About Wyoming Wildlife Federation

Dwayne was born in Michigan and spent his formidable years in Saratoga, Wyoming. He passed the time, like most kids in the North Platte Valley; skiing and snowmobiling in winter, running whitewater in the spring, guiding fishermen in summers, and hunting through the fall. His Wyoming family spans from roughnecks, outfitters, carpenters, cowboys, brewers, ski patrollers, real estate agents, cops, veterinarians, and hotel owners. He has pride in the fact he has had the numbers 16, 6, 11, 3, 5, and 22 on the bumpers of his rigs.

Dwayne is a graduate of the University of Wyoming with a BA in English, followed by an MA in American Studies and Environmental & Natural Resources. His career has spanned from cook to fishing guide, to bicycle mechanic to commercial fishing to carpentry. Over the past 10 years Dwayne has been dedicated to the conservation of natural resources, with a focus on sportsmen resources. He has worked for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, National Wildlife Foundation, and Trout Unlimited. Dwayne is a member of numerous hunting and fishing organizations as well as the Alliance for Historic Wyoming and Wyoming Trails and Pathways. The Meadows’ family recently relocated from Eastern Oregon back to Wilson, Wyoming where they spend most of their free time exploring the mountains and rivers.

dmeadows@wyomingwildlife.org

(307) 760-6802

Joy grew up in Iowa where she gained her appreciation for nature through the backwoods and farms of Sioux City. After studying agriculture at the University of Iowa, she received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wyoming through an inter-disciplinary program in Environment and Natural Resources as well as Political Science. Joy is a policy advisor, analyst, and advocate for wildlife, habitat, and outdoor recreation throughout Wyoming. She has worked for Wyoming Wildlife Federation since 2007, and is dedicated to conserving landscapes and waterways for hunters and anglers. As a sportswoman and a mom, Joy enjoys sharing the great outdoors with her children through hunting, long hikes, camping, fishing, rock climbing, skiing, and relishing in nature’s diversity.

joybannon@wyomingwildlife.org

(307) 335-8633

Jess Johnson leads Wyoming Wildlife Federation's efforts to advocate on behalf of wildlife and wild places through policy and local advocacy. She works hard all session long at the Wyoming State Capitol in Cheyenne to help pass good bills for wildlife and ensure those that are not good for wildlife do not become state statute. Jessi grew up ranching in Montana, Northern California and Wyoming. She has a deep appreciation for wildlife and wild lands. Since moving back to Wyoming in her early 20's, she has spent most of her free time exploring our public lands and she is an avid archery hunter. Jess's love for conservation spans beyond WWF, as well. She's a co-founder and advisory board member of the NWF initiative, Artemis Sportswomen, serves as the policy seat on the board of directors for 2% for Conservation and is a board member for the Wyoming Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers.

jessijohnson@wyomingwildlife.org

(307) 335-8633

Steve lives in Jackson, Wyoming where he has resided and raised three children for the past 27 years. He grew up in Nebraska and earned a BS and MS in Wildlife Management from the University of Nebraska. His passion for wildlife and the backcountry come from working as a habitat biologist for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department for the past 33 years in the Torrington and Jackson areas. Steve is a member of several conservation and professional organizations and has been frequently recognized for his collaborative team building efforts. He engages in the plethora of outdoor amenities offered in the Jackson area: horse packing, hunting, hiking, back country skiing, rafting, and camping. His personal goal is to sleep on the ground 5-6 weeks and cover several hundred miles on mule/horseback per year. His professional goals are to continue representing our silent constituents (wildlife), and conserve the future of our natural resources by advocating for habitat integrity and youth involvement.

stevekilpatrick@wyomingwildlife.org

(307) 413-7249

Andrea has been the Federation's Administrator and jack-of-all-trades since 2017. Originally from Wisconsin, Andrea received her BS in Animal Science with minors in Chemistry and Biology from the University of Wisconsin at River Falls. From there, she moved to Iowa to get her MS in Wildlife Biology from Iowa State University working on elk feedgrounds and calving site selection. She did her course work in Iowa, and her field work was in and around Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks in Wyoming. It was a great place to get her feet wet in the field, and, as it happens, a great place to meet her husband. Life after graduation has included work in wildlife and fisheries biology, working with everything from prairie dogs to wolves to cutthroat trout. Outside of work, she enjoys a variety of outdoor pursuits including hiking, camping, rock climbing, and horseback riding.

abarbknecht@wyomingwildlife.org

Haley Fitzgerald is our new Director of Development. She brings specialized skills in grant writing and will also be managing donor retention and events. As a horse packer, hiker, and upland bird hunter, she looks forward to continuing her advocacy efforts to protect Wyoming’s wildlife and public land-use.

hfitzgerald@wyomingwildlife.org

(703) 300-5133

Jaden Bales is WWF’s new Communications Director. He will be ensuring our membership is up to date on the latest Wyoming wildlife issues and keeping our lines of communication humming digitally and in print. Jaden was raised on farm in rural Northeast Oregon and enjoys having a pocket full of big game tags every fall.

jbales@wyomingwildlife.org

(541) 910-1482

Auna Kaufmann's role as field coordinator is to help activate our sportsman in communities around the state to get involved in advocacy and hunter and angler recruitment. Auna comes to WWF with a background of 2 years of seasonal avian fieldwork, a degree in wildlife ecology, and was our legislative intern for the 2020 legislative session.

Auna grew up hunting whitetails in the woods of Wisconsin with her family and loves to create unique and flavorful wild game recipes for her friends. One of her favorites is venison steak with blackcurrant, rosemary, and red wine sauce, which is a fabulous addition to any red game meat.

You can contact her regarding the WWF ambassador program or other field events at akaufmann@wyomingwildlife.org
abarbknecht@wyomingwildlife.org

A lifelong Wyomingite from Kemmerer and long-time habitat biologist for Wyoming Game and Fish, Sam Lockwood joined the Wyoming Wildlife Federation staff to spearhead our habitat projects in the summer of 2020. If you have ideas for habitat projects around Wyoming, please reach out at slockwood@wyomingwildlife.org

Chris moved to Centennial, Wyo after years of enjoying Wyoming’s vast wide open spaces as a visitor. He earned a BA from Yale University and an MBA from the University of Virginia leading to a career in marketing and financial services. Chris also formed and directed an industry-shaping fuel distribution business aimed at minimizing impact of diesel fuel delivery at environmentally sensitive construction sites. Chris comes from a long line of outdoor enthusiasts and raised three children with these values. His love of outdoor lifestyle began with fresh and salt water fishing adventures, and annual trips to Canada’s remote backcountry wilderness, public land which was later mismanaged by the provincial government and no longer provides the same recreation opportunities. Today, Chris divides his spare time exploring our state’s vast public spaces for fishing, skiing, hunting and camping adventures.

clsimonds56@gmail.com

Rob grew up in Cody with Yellowstone National Park at his backdoor. Summers were spent camping and fishing in the North Absorkas and YNP. He graduated from Northwest College in 2009 and again from the University of Wyoming in 2012. Subsequently he spent four years working in and learning about the oil and gas industry as a production chemical salesman. Rob returned to Cody in 2017 to help his family run Pahaska Tepee Resort. He enjoys fly fishing, skiing of all sorts and exploring the wide open spaces Wyoming affords.

Mark is the Chief Operating Officer for UK Elite Soccer, a company owned by Steel Sports. Prior to joining Steel Sports, Mark was the Executive Director of Aspen Valley Ski/Snowboard Club for 15 years. The non-profit focused on developing “Great Athletes, Great Kids” including many Olympians, Paralympians and X-Games athletes. The club was the United States Ski and Snowboard Association’s National Club of the Year in 2011 and twice during his tenure was recognized as the Aspen area Non-Profit of the Year.

Mark also spent 17 years with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), considered the gold standard in teaching wilderness skills and leadership. Over the years Mark taught backpacking, rock climbing, and winter courses. He oversaw the hiring and training of field staff and also served on the director team for 8 years, as Finance Director and Alumni & Development Director.

Mark holds a BS in Mathematics from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and an MA in Mathematics from the University of Washington.

Shane Cross serves as Trout Unlimited’s Western Energy Counsel. He was raised on his family’s cattle ranch near the Laramie Mountains in Wyoming, received a BA in Sociology from Stanford University, and a law degree from University of Virginia School of Law. Following law school, Shane practiced as a litigation attorney at Holme, Roberts, and Owen LLP, and is licensed to practice law in Colorado and Wyoming. Prior to law school, Shane managed a cow/calf operation in Southeastern Wyoming, worked in Nepal as a volunteer legal assistant advocating for human and environmental rights, and was a National Outdoor Leadership School instructor. Shane embraces opportunities to work closely with ranchers, land managers, sportsmen, and the energy industry to promote healthy and sustainable communities in the West.

garwhal@gmail.com

Biography coming soon.

Diane was born and raised in the beautiful state of Wyoming. She received a bachelor’s of science from the University of Wyoming with a minor in Geology. Diane was raised with a love for the outdoors – the landscape, the backcountry, the hunting, and the fishing. Hunting was a necessity growing up, now it’s a passion she shares with her family, friends’ other women and children. Diane is active in the local chapter of RMEF, has served as Secretary, Treasurer and Vice President of High Plains Archery Club helping to organize shoots, membership and various fundraisers. She is a founding member and instructor of Albany County 4H Survival Club which includes a six-month survival course ending with a survival camp. She is a certified Wyoming hunter’s education instructor, as well as the Wyoming state coordinator for Prois. Her passion is getting women and children involved with the outdoors through hunting, fishing, camping, hiking and to make sure that our beautiful state continues to be passed down and understood for all generations.

diane_s_82070@yahoo.com

Over a decade ago, Craig was living the Jackson Hole dream—skiing 120 days a year and working service-industry jobs to feed his addiction for deep powder. Then one day, tired of his complaining about the big challenges facing our future, his wife Stacy told him to step up and take action. So he did. To augment his B.A. in Public Policy from Washington and Lee University, Craig enrolled in the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington and secured a Master’s in Public Administration with a focus on environmental policy.

Craig then spent seven years achieving policy change in Washington State. He led a multi-year coalition effort involving more than 60 diverse organizations and hundreds of volunteers to secure nearly $7 million in new annual revenue for bicycling and pedestrian improvements and street maintenance. He also developed and managed training programs to empower citizens with the skills they need to help create a better future. He directed communications on a legislative campaign that successfully reached an agreement to shutter one of the Pacific Northwest’s two remaining coal-fired power plants while investing $55 million in local economic development, coordinated a campaign that secured $20 million to make it easier for people to walk and bike to a light rail station, and much more.

Seeking a home with a sense of community, access to wild places, and abundant wildlife in which to raise their kids, Craig and his wife Stacy moved back to Jackson Hole in 2013. He began working at the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance as its Community Engagement Coordinator and launched the Jackson Hole Conservation Leadership Institute to empower and develop leaders with the skills necessary to help the Alliance achieve its mission of protecting the wildlife, wild places, and community character of Jackson Hole.

Craig was promoted to Executive Director of the Alliance in May, 2014 and during his three years leading the organization the Alliance successfully: secured funding for and advanced the development of a Teton County wildlife crossings master plan, reached a resolution with the Forest Service that reduces the community’s reliance on supplemental elk feeding, backed local resolutions recognizing the value of our public lands and opposing their transfer to state control, advocated for updates to Jackson’s downtown land use rules that prioritize housing the community’s middle class over more new corporate hotels, graduated 106 new conservation superheroes with the skills and knowledge to create a better future from the Conservation Leadership Institute, empowered hundreds of volunteers to engage thousands of their friends and neighbors to participate in the civic process, and much more.

Now, Craig works at a larger scale as a Director of Conservation Partnerships for the National Wildlife Federation helping state affiliate organizations in Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming achieve national and regional conservation victories.

Craig lives in Jackson Hole with his wife Stacy, and their children Piper and Ryder. When Craig isn't working for the National Wildlife Federation you can find him camping with family and friends across the intermountain West, skiing in the backcountry, or trail running on our American public lands.

benjaminc@nwf.org

(206)-713-6204

Siva is a wildlife biologist with a passion for using good science to achieve effective wildlife conservation. He worked for several years on wildlife conservation and research projects in Asia and Africa. Siva moved to and settled in Jackson, Wyoming with his wife and two young sons because of everything that makes Wyoming special: open spaces, access to public lands, and abundant wildlife. He is excited to work with other board members and staff at WWF to best protect wildlife in Wyoming. Siva holds a PhD in Ecology from Princeton University and maintains an affiliate faculty position with the Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Department at Colorado State University.

nepsiva@gmail.com