Photo Credit: Gail Hunter
GARNA is guided by a passionate and experienced Board of Directors and dedicated staff members. Our board brings a wealth of knowledge in areas like nonprofit management, park administration, environmental science, and law. Their diverse backgrounds and expertise ensure we approach our mission from a well-rounded perspective. Our staff is equally impressive, with experience in education, finance, communications, and outdoor recreation. Their dedication and hard work are essential to achieving GARNA’s goals.
To reach a staff member by email, first name @ garna.org
Executive Director
Programs Director
Community Programs & Watershed Coordinator
Program Development Coordinator
Youth Program Coordinator
Sustainability Coordinator
Sustainability Coordinator
Bonnie grew up in the Caribbean islands and has lived in various countries around the world. In addition to being bilingual, she is a Master Gardner with Colorado State, a rescue Scuba diver, and a wild mushroom identifier. Bonnie has lived in Chaffee County since 2016. Professionally, she has worked in sales, marketing, business development, and is currently a senior strategic analyst supporting Fortune 100 and 500 companies.
Devin holds a PhD in Environmental Science and a Masters Degree in Geology, and is a Licensed Professional Geologist in the State of Wyoming. His passion for water education has taken him from Guatemala to Antarctica and locally teaching geology at CMC Salida and Colorado School of Mines. He is currently Assistant VP of a global engineering firm, where he advises the mining industry on strategies to minimize impacts on water. His favorite pastimes include skiing, hiking, mountain biking, and international travel.
Joey established a deep connection to the outdoors by through hiking the AT and PCT. A Chaffee Resident since 2021, he has a degree in Recreation Outdoor Leadership from CMC and pursuing a Business degree. He is a former river guide and currently guides for a nonprofit that teaches veterans to travel safely in the outdoors. Joey brings to the GARNA board a passion for outdoor education, expanding access to the outdoors, and supporting the long-term stewardship of the landscapes that make the area unique.
Born and raised in Colorado, and climbing in the Sawatch range since he was ten, Truman (Ty) got his BA from the University of Chicago and his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania, both in biology. He has taught, mentored, and carried out ecological research for over forty years in Kenya, Panama, and the western United States. He brings years of experience in environmental education and the ecology, restoration, conservation, and management of human-dominated landscapes, especially rangelands.
Mahting is a seasoned commercial photographer with over twenty years of experience in the outdoor industry. He brings extensive knowledge of adventure education and hunting related activities to GARNA. You can find him teaching skiing at Monarch in the winters while trail running occupies his summer months. "Mahting" is the phonetic spelling of his Latvian name, pronounced "MAH-TING." He's a second-generation Latvian-American, with Latvian as his native language.
Brad is a trial attorney and civil litigator with his practice based in Salida. Before practicing law, Brad spent many years traveling the world. He has lived in seven different countries and traveled to more than fifty. Brad loves spending time outdoors with his wife and two children, and spends his free time bird watching, woodworking, reading, and cheering for the Denver Nuggets.
Kelly is the principal of Chaffee County High School in the Buena Vista School District, where she serves students who are considered at-risk. With 20 years of experience in education, she is deeply committed to supporting student growth and believes strongly in building resilience through meaningful outdoor experiences. Kelly was drawn to the Arkansas River Valley by her love of river sports and the strong, connected community that defines Chaffee County. Kelly is especially focused on reducing barriers that prevent at-risk youth from accessing outdoor experiences, helping ensure all students have the opportunity to connect with and benefit from the natural environment.
Jonathan is the Executive Director of Silver Cliff Ranch in Nathrop, Colorado, bringing over 20 years of nonprofit leadership to the Arkansas River Valley. Before relocating to Colorado, Jonathan spent sixteen years in New Orleans leading nonprofits dedicated to housing rehabilitation and youth development. His career spans a diverse range of leadership, from teaching students to canoe to managing large-scale volunteer events for the NFL, NBA, and Starbucks. Currently, he is expanding Silver Cliff Ranch’s reach by fostering nonprofit partnerships and scaling staff to provide high-value, accessible mountain retreats.
Carly specializes in environmental compliance with experience in air quality management and sustainability initiatives, she has supported industrial facilities and government agencies in advancing environmental stewardship. She enjoys meteorology, swimming, biking, and her pets.
Maddox attends Salida High School as a junior. A Colorado native and raised in Salida since he was two, Maddox naturally loves to ski, camp, hike, and hunt. With a strong sense of community service, he is on the NHS executive board, is a member of the Extraordinary Teen Council, and acts as the City Council Youth Liaison. He recently started the Chaffee Outdoor Service Association, a group focusing on driving teens to get outside and serve their community.