecting the nation’s citizens and enforcing our laws. The New York New Jersey Trail Conference, an organization that organizes volunteers to create, protect, and promote more than 1,700 miles of public hiking trails in the northeastern United States. Mary serves on the Nominating Committee and Development Committee.
Chad Weiss
Board MemberChad Weiss is a Founder and Managing Partner of JOG Capital Inc., a private equity concern which invests in the energy sector. Prior to establishing JOG Capital, Mr. Weiss spent more than 25 years as an investment banker serving the energy industry. Within the investment banking industry, Mr. Weiss served as Managing Director and Head of Royal Bank of Canada's Capital Markets Energy Group. Before joining RBC, Mr. Weiss was the Managing Director and Head of the Energy and Power Group with Bank of America Securities from 1998 to 2001, and held a similar position with Smith Barney, Inc., from 1985 to 1998. Mr. Weiss obtained a B.A. in Physics from Vanderbilt University and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. Mr. Weiss also serves on the board of Breitburn Energy Partners, LP., (NASDAQ, "BBEP").
James C. Yardley
Board MemberJames C. Yardley is Executive Vice President of El Paso Corporation and President of the Pipeline Group. El Paso owns the largest natural gas pipeline system in the United States and is also one of the nation’s largest independent natural gas producers. Mr. Yardley assumed his current role in August 2006. He has been with El Paso since 1978 and has held various roles in the company’s pipeline business, offshore drilling business, and corporate staff. He has been based in Houston, Birmingham, Alabama, and London, and currently resides in Houston. He also serves as President and Chief Executive Officer and as a Director of El Paso Pipeline GP Company, L.L.C., the general partner of El Paso Pipeline Partners, L.P. He serves on the Board of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) and previously served as its chairman. He has been married for 30 years and has three grown children.