Without the hard work and dedication of all our staff we wouldn’t be able to provide the incredible opportunities and continual support to our corps members, volunteers, and interns. ACE’s senior staff has over 100 years of combined experience in youth development, non-profit management, and in the development of extensive field skills. Get to know our fantastic team, read their individual biographies, or find out how to contact them below.
CEO and President
Laura Herrin joined ACE in 2018 as President and CEO.
Laura has a long tenure working in the youth conservation arena serving fifteen years with the Student Conservation Association in numerous roles, ultimately as the Senior Vice President for Program. In this role, Laura was responsible for all aspects of program and partnership development and implementation, risk management and safety, and organizational growth. In her tenure she implemented a number of initiatives including summer youth employment programs and conservation service programs for urban and underrepresented youth.
Most recently Laura worked with the Corps Network overseeing fund development and partnerships for the membership organization supporting the work of more than 130 Service and Conservation Corps across the country.
Laura’s professional career has always been in the non profit space and includes work with Children Youth and Families as well as the US Ski Association.
Laura holds a bachelor’s degree from Wheaton College and a Master’s degree in Organizational Management and Leadership. Additionally, she is a certified black belt in Innovation Engineering.
Flagstaff Office:
2900 N. Fort Valley Rd.
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
928-226-6960
926-226-1549
Executive Vice President & Chief of Staff
Sarah Miggins has been on a steady career path from volunteer service to an executive in environmental and conservation services in the state of California for over two decades; American Conservation Experience, National Audubon Society, Southern California Mountains Foundation, LA Conservation Corps and Inland Empire Economic Partnership; and recently appointed to serve a 4-year term on the California’s State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Commission, appointed by California Governor Jerry Brown. Each transition along her career pathway transformed her approach to leadership and created a deeper interest in helping others reach their full potential, especially young women and men. Miggins shares that the conservation corps movement is a place where you become a leader; your challenge is to inspire others, develop them and create change through them. Miggins knew early on that this work perfectly aligns with her values, passion and inspiration to make real impact on the world and with those that she comes in contact. Sarah holds a Master of Management from the University of Redlands and a Baccalaureate of Science in Geography and Environmental Studies from Ohio University.
Director of Communications and PR
Director of Technology
Tim grew up in central Iowa where he attended Drake University studying Journalism with an emphasis in Radio and Television Broadcast. After leaving Drake, he moved to Utah and began his career in Information Technology, working as a systems administrator for both small and large companies. In 1999, he moved to California where he worked for Apple, Cisco, and EFI, honing his IT skill set in areas such as interface development, web application development, and large-scale network deployment. In 2003, he decided to move back to Utah and work for one of the leading robotic research and development companies, SARCOS. AfterSARCOS was acquired by Raytheon in 2007, he continued to develop his IT skill set, working in systems administration, project management, system architecture, and system integration.
Tim currently holds a BS in Information Technology from Western Governors University, with an emphasis in Security, and is currently working on a MBA in Information Technology Management. His industry certifications include A+, Security+, Project+, CCNA Security, CISSP and MCITP. With over 15 years of technology experience, Tim comes to ACE looking to champion, promote and provide technologies and systems for ACE and its partners striving to conserve and enhance public lands and wildlife. Besides developing and refining new techniques, he is a staunch advocate for greater sharing of information and more consistent use of assessment and monitoring tools, so we can besure that the work we do actually benefits people and the environment.
Technology Support Specialist
Director of Finance
ACE is proud to have Midge on the team as Finance Director. Previously, she spent 23 years with a Flagstaff-based commercial general contracting firm – managing all aspects of payroll, job cost tracking and financial management. From there she worked as a Project Manager for a local property management firm and successfully navigated the challenges of managing various tenant improvement projects on everything from historic residences to commercial warehouses.
When not at work, you can find Midge on the mountain skiing, taking in live music shows and spending time with her family. The whole family loves adding new stamps in their passports and have been to all continents except Antarctica & Africa!
Midge is super thankful for her amazing Finance staff and all she works with in support of ACE’s mission.
Human Resources Manager
Elizabeth has been with ACE since May 2017. Her reverence for nature and passion as an artist brought her to the beauty of the Colorado Plateau from the Great Lakes many years ago to raise her children.
Her background is an eclectic mix. Over 20 years of marketing communications experience includes: proposal writing, technical illustration, conference displays, and graphic design for an environmental engineering firm; serving as development director and coordinator for a non-profit leading volunteers to restore 1000’s of native plants; producing publications and graphics for the University of Michigan; marketing and advertising for a 350-unit retirement community; and owner of Scarlet Marketing Communications.
Her administrative work includes 10 years in human resources, staff orientation, training, health and safety, payroll, accounts payable, and events coordination for a security company, county government, and a roofing company.
Elizabeth is also a retired environmental activist. At home, she is hiking, biking, and making yummy food with her husband and hanging with her floppy old dog, Lucy. Unless a retreat to her “lady cave” is called for when her husband watches horror movies or too much sports.
The lady laughs loud and likes to bring the joy of the work at hand to others around her. She is proud to contribute and be a part of ACE.
Payroll Manager
When not at work I enjoy hiking, camping, skiing, snowshoeing and photography. I enjoy traveling and exploring our national parks.
Accounts Payable Manager
ACE is lucky to have recruited such a smart, organized and amazing finance-minded addition to our staff.
Accounts Receivable Manager
Outdoor pursuits have always been central to my experience – from hiking trips through the National Parks as a child, to living off the grid in a yurt in Washington state, I’ve always been very close to the land. The opportunity to work with ACE and promote the values of land stewardship I believe in is an opportunity I am very excited to pursue. I have a wonderful family – my wife Kaitlin is an extremely qualified sea kayaker, and my daughter, Emmy, is in training for all these activities. If you want to catch me when I’m not at work chances are I’ll be hitting the slopes in the cottonwood canyons, or looking for waves somewhere exotic, if I’m lucky.
Photojournalist
Originally from rural upstate New York, Jessica grew up exploring the wilderness of the Catskill and Adirondack Mountains. During travels with her family her father began to show her how to use a camera which lead her to Rochester Institute of Technology to study photojournalism and environmental studies. During her time there she was constantly drawn to documenting stories about environmental issues and the people they affect. Jessica now works to tell the story of the American Conservation Experience by gathering images, video, and audio from projects across the nation. When Jessica isn’t in the field documenting various projects with ACE she enjoys exploring the National Parks of the southwest, scuba diving and listening to the stories of people she meets along the way.
National Safety Officer
Colin moved to Flagstaff from Northern New Jersey in 2006 to continue his education and enjoy the abundant opportunities to play in the outdoors. After graduating from Northern Arizona University in the winter of 2008 Colin began working with ACE as a crew leader the following summer. Following several successful seasons of leading trail crews throughout Arizona and Utah he moved into the newly developed Safety Coordinator position where he now performs risk management and training duties for all of ACE’s programs. In addition to his regular duties, Colin is a Wilderness Medicine instructor and licensed contractor for ACE. When not at work Colin is an active climber, mountain biker, boater, and disc golfer.
Director of Grants Administration and Compliance
Before joining ACE, Randy spent the last fourteen years with the Student Conservation Association in various management and operations roles. During his time with SCA, he oversaw program development, financial management, compliance, and risk management for upwards of ten regional urban conservation programs. This included development and management of a state-wide workforce development program with the State of Pennsylvania. He also emerged as member and leader trainer on topics such as member experience, risk management, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Before the glow of the conservation world drew him in, Randy spent time with Job Corps recruiting and placing participants. Prior to that he spent three years as a Child Life Specialist providing psychosocial care to children at a teaching hospital. With close to twenty years of experience with youth and young adults through non-profits, he is thrilled to continue his career with an organization dedicated to conservation service. When away from his desk, you can find Randy coaching high school and youth sports and spending time outdoors with his wife and two daughters..
National AmeriCorps Program Manager
National Director of External Affairs and Partnership
Chris has an extensive background in conservation and resource management, most recently spending the past six years with the Student Conservation Association in a variety of roles. As Vice President of Partnership his responsibilities included program and partnership development, government relations, and staff management.
Originally from England, Chris took the opportunity after university to come to the United States and work for the US Forest Service in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon. Subsequently, Chris moved to Arizona and spent 8 years working for the City of Phoenix operating outdoor recreation programming for youth and people with disabilities, before moving back to Oregon taking the position of Recreation Manager for Oregon State University, College Forests, in Corvallis Oregon,
Chris holds degrees from Writtle College, England in Rural Resource Management, and Arizona State University in Recreation Management..
Salt Lake City Office:
623 East 2100 South Suite #B1
Salt Lake City, Utah 84106
801-946-5379
866-604-9307
National Internship Director
Shane Barrow completed his Bachelor of Arts in Geography and his Master of Science in Natural Resource Management, with an emphasis on environmental restoration from CSU Sacramento. With 18 years of land management experience, including 9 years of designing and implementing landscape level restoration projects and coordinating community volunteer groups as an employee of the Bureau of Land Management in California, Shane believes that conservation is a human endeavor and that service to others through the environment is one of the best ways to inspire both the young and experienced. Prior to becoming the ACE National Internship Director in 2011, Shane worked on a multitude of restoration and natural resources projects and programs with the Bureau of Land Management California. During his nine years with BLM California, Shane worked as an Outdoor Recreation Planner, Natural Resource Specialist, NEPA Coordinator, and Assistant Program Manager for the Atwell Island Project. Shane then went on to work for two publicly focused land trusts including the Catalina Island Conservancy as the Catalina Habitat Improvement and Restoration Program Manager and the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust where he continued to develop programs addressing various resource management issues. Shane is passionate about getting young recent graduates into the outdoors and developing multi-levels of professional development opportunities in resource management for the emerging generation of resource managers.
Federal Grants, Finance, and Compliance Manager
Annie Christensen (formerly Meltzer) joined the ACE team in February 2016 as the Federal Grants and Finance Manager. She draws upon her grants management experience from National Geographic Society Committee for Research and Exploration and grant writing experience from graduate school at the University of Tennessee. Her international fieldwork experience in environmental geography sparked a passion for conservation of National Parks and public lands. On the weekends, you can usually find her on a ski lift or a bike trail.
Logistics and Operations Specialist
James joined the American Conservation Experience EPIC team in November 2014 as an Administrative and Office Assistant where he is great asset to the team with his conservation and technology background. He now supports the office as the Logistic and Operations Specialist. James began his tenure with ACE as a OHV Trail Technician Intern with BLM where he designed and implemented strategies to maintain OHV trails. He then worked as a Backcountry Wilderness Trail team member in the high sierras building and maintaining wilderness trails. On top of working full time, James is finishing up a degree in Civil Engineering with an emphasis on structures. With the little free time he does have he enjoys playing Xbox, cinema, and attending comic con.
National Division Director
USFWS
He shares life with a wonderful, supportive partner of 26 years, Valerie, and 2 children, Dhara (13) and Dustin (8) and two Australian shepherds, Jade and Ciera. Valerie is a Montessori educator.
Kevin spent more than 20 years either rock climbing, mountaineering, kayaking, fly fishing or backpacking across the west. Now, he enjoys family and pets, traveling, fishing, gardening, birding, hiking, camping, cooking, photography, and music.
National Division Director
NPS
As the National Division Director for ACE EPIC, and its NPS partnerships, Peter oversees all aspects of project creation and management, ensuring that smooth and positive partnerships continue without a hitch.
Peter brings a host of conservation experiences from the field including backcountry patrol work in the Brooks Range and Yukon River of Alaska (NPS); resource management and environmental education as an AmeriCorps member in Barnstable Co, Massachusetts (DNR, NPS, and non-profit land trusts); wildlife monitoring in the Sierras (Sequoia National Forest, USFS); and vegetation dynamics research in Chobe National Park, Botswana. When he’s not working with talented EPIC Interns/Fellows and amazing NPS staff, Peter can likely be found running or backcountry skiing in the Wasatch, or traveling with his amazing wife.
National Division Director
BLM
Kelly joined the ACE team in March as the National Programs Manager. Kelly manages our Bureau of Land Management and US Forestry Service partnership programs. Kelly comes to ACE with a background in National Service and environmental stewardship. Kelly has served 2 terms in AmeriCorps NCCC, VISTA, and worked on a conservation crew for 5 months in Southeast Alaska. With her BS in Criminology, Kelly began her career by introducing/exposing youth to outdoor opportunities through camps and various programs. Kelly discovered her passion for environmental stewardship while removing invasive species in Wisconsin. With ACE, she gets to combine her appreciation for public lands and its resources, with her career. When not working, Kelly can be found exploring new regions, camping, hiking, and/or off-roading.
National Division Director
USFS
George joined ACE in 2017 as an AmeriCorps and US Forest Service Program Manager. Prior to joining ACE, George spent 10 years working with non-profits in various capacities, including leading trail crews along the Pacific Crest Trail and in the Central Wasatch, coordinating individually placed environmental interns in the northwest, guiding youth leadership development as far as Peru, and even stacking books at the local library. Most recently, George ran operations for a local non-profit which works closely with land management organizations to fill the needed void in stewardship and education programs in the extremely busy Cottonwood Canyons of Salt Lake City. Perhaps more interesting than his work experience, George can often be found exploring on foot or by boat, and enjoys reminiscing of adventures gone awry, or of his 11-month residency in a tree house in Southern Washington.
National Park of American Samoa ACE Site Manager
Jonathan Brown began his career in environmental conservation in remote coastal and rural villages in Fiji. Thereafter, he spent a decade managing, restoring and enhancing coral reef ecosystems and its associated fisheries in the Turks and Caicos, Florida Keys and U.S. Virgin Islands. Jonathan is excited to be enriching young and aspiring future environmental conservation leaders in American Samoa as its Site Manager for ACE in partnership with the National Park Service.
Recruitment & Member Manager
USFWS
Melissa joined the ACE team in January 2017, coming from nine years in the field as a seasonal ranger in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. After graduating from Sewanee: University of the South with a degree in Environmental Policy, Melissa discovered her love of Western wild lands, watersheds, and wildlife while an Interpreter at Mount Rainier National Park. During graduate school at the University of Montana in Missoula, Melissa researched ranchers and farmers who are “predator friendly,” and utilizing diverse methods to co-exist with wolves, bears, mountain lions, coyotes, and more. After graduating with a M.S. in Resource Conservation in 2012, Melissa spent five more years working as a backcountry Wilderness ranger in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. She is continuously fascinated by the interdependence of the GYE’s Whitebark Pines, grizzlies, cutthroat trout, elk, and sage grouse. Melissa spends nearly all her free time on public lands: hiking, backpacking, fly-fishing old rivers and exploring alpine lakes, hot-springing, skiing, and wildcrafting!
Recruitment Team Lead &
NPS Division Recruitment Specialist
Tori’s position on trail crew in Alaska influenced her to complete her bachelor’s degree in Forest Science and Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her past work comprises the Student Conservation Association in California, the National Park Service in the state of Washington, the United States Forest Service in northern Minnesota, and her home town municipality forestry department.
With many interests, and no expertise at any, she can be found skiing, climbing the Wasatch, and completing summit hikes. As a native of the upper midwest, she can be counted on to find the nearest freshwater lake, coupled with binoculars to spot a newly sighted bird species on her list. If not outside, she is brewing up a great batch of Kombucha to share with all.
Tori is enthusiastic to be informing the public on the needs of our National Park System. She joined the ACE team in July 2018 in the recruiting office supporting the NPS Division.
Member Coordinator
BLM
Erin joined the recruiting team at ACE in January 2018 after years of seasonal positions in the public and private sector. She’s a native New Yorker and has a degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Connecticut. Since joining a trail crew in the summer of 2013 in the Klamath National Forest, Erin’s been hooked on conservation, working in the field and living among mountains. After graduating from UConn, Erin lead youth trail crews in multiple national parks, surveyed lands with wilderness characteristics throughout the Mojave Desert with the BLM, worked at environmental education centers across the country from Maine to Alaska and worked extensively behind the scenes with other conservation corps. Her passion for public lands, environmental education and helping people make her a great fit for ACE. Outside of the office, you might find Erin running mountain trails, climbing at the local crag, snuggling her dog or sleeping in a hammock.
Operations Manager
Ari (Hyunhee) Lee is from Seoul, South Korea and she joined the ACE team in 2018 as the EPIC Operations Manager. Her first experience abroad was in her early twenties to New Zealand and it ignited her passion for international and intercultural work. She lived in Poland for a year learning Polish and pursuing her teenage dream of movie directing. After graduating with a B.A. in Polish Language and Literature, she worked as a Senior Program Coordinator for Better World, a Korean non-profit organization, running international volunteer services and intercultural exchange programs. In order to enable to provide more cultural immersion and bilateral learning opportunities to Korean and international students, she started a non-profit organization in South Korea. As Ari learned more about social justice issues and inequity from these experiences, she decided to come to the U.S. to pursue a Master’s in Sustainable Development. She acted as a Resident Advisor for her cohort from all over the world and facilitated international youth programs on campus. Ari recently moved to Salt Lake City, Utah and is thrilled to be working with ACE. Ari has a black belt in taekwondo and loves cooking, DIY house projects, rock climbing, boxing, origami, running marathons, and playing piano from time to time.
BLM AIM Coordinator
Assistant AmeriCorps Program Manager
BLM Recruitment Specialist
After years of bouncing around the west in various ecology and conservation positions, Josh returned to his native Utah as a BLM Recruitment specialist here at ACE. Josh began his career in academic research in ecology with a passion for plant-soil interactions and the mechanisms governing ecosystem fluxes. However, he continually found himself being pulled toward outreach and conservation. He enjoys learning about the various ways people interact with their environment and helping them expand their experience. Josh most recently led a youth conservation crew in the northern Sierra Nevadas, teaching them conservation work as well as camping and life skills. He’s excited to continue facilitating access to conservation opportunities. On his own time, Josh can be found travelling, playing the brazilian martial art Capoeira, hiking, camping, or just sitting around. He has recently decided to take up baking.
Recruitment Specialist USFS
Celia began her conservation journey back in 2005 with the Western Colorado Conservation Corps on a saw crew and never looked back. Over the years she has worked for Acadia National Park, Appalachian Mountain Club, Amargosa Conservancy, Student Conservation Association and the Southeast Conservation Corps to build and maintain trails all over the U.S. while leading and managing youth and young adults in service to the land and surrounding communities. She enjoys reading and exploring all the nooks and crannies nature has to offer in her free time, no matter the urban or wild landscape!
Western Regions Program Manager NPS
Eastern Regions Program Manager NPS
Flagstaff Office:
2900 N. Fort Valley Rd.
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
928.226.6960
928.226.1549
National Director
Matt’s arrival with ACE in the summer of 2004 provided just the influx of scientific knowledge, management experience, and boundless energy ACE needed to thrive through our early years of growth. Matt has a PhD in Fish Immunology from the University of Keele, UK, and drives himself to gain extensive technical expertise in dry stone masonry, sustainable trails design, and mechanical trail construction. In nearly 9 years with ACE, Matt has provided leadership, guidance, and advice to thousands of participants in ACE, always promoting the message of quality and professionalism as the foundation of our program. Matt serves as the Director of ACE Arizona.
National Trails Coordinator
Mark came to ACE in 2011 as the winner of a nationwide search for a trainer with multipe years of technical trails experience with land management agencies. Mark spent 4 years learning dry stone manonry and trail construction technique with the US Forest Service in Lake Tahoe, 4 more years leading Youth Conservation Corps crews and refining rock working skills as a member of the trail crews at Grand Tetons National Park and Saguaro National Park, and participated in a trail crew exchange with the Argentina Park Service.
Director of Youth Programming
Hannah is responsible for developing and managing ACE’s youth and community programs, focusing creating programs that engage and introduce teens and young adults to careers in conservation. After completion of her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Environmental Studies and Spanish from the University of Oregon, Hannah has worked in education, interpretation, and public outreach with the National Park Service and non-profit park partners at Golden Gate National Recreation Area and the Bureau of Land Management, leading and developing formal and informal education and service-learning programs for k-12 youth, volunteers, and visitors, including developing inquiry-based and multi-cultural program curriculum and activities for a variety of programs and collaborating with the public and creating partnerships with local schools and community groups to increase program productivity, specifically engaging underserved youth. While working as the ACE Youth Coordinator Fellow for the BLM Arizona, Hannah managed the BLM Phoenix District Youth Initiative program that created academic and career pathways in natural resources for urban youth in underserved communities. In 2012, Hannah helped lead the BLM Phoenix District Youth Initiative in receiving the prestigious Secretary of the Interior’s Partners in Conservation Award. Hannah is passionate about inspiring and mentoring youth to become strong leaders within their environments and their communities through internships that integrate education and career experience. When not in the office, Hannah can be found hiking and exploring the beautiful mountains and deserts of the southwest with her dog Penny.
Youth Programs Coordinator
A Wisconsin native, Mackenzie began her conservation journey as a child in the north woods, scouring streams for rocks and helping her dad with outdoor projects. After graduating from Wisconsin-Madison in 2014 with degrees in Biology and Spanish (and a Minor in Gender & Women’s Studies), she used her aquatic background to complete an internship with jellies at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium before getting into invasive species work. In 2016, Mackenzie made the move to Arizona for her first of two 900-hour Corps Member terms. In that time, she developed her love for the nonprofit world and found a calling as a Youth Corps Leader working with eager, local high school students. She then spent seven months as a Restoration Crew Leader in Corpus Christi, helping facilitate the start of ACE’s Southwest Texas branch. In her free time, Mackenzie enjoys a good nonfiction read, frequent naps, and finding new adventures.
National Restoration Director
While acquiring his B.S. in Biology from Allegheny College (PA), he spent his summers serving as a Student Conservation Association Backcountry Resource Assistant at Shenandoah National Park. Following graduation, Ian spent 10 more years fulfilling various restoration roles for the National Park Service including lead supervisor for the Lake Mead Exotic Plant Management Team, Vegetation Manager for the Southeast Utah Group and as a wildland firefighting sawyer at Grand Teton National Park.
Ian is well known in the trail and ultrarunning community having now finished more than 200 ultras, 27 of which were 100-mile races. In all, Ian has won 53 ultramarathons. Some of his wins include the Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 Mile Run twice and the Superior Trail 100 Mile Run. He’s a two-time, top-ten finisher at the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run. He’s finished the JFK 50 Mile Run 22 times, placing as high as second twice. He was part of a four-person team that won and set a course record at the Oxfam Hong Kong Trailwalker 100K in 2001. In 2002, he completed the Grand Slam of Ultramarathons by finishing Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run, Vermont 100 Mile, Leadville Trail 100 Mile, and the Wasatch Front 100 Mile in a single summer.
What’s more, Ian is also an ultrarunning coach, shares Arizona Trail Steward duties for Sections 35B and 36A with his wife, Emily, and race directs Flagstaff’s only 100-mile running event — the Flagstaff to Grand Canyon Stagecoach Line 100 Mile/55K/Relays.
National Forestry Program Manager
Carl joined ACE as the National Forestry Program Manager in November of 2017. Spending 10 seasons as a wild-land firefighter and 4 years as an Assistant Superintendent of a 20-person Type 2 Initial Attack crew out of Flagstaff ignited and fueled his appreciation for forest restoration work. Carl has multiple years of experience in hand thinning, hazard tree removal, chainsaw training and evaluating sawyers.
The great outdoors has always been an important part of Carl’s life having started camping and hiking from an early age at many of our National Forests and Parks. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, camping and listening to live music with his wife Melissa and their son Porter. Carl is excited to be a part of ACE and to be able to pass on his knowledge and excitement of forestry and the outdoors to the younger generations.
Flagstaff Office:
2900 N. Fort Valley Rd.
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
928.226.6960
928.226.1549
Director of ACE Arizona
Originally from Lincoln, England, Jordan joined American Conservation Experience as a corps member in 2006. His love for conservation and his specialty working on fencing projects brought him back in the spring of 2007 as a crew leader. He has been an integral part of the ACE Arizona management team, beginning his management role in 2010. In 2014 Jordan made the leap to Director, overseeing the operations of our entire Arizona program. In his off time Jordan is an avid hiker, rugby enthusiast and book worm and enjoys spending time exploring the beautiful landscapes of Northern Arizona with his wife, Kristina.
Associate Director
Originally from Wisconsin, A.J. is a lifelong Green Bay Packers fan and outdoor enthusiast. His childhood was spent exploring the many lakes and forests of northern Wisconsin and Michigan, which is where his love of nature began. His excitement for conservation grew in college while on a research trip to Bhutan, where he was able to study the impacts of forest encroachment on rural farmers. After graduating from UW-Madison with a degree in Biological Anthropology, he had no idea what was next for him. He took a chance and chose to serve as an AmeriCorps Member with a conservation Corps in Massachusetts, which was one of the best decisions he ever made. Upon coming to Flagstaff, AZ he has worked to support ACE’s Corps Members and provide them with the exciting and formative experiences he was lucky enough to have during his AmeriCorps term. In his free time A.J. enjoys golfing, photography, traveling, and perfecting his secret smoked ribs recipe.
Trails Trainer and Coordinator
Keean began working for American Conservation Experience (ACE) in 2010 as a Forestry Intern and then went through the 900 hour AmeriCorps position the following year. Upon his AmeriCorps graduation he began leading crews building trails, logging out trails and removing invasive species among other things. He found his niche in trails over the 2 years he spent leading crews and moved into the Trails Trainer position in May of 2014. When Keean isn’t building, repairing and envisioning trails he spends his time playing music and singing as well as enjoying some good competitive ping-pong and billiards.
Texas Restoration Project Manager
Dan graduated from Appalachian State University with a BS in Physical Geography, and he has been with the National Park Service for 4 years working as a Biological-Science Technician prior to starting with ACE. He worked a year with The Blue Ridge Parkway, Lava Beds National Monument in Northern California, and three years with Lake Mead National Recreational Area. Within his time with the NPS, he had the pleasure of working restoration assignments in over 20 National Parks, Forests and other public lands including BLM, Wildlife Refuges, and County and State parks. He is also a licensed Arborist and pretty handy with a chainsaw.
He looks forward continuing his career as a humbled steward of the land and doing everything he can to support his fellow crew members become knowledgeable, safe and successful professionals not only in restoration ecology, but in conservation as well.
Outreach & Supplies Coordinator – ACE Southwest Texas
Micaela was born and raised in Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas. Her love of nature began at summer camp under the tall pines of northern New Mexico. She graduated from the University of North Texas with a degree in Recreation, Event and Sports Management. She’s put that education to good use while working with Girl Scouts and other outdoor adventure education organizations. Micaela is ecstatic to be a part of ACE and transition from outdoor recreation to conservation while continuing to foster community pride across Corpus Christi and South Texas. In her free time Micaela loves to kick back on the beach, watch scary movies and take long walks along the bay with her pup.
Member Support Coordinator
Field Operations Manager
Conservation Trainer & Coordinator
Jimmy first joined ACE as a volunteer in 2011. After catching the Conservation bug, Jimmy went back to School and graduated with an MSc in Applied Ecology and Conservation. Jimmy worked on numerous conservation projects in the UK, Indonesia and Australia as well as leading ACE crews in 2014-15 developing a passion for Trail work and dry-stone masonry, before moving into the role of Conservation Trainer & Coordinator in 2016. In his spare time, Jimmy enjoys exploring the Southwest, hiking, playing pool and trying not to fall off his mountain bike.
Southwest Restoration Project Manager
Kelsee is originally from Prescott, AZ. She obtained a B.A. in environmental science with a minor in humanities from Prescott College. She began as a corps member in 2012 and worked her way up as a crew lead and found her passion in restoration work, leading to her current role as the southwest restoration project manager. When not at work she enjoys hiking, traveling, cooking, and crafting.
Member Support Coordinator
Felton Office:
6630 Highway 9, STE 204
Felton, CA 95018
831.427.1091
831.427.1047
Central California Director
Eric began volunteering with ACE California and quickly moved into field leadership roles within the California branch. Stationed in Bishop, CA during the summer of 2014, Eric functioned as the Regional Project Manager of the Inyo National Forest, where he coordinated and oversaw logistics of many Eastern Sierra based ACE crews. As the Director of Operations, Eric now works out of the Santa Cruz ACE office and is often found sipping tea and mentoring ACE members. Before finding ACE, Eric’s occupation was an Artistic Consultant living in Madison, WI where he was employed by a commercial art firm after finishing his degree. During his free time Eric takes interest in all things outdoors, but most times is cycling, fishing, or rock climbing.
PWC Project Manager
PWC Project Manager
2489 Lake Tahoe Blvd, Suite 24
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
530.220.2808
Northern California Director
PWN Restoration Coordinator and Trainer
Dennis came to ACE as a volunteer in early 2014 and quickly moved into leadership roles around California.During chainsaw training he knew that that was his concentration and dedicated his time to getting to know the ins and outs of the little devils. Prior to coming to California, he graduated from Virginia Tech in 2010 while studying English, architecture, and film. If you see him in his free time he’ll probably be getting dirty while creating spaces.
PWN Tahoe Housing Coordinator
1373 Marron Valley Road
Dulzura, CA 91917
808.594.2721
Southern California Director
Julia Parish is the Regional Director of the Pacific West – South Division of the American Conservation Experience. She studied at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, focusing on tropical ecology and island biogeography. Upon graduation, she became an AmeriCorps intern with the Oahu Invasive Species Committee, which solidified her passion for promoting internships for youth in the non-profit natural resource management sector and restoration ecology. For the past decade, she has worked on islands throughout the Pacific conducting natural resource management focused on invasive species control, wildlife monitoring and cultivating the new generation of environmental stewards. She feels most at home when controlling acres of invasive plants under a sky full of seabirds.
While working as a Plant Conservation Manager with the Catalina Island Conservancy, Julia recruited and supervised several seasons of American Conservation Experience crews and EPIC interns. These dynamic individuals worked on major restoration projects from felling hazard trees, removing dense stands of Arundo, and surveying hundreds of acres of steep terrain for invasive broom species. The crews and EPIC interns work, attitudes, and professionalism inspired her to seek a position with ACE and she is excited to be a part of the ACE team! #ACEinspires
PWS Member Service Coordinator
Erin grew up in San Diego and studied earth science at UC Santa Barbara. Growing up she spent many days at the beach and visited our public lands with her family. She spent a lot of time in the field during college, and became passionate about protecting our natural places. After graduating, she became an intern through the ACE EPIC program, which led to seasonal work with the National Park Service.
Erin is excited to return to ACE and bring her enthusiasm to our future conservation leaders and land stewards! In her free time, you might find her hiking, cooking, doing yoga, or laying in a hammock reading.
PWS Project Manager
Tim grew up in a small, rural village in Southeastern Pennsylvania. After graduating high school,
Tim studied biology at Saint Joseph's University. He moved to Flagstaff after college and joined
ACE as a Corps Member in June 2016. In November 2018, Tim took the project manager
position at the Pacific West South branch in Dulzura, California. Tim's hobbies include
chainsaws, hiking, fishing, and skiing.
PWS Project Manager
Ginger graduated with a B.S. in environmental science from Northern Michigan University in 2011. She then began her career in land conservation with ACE in 2012 working out of Santa Cruz. She gained a love for drystone masonry while working on the Mt. Whitney trail during her first season. She then started to crew lead in areas such as Ventana Wilderness, Catalina Island, and Inyo National Forest. In 2013-2018 she worked for a nonprofit focusing in conservation through land management practices in Santa Cruz, while enjoying perfect weather and hunting for Chanterelle’s. Ginger couldn’t stay away from ACE and their passion in conservation for long and is now working out of Southern California as Project Manager of trail specific projects, including the Pacific Crest Trail. She often enjoys hiking, backpacking, and skiing on off time or simply sewing when weather permits.
PWS Project Manager
Caitlin Murphy is a Project Manager for the American Conservation Experience who primarily manages the BLM Ridgecrest project and other Mojave Desert projects. She started with ACE as an AmeriCorps member in March 2017. Upon serving two (2) 900 Hour service terms, she was hired on as an ACE Crew Leader in April 2018 and then promoted to Project Manager in September 2018. Caitlin is originally from Portland, Oregon and has a degree in Environmental Studies from Southern Oregon University.
Asheville Office:
127 Fletcher Commercial Drive
Fletcher, North Carolina 28732
Southeast Director
Adam Scherm graduated with a Degree in Zoology and a minor in Spanish at Oklahoma State University. After college, Adam served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Panama focusing on environmental conservation from 2006-2008. That experience led him to apply for a job as an Assistant Crew Leader with ACE. After several months, he began leading crews on public lands all over the Southwest. In 2013, He assumed the role of Trails Trainer and Coordinator for the Arizona office. He managed the trails projects as well as trained crew leaders and corps members in technical rock work, rigging, trail maintenance, and layout. Adam is currently the Director of ACE’s Southeastern branch in Asheville, North Carolina which supports and manages 40 youth in conservation activities and is working with 6 different Land Management Agencies and non-profits.
Project Manager
Field Operations Manager
Joshua Burt began his conservation career in 2002 working as a conservation intern with the Student Conservation Association. Following that experience, he taught outdoor education in his home state of Ohio and continued leading trail crews for SCA in the summer. In 2005, Josh moved to China and taught English in Shandong province, but continued to return in the summer to lead trail crews. In 2007, he returned to the states more permanently and began working in various staff positions for Southwest Conservation corps. In 2011, he became the trail crew leader in Deep Creek District of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and there learned about ACE. He joined ACE as the Operations Manager of the North Carolina office in 2014.
Project Manager
Growing up in rural Wisconsin, Krishun finds herself at home in the woods and around the water. It was in Wisconsin where she got her degree in natural resources management with an emphasis in wildlife ecology. Upon graduation, Krishun spent time working outdoors on both coasts. In the low country of South Carolina, she was a Naturalist intern assisting with sea turtle surveys and teaching others about coastal ecology. In the California Bay area, she worked at an environmental non-profit as a habitat restoration technician battling invasives and and planting native species. In 2015 she heard the Blue Ridge mountains calling; She joined ACE as an Americorps member and was quickly promoted to Crew leader. After 2 rewarding years leading crews she is happy to lend mentorship and guidance to multiple crews throughout the east as Operations Coordinator.
AmeriCorps Branch Manager
Bethany grew up in the Midwest and studied Communications in college. After graduation, she chanced upon an opportunity to aid in disaster relief efforts, through an AmeriCorps NCCC program. She loved working with a team of people and lending a hand to affected communities. After her term, she left to teach English in Thailand for about a year. She had great fun exploring the new country and is looking forward to exploring the Southwest. Bethany enjoys running, lifting, exploring and climbing mountains!
Outreach Coordinator
Kelly grew up next to the National Sea Shore in Cape Cod, MA. Growing up on a sand dune formed by a glacier instilled in Kelly a love and appreciation for nature that would direct her career. Kelly got her B.A. in Sustainability & Sociology from the University of Massachusetts (Dartmouth), where she also studied marketing. After graduation, she joined a non-profit in Boston that works to minimize waste that comes from demolishing houses. After a year of project administration in Boston, she joined Cape Cod Green Drinks, an environmental networking group where she coordinated community events. Although she enjoyed the work she was doing with Green Drinks, Kelly decided she needed to seek fulfilling work outside of her home state. In the spring of 2017, Kelly discovered ACE online, signed up for a 900-hour term in the Southeast region, and enjoyed the ride it took her on. After her six-month Corps Member term, Kelly joined ACE-Asheville’s logistics team. Kelly started her role as ACE-Asheville’s Outreach Coordinator in January of 2018. Kelly is grateful for her ACE experience, and is excited to be able to facilitate this unique opportunity for others.
Logistics Coordinator
Lauren grew up in a suburb outside of Chicago, Illinois and frequently went camping and hiking with her family throughout her youth. After graduating college with a BFA in photography, she changed paths and went on a long section hike of the Appalachian Trail. After hiking 800 miles she decided to get a job in the conservation field in order to continuing being outdoors and to give back to nature. At this time, Lauren started working with the Utah Conservation Corps in Cedar City, Utah. While there she worked on an invasive species removal project for 3 months in the Escalante Grand Staircase National Park. After her time in Utah, Lauren found ACE and had the opportunity to do a 450-hour term based out of Asheville where she worked on trail work, restoration, and invasive species removal projects. After being a corps member, Lauren came back onto the ACE Southeast team as the Assistant Logistics Coordinator. She is grateful to be working with an organization like ACE, and is eager to help facilitate this wonderful opportunity for others wanting to do conservation work.
St George Office:
376 Sunland Drive, Suite 3A
St. George, Utah 84737
801.367.7628
Interim Director, ACE Mountain West
Hannah is responsible for developing and managing ACE’s Mountain West conservation corps program that engages and trains young adults for careers in conservation and land management. After completion of her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Environmental Studies and Spanish from the University of Oregon, Hannah has worked in education, interpretation, and public outreach with the National Park Service and non-profit park partners at Golden Gate National Recreation Area and the Bureau of Land Management, leading and developing formal and informal education and service-learning programs for k-12 youth, volunteers, and visitors, including developing inquiry-based and multi-cultural program curriculum and activities for a variety of programs and collaborating with the public and creating partnerships with local schools and community groups to increase program productivity, specifically engaging underserved youth. While working as the ACE Youth Coordinator Fellow for the BLM Arizona, Hannah managed the BLM Phoenix District Youth Initiative program that created academic and career pathways in natural resources for urban youth in underserved communities. In 2012, Hannah helped lead the BLM Phoenix District Youth Initiative in receiving the prestigious Secretary of the Interior’s Partners in Conservation Award. Hannah is passionate about inspiring and mentoring youth to become strong leaders within their environments and their communities through internships that integrate education and career experience. When not in the office, Hannah can be found hiking and exploring the beautiful mountains and deserts of the southwest with her dog Penny.
Field Operations Manager
Kip began his conservation career January 2007, as a supposedly brief respite from his grueling degree in “undeclared” and hasn’t returned from the woods since. He has spent the ensuing years working/leading/cooking for crews of various conservation corps and National Park trail programs. He prefers to travel and recreate outdoors but must admit that their are some benefits to this desk job he has secured with ACE. He looks forward to trying to feed every corps-member better then the week before and to wrestling with the paperwork beast on their behalf so that they may never have to stare into its beady hungry eyes…
AmeriCorps Program Manager
Michael grew up in a small town on Lake Ontario, just north of Buffalo, New York. He has a great love for the outdoors, especially hiking, climbing, hunting, fly fishing, mountain biking, and skiing. Michael is a recent graduate of George Mason University in Virginia, where he studied Conflict Analysis and Resolution and had a minor in Environmental Science. While living in Virginia, Michael worked at a local outfitter and discovered that his love of the outdoors was something he wanted to pursue not only in his personal life, but also in his professional. After school Michael worked as a Research Assistant with the Sierra Club Environmental Justice Program, where he did extensive research into the relationship between environmental degradation and community health as well as helped with events planning and promotion of a clean energy economy. He then set his eyes on Utah, a place he has always loved to visit for its incredible outdoor recreation opportunities. As the ACE Mountain West AmeriCorps Program Manager, Michael is enjoying the opportunity to be a part of direct conservation and improve the opportunities for others to get out and share in his own passion for the outdoors.
Project Manager
Brandon began his conservation career as a corps member for ACE in early 2015 after earning a degree in biology from Western Connecticut State University. After serving as an ACE corps member for a little over a year working in the Mountain West- Utah branch, the Puerto Rico branch and the Southwest branch in Flagstaff, Brandon became a Crew Leader for the ACE Mountain West- Utah program. For two years, Brandon successfully lead ACE crews on various field projects ranging from trails, fencing, forestry, restoration, and everything in-between throughout Utah and the mountain west region. In Spring of 2018, Brandon embarked on another conservation career trail working as a Rangeland Fellow with the BLM in Nevada before rejoining ACE this September as a Project Manager
Project Manager
Logistics Coordinator
Provisions and Supplies Coordinator
Training and Development Coordinator
ACE is guided by a volunteer Board of Directors representing a diverse range of conservation, education, and business specializations:
James Allen: Professor and Executive Director of the School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University. Board member since 2008.
Brad Bippus: Founder and Owner of Arizona Irrigation & Maintenance. Board member since 2006.
Charlie De La Rosa: Graduate student, Ph.D. program in Conservation Biology at UCLA. Former operations supervisor, invasive plants program, Catalina Habitat Improvement Restoration Program. New Board member as of January 2013.
Pamela Foti: Professor and Chair, Department of Geography, Planning, and Recreation, Northern Arizona University. Board member since 2009.
Shayne Miller: Business Banking Specialist, US Bank, Salt Lake City, UT. New Board member as of January 2013.
Keith Core: Retired IT Manager for Intel and U.S. Marine Corps veteran. ACE Board Member since 2015