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
Christopher Baker founded ACE in August of 2003 after spending nearly 6 years leading and coordinating crews with the Coconino Rural Environment Corps, six months volunteering with Conservation Volunteers Australia (then called ATCV), and one year as Director of the Nevada Conservation Corps. Nearing the completion of his 18th year of conservation and youth development work, he continues to be inspired and amazed by the relentless dedication of volunteers and staff within our organization and among our dozens of agency sponsors.
Flagstaff Office:
2900 N. Fort Valley Rd.
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
928-226-6960
926-226-1549
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
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 Finance
ACE is proud to have Midge on the team as the Director of Finance. 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 or kayaking down south as well as taking in live music shows and sporting events with her husband. They take great pride in their children’s accomplishments with son Jake earning his Civil Engineering degree and working with a local engineering firm in stream restoration while daughter Erin is completing her university degrees in social work and Spanish for International Service in the D.C. area. The whole family loves adding new stamps in their passports and have been to all continents except Antarctica & Africa! Fun fact – Midge loves penguins!
Accounts Receivable & Office Manager
Janet Lee Tongen, joined our ACE Administrative team in the summer of 2011, bringing years of construction background in Accounting, Bookkeeping, purchasing and inventory control experience.
A Native of Flagstaff, Janet has raised 5 children, as well as teaching and coaching students of all ages.
In addition to Office work, Janet previously owned The Flagstaff School of Ballet, and is an avid outdoors woman along with her Husband, Adult children, and Grandchildren, and Dakota Rain – her baby dog.
Her favorite spot to relax and enjoy nature is Lake Powell. “The Beauty and Peace found on this Lake still takes my breath away even after 40+ years.” Often accused of being overly Chipper, Janet tries to be upbeat and helpful to anyone in need.
Accounts Payable Manager
Elizabeth has been with ACE since May 2017. Her reverence and respect for nature and passion as a fine artist brought her to the beauty of the Colorado Plateau in Arizona from the Great Lakes 20 years ago to raise her children.
Her background is an eclectic mixed bag. Over 20 years of Marketing Communications experience includes: providing technical illustration, maps, graphics and proposal writing for an environmental engineering firm; serving as development director and coordinator for a non-profit leading volunteers to restore 1000’s of native plant species; graphic design and event management for the University of Michigan; marketing and advertising for a 350 unit retirement community; and running her business, Scarlet Marketing Communications.
Her 8 years Administrative experience includes: working in human resources, safety, payroll, accounts payable and receivable at 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 floppy old girl dog, Lucy. Or she decides to escape to her “lady cave” when the husband watches horror movies or too much sports, to make art.
This lady laughs loud and likes to bring the joy of the work at hand to others around her. She is so proud to contribute and be a part of ACE.
Human Resource Manager
Charisse brings years of experience in the Administrative field while working in the medical industry with private practices. She also has experience as a Regional Manager with skilled nursing facilities training bookkeepers in accounting, HR, Payroll.
Born in Iowa and grew up in the Midwest she relocated to Arizona to raise her 3 children and now has 1 grandchild. She has lived in Portland, Oregon the past few years and returned to Flagstaff to be back in the beautiful mountains in the pines. She loves to Hike and be outdoors whenever possible, camping and enjoys painting and crafts. She has two dogs – a Boxer and a Boston Terrier.
Payroll Manager
In my off time I enjoy hiking, camping, skiing, snowshoeing and photography. I enjoy traveling and exploring our national parks.
Operations/Accounting Specialist
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.
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 and Finance Manager
Annie 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 Program Manager USFWS
This early love for outdoor adventures and wild creatures led to a wildlife conservation career spanning 35 years, two wildlife agencies and 11 states. He began his career as an alligator and alligator snapping turtle researcher with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries before accepting a position with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1987. Before retirement in 2017, he had served in biological and management positions in eight states with the FWS at National Fish Hatcheries, Ecological Services Field Offices, National Wildlife Refuges, and with Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (Federal Aid). In 2011, he graduated from the Service’s Advanced Leadership Development Program.
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 Program Manager
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 Program Manager
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 Program Manager
USFS & AmeriCorps
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.
Outreach & Recruitment Program Supervisor
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!
National EPIC Recruitment Specialist
Zoë joined the ACE team in January as a Recruitment Specialist where she assists in recruiting talented young people ACE EPIC’s National Park Service programs throughout the country. Zoë has a degree in Environmental Studies and Biology from Salve Regina University in Newport, RI and is a New Hampshire native. After college, she completed a term in AmeriCorps working on a USDA Organic vegetable farm and teaching nutrition and environmental education in Belfair, Washington. Zoë also comes to ACE with years of experience as the Outreach/Education Coordinator for Salve Regina University’s Hydroponic Lab. In addition, she interned with the Rhode Island Audubon Society, and was a summer Research Technician with New England Water Resources Network studying macro-invertebrates and water quality. Zoë brings to ACE her deep-rooted passion for environmental education, sustainability, and conservation of our public lands and remaining wild spaces. When not at work, Zoë can be found exploring our National Parks, planning her next road trip, or hanging out at a local coffee shop.
Recruitment Specialist
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.
National AmeriCorps Program Manager
Suzy joined ACE in the spring of 2018 where she uses her experiences in trails, research, outdoor education, and natural interpretation to provide our interns direction and support in their conservation service. In her spare time, she volunteers as an EMT/SAR and takes every opportunity to climb and hike with her dogs.
Assistant Division Director
Member Management (NPS)
BLM AIM Coordinator
Assistant AmeriCorps Program Manager
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 AmeriCorps Program Manager
Hailing from the beautiful Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Brad has been working in and with National Service programs since beginning his post-collegiate career. After completing his final AmeriCorps*VISTA term, with the Maine Commission for Community Service, Brad leapt at the opportunity to move to the Southwest and has been working with ACE since 2012, where he has found a natural fit managing ACE Arizona’s growing AmeriCorps programs. As a multisport enthusiast he spends his free time training on and exploring the limitless trails in the Flagstaff area, and is always down to watch a sweet science fiction show.
Development Director
Jeff began his career in environmental stewardship and sustainability as an ACE AmeriCorps member in January, 2010. Since then, Jeff has worked up the ACE ladder by serving as Field Crew Leader, Outreach Coordinator, Grant Writer, and the Director of ACE Utah. In late 2015, Jeff graduated with his Master’s degree in Climate Science and Solutions from Northern Arizona University. Jeff recently returned from Patagonia, Argentina, where he produced a scientific manuscript communicating the impacts of land management practices on the local biodiversity and soil carbon content. Jeff now works alongside the National ACE Crew Program to develop new and existing programs as well as the future generation of conservation leaders.
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.
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.
AmeriCorps Program Manager
Member Support Coordinator
Field Operations Manager
Southwest Restoration Project 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
Member Support Coordinator
Santa Cruz Office:
328 Ingalls Street, Suite B
Santa Cruz CA 95060
831.427.1091
831.427.1047
Director of ACE California
Sarah finds time in nature both energizing and healing and that is why she chose to serve in this arena. She knew early on that she wanted to work alongside fellow nature enthusiasts and introduce her experiences to those that have not realized the benefits of the outdoors. Sarah’s priorities include continuing to increase ACE’s impact, and for her that means both increasing the numbers of young people engaged and enhancing the depth of their experience – which affects both the people and the landscape. Prior to her position at ACE, Sarah spent two decades working in Southern California for organizations that actively involve volunteers and corps members in caring for public lands through innovative programming and conservation services. 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 Operations
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.
AmeriCorps Program Coordinator
Carolyn started as an intern with ACE in July 2013, and began her current role as AmeriCorps Program Manager for ACE California in February 2014. Though never an AmeriCorps member herself, Carolyn has a passion for volunteerism – She is a lifetime Girl Scout, a volunteer Exhibit Guide at the Seymour Marine Discovery Center, and a helping hand at various community events around Santa Cruz. Carolyn brings previous admin experience from her time as a Library Security Supervisor at the University of Southern California, where she trained, scheduled, and managed a team of forty student workers, and graduated in 2010 with a degree in Biology and Mathematics. Her passion for environmental conservation stems from her SCUBA diving experience during a semester at Wrigley Marine Institute on Catalina Island, as well as from two long-distance bike tours spanning several weeks in September 2012 and May 2013. Originally from Ohio, she considers herself a native Californian at heart, and hopes to remain in Santa Cruz and perhaps pursue a graduate degree at UCSC.
National Trails Trainer
After graduating from UC Davis in 2009, Patrick joined the first ever ACE AmeriCorps cohort in Flagstaff. He quickly developed a passion for trail work and especially drystone masonry while working in the backcountry of Grand Canyon National Park. Patrick then moved into a leadership role, leading ACE crews in Lake Tahoe, Grand Canyon NP, Zion NP, and Coronado NF. Between stints working for the US Forest Service in Lake Tahoe and Joshua Tree NP, Patrick was ACE California’s Director of Operations. He has recently moved into his current position as a National Trails Trainer, where he enjoys teaching trail skills to ACE corpsmembers. In his free time you will find him trail running, surfing and rock climbing.
International Volunteer and California Outreach Coordinator
Marcel began with ACE California in May of 2010 as the Volunteer and Logistics Coordinator. After serving in the Peace Corps for two years, he found ACE via the networking assistance presented to exiting volunteers completing service and returning home. Marcel now use the same website and many others to spread awareness of ACE. Using his three years of experience supporting crews based out of Santa Cruz, he now focus solely on the generation of new applicants to the volunteer and AmeriCorps programs. Marcel works closely with the operations staff in CA when not traveling around the state to career fairs and other events.
ACE CA 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.
Project Manager
Tahoe Housing Coordinator
Asheville Office:
127 Fletcher Commercial Drive
Fletcher, North Carolina 28732
North Carolina 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.
Logistics Coordinator
Sean graduated from Warren Wilson College with a degree in Environmental Policy. While attending school, he worked as a climbing guide and spent much of his time enjoying the outdoor opportunities that the Southeast has to offer. In the summer of 2016, Sean joined ACE as an Americorps Member. Once his term was up, he took on more responsibilities behind the scenes leading him to the position of Logistics Coordinator.
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.
Operations Coordinator
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.
Ecological Restoration Manager
Mike came to ACE in February of 2010 after 5 years working in Manhattan with several financial firms. He decided to begin his pursuit of a career in conservation by joining ACE as an unpaid volunteer. After spending late winter and early spring volunteering, Mike was given an AmeriCorps position at the end of April, 2010. By early July, Mike was helping to lead vegetation crews at the Grand Canyon along with several other sites throughout the southwest. At the beginning of 2011, Mike took over the position of Field Operations Coordinator. This position involved various duties to ensure that each ACE crew was prepared for their projects in the field. Its major focus became restoration projects based out of ACE’s Arizona office. Mike also began to handle many of ACE’s contracts and cooperative agreements.
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.
St George Office:
376 Sunland Drive, Suite 3A
St. George, Utah 84737
801.367.7628
Director, ACE Utah
I was born and raised in Utah and was heavily influenced by the trails, camping areas, and recreational opportunities of the Wasatch Mountains. I love anything that lets me be in or next to water, especially if it involves a boat. I also love hiking, biking, and downhill skiing. I especially love doing these hobbies with my awesome wife and kids!
I have always wanted a career that let me actively influence the natural world for good. As a preparation for this type of career I studied landscape architecture and environmental planning as well as watershed science at Utah State University and started my career planning and designing ski resorts. I decided to go back to graduate school at Penn State and continued to study landscape architecture, but focused on my real loves, recreational space design and watershed planning and restoration.
I come to ACE after acting as the Upper Weber Watershed Coordinator. While in the position I was in charge of implementing plans and projects that improved the water quality of the headwaters of the Weber River. This task included designing and implementing stream restoration projects, watershed planning, agricultural improvement projects, developing and administering grants, and coordinating the efforts of local governments, agencies, citizens, and watershed committees.
I joined ACE to continue the noble task of being stewards of our natural landscape, to get dirty, and change the world in a real and lasting way. I am constantly in awe of the great work, dedicated staff, and hard work of crew members throughout the ACE family. I am honored to be part of this great team and excited to be involved in building project partner relations and growing and expanding project opportunities within ACE Utah.
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…
ACE Utah Logistics Coordinator
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, 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 Utah Logistics Coordinator, 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.
Caliente Site Foreman
Training and Development Coordinator
I was born and raised in the eastern part of Virginia. I graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2012 with a degree in Environmental Science. During my college years, I was very passionate about protecting the Chesapeake Bay and interned with Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay working to help homeowners to keep as much water on their property for recycling and sustainability. When I started teaching arborist-style tree climbing through a guide company, I realized that I would work outside in some capacity for the rest of my life. I started my 10 month Americorps term with the Virginia Service and Conservation Corps building trails, removing invasive species, planting American Chestnuts, and doing prescribed fire for Virginia State Parks. This all lead me to come to ACE Utah to serve as a crew leader for a year and a half and now on senior staff as the training and development coordinator.
Much of the passion in my job now comes from encouraging and training new crew leaders and corps members. I believe ACE has so much to offer with professional and personal development. When I am not fixing chainsaws, I am out in the field working with crew leaders and corps members on communication, efficiency, and overall personal development. Through all of these moments, I too am continuing to grow and learn. I look forward to all that is ahead.
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.
Patsy Kraeger: Professor at Georgia Southern University in the Institute for Public and Nonprofit Studies. She teaches public and nonprofit management in the Masters of Public Administration program. She holds a PhD in Public Administration from Arizona State University. Board Member since 2010.
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