Meet Our Team

After graduating from Miami University in Ohio with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology, Lisa worked as a ranger naturalist in both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. In 2004, she graduated with honors from the University of Wyoming College of Law, where she focused on public lands and natural resource law. She served as a law clerk for a superior court judge in Anchorage, Alaska, before returning to Wyoming in June 2005 to direct the Outdoor Council’s national parks and forests program. The majority of Lisa’s work has focused on oil and gas leasing and development proposals on the Bridger-Teton National Forest’s Wyoming Range. Lisa became the Outdoor Council’s program director in 2013, a position she held for nearly four years before becoming executive director in late 2017. She lives in Jackson with her husband and son.

lisa@wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org  |  307.332.7031, ext. 230

Kristen graduated from the University of California, San Diego with bachelor’s degrees in both Women’s Studies and Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution. She developed a love for wilderness hiking and backpacking in California and the American Southwest. In 2007, she moved to Wyoming after being captivated by the beauty of the state and landing a job with NOLS. After 11 years at NOLS, she joined the Wyoming Outdoor Council as membership director in 2018. A year later, she moved up into the role of associate director. She lives in Lander with her husband and son.

kristenb@wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org  |  307.332.7031, ext. 170

Tyler joined WOC in January 2023 with experience in community development, fundraising, and nonprofit leadership. Prior to this, Tyler was the executive director of ART 321 in Casper, where he had the opportunity to support artists from across the state and build partnerships at the intersection of arts, health, economic development, equity, and inclusion. He has served on the steering committee for the WY Department of Health’s State Health Improvement Plan, the Wyoming Alliance for Suicide Prevention, and co-developed a joint work session between the boards of the Wyoming Business Council and the Wyoming ENGAGE Council to increase support for 18–35-year-old business owners. Tyler believes WOC’s work helps support healthier and economically and culturally vibrant communities in Wyoming. He feels fortunate to live in Casper with his wife where they can raise their wonderful daughter in the beautiful outdoors. The fishing is pretty great, too.

tyler@wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org | 307.488.3452

Alec joined WOC in June of 2023, bringing a variety of experience in conservation nonprofit organizing, policy, and development. Prior to moving to Wyoming, Alec spent 12 wonderful years in Montana where he received his degree in wildlife biology from the University of Montana. Most recently, Alec worked as the senior policy and development director for the Montana Wildlife Federation, leading public lands policy campaigns and helping build organizational capacity. He has served on the board of directors for several local conservation organizations including the WestSlope Chapter of Trout Unlimited, where he helped raise and allocate money to local stream restoration projects. Alec’s passion for conservation is rooted in his interests of fly fishing, big game hunting, and backpacking. In his current role, Alec provides leadership and mentorship to the program team to ensure that WOC continues to protect Wyoming’s environment and quality of life for current and future generations. He is thrilled to call Lander home.

alec@wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org | 307.332.7031 ext. 302

John grew up in the small mountain town of Brevard, North Carolina, where he spent much of his childhood rambling down Appalachian backroads in search of good trout streams, long trail-runs, and backcountry adventures. His passion for natural resources and recreation followed him through college and graduate school where he received a bachelor’s in Environmental Studies with honors as a Morehead-Cain Scholar at UNC Chapel Hill (2010–2014) and a master’s in Environmental Management at Duke University (2015–2017). John’s work at WOC focuses on growing Wyoming’s capacity to organize and respond to challenges related to climate change and the decarbonization of energy sources. As a part of this role, he works closely with community partners, academic institutions, and
state policy makers across the state. John lives in Lander where he also works annually as a NOLS field instructor, is the president of Fremont County’s Trout Unlimited Chapter, and serves on the steering committee for the grassroots climate advocacy group, the Lander Climate Action Network.

johnb@wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org | 307.332.7031, ext. 150

Jonathan Williams — or “JW” as most folks call him — spent his early years running barefoot in rural Iowa, catching fireflies and exploring the forest. This deep connection to nature inspired him to pursue a bachelors in Environmental Science and Biology from Luther College. He soon started to guiding whitewater rafting trips in Colorado, organizing and leading an international bicycle fundraising event, and working as a field instructor for the National Outdoor Leadership School. All the while taking time to adventure in remote places, JW went on to receive a Masters of Arts in Environmental Policy and Public Administration from Colorado State University. This helped prepare him to assume a full-time role directing NOLS’ stewardship, sustainability, and public policy efforts for a few years. He now calls Lander home and is thrilled to be with the Outdoor Council. Regardless of if he finds himself on the river or in the mountains, he always seeks to keep people and nature at the center of his journey.  

jw@wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org | 307.332.7031, ext. 220

Claire grew up rambling in the subtly tamer wild woods of New York’s Catskill Mountains, before she moved to Austin, Texas, to pursue a bachelor’s degree in English and journalism, followed by a master’s in Information Science. In 2016, she decided she’d had enough of Texas’s flat scenery and hot, humid climate and sought out Wyoming for the promise of mountains to run up, snow to ski upon, and acres of public lands to explore. She joined the Wyoming Outdoor Council in 2016, working to leverage and promote the broader Keep it Public, Wyoming coalition, and has since moved into a role where she creates and manages the organization’s brand as a graphic designer, editor, and writer. She lives in a tiny house in Lander.

claire@wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org  |  307.332.7031, ext. 110

Originally from central Ohio, Max was pulled west by his enthusiasm for grand mountain landscapes and outdoor adventures of all sizes. After graduating from the University of Colorado with a degree in ecology, he enjoyed sharing experiences in nature with others as a biking, backpacking, and llama-packing guide. Between guiding clients on trails in Yellowstone or the Tetons and rock climbing on the beautiful cliffs outside Lander, Max fell more in love with Wyoming — and the outstanding community he discovered here — every day. Eventually, Max’s work prompted him to pick up a pen and use writing to share stories of adventure and conservation in the special places he had the privilege of exploring. After completing his Masters of Fine Arts in creative writing at Western Washington University, Max returned to Lander to live with his partner. In his current role, he’s thrilled to forge connections with a broad range of people passionate about protecting Wyoming’s public lands, wildlife, and clean air and water.

max@wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org  | 307.488.3451

Following a childhood spent in California and Argentina, Meghan’s first priority in choosing a college was to go somewhere with snow. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Biology from Smith College before working as an itinerant wildlife technician, including a stint studying bears in Greater Yellowstone. Wyoming made a big impression, and she returned to the state for a master’s degree in Zoology and Physiology at the University of Wyoming, focusing on wildlife management and conservation. After working for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game managing big game species on the Alaska Peninsula, Meghan moved back to her favorite place once again, joining the Outdoor Council in 2022 to support stewardship of Wyoming’s lands and wildlife. She and her family take every opportunity to get outside in the mountains, rivers, and badlands around their home base of Dubois.

meghan@wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org | | 307.332.7031, ext. 280

Big Wind is a Two Spirit member of the Northern Arapaho tribe from the Wind River Reservation. At a young age, Big Wind recognized many injustices and degrees of oppression within their community. They became involved in youth and climate leadership at the age of 13 when they learned of environmental racism happening near their home. Since then, they have worked on numerous campaigns throughout “Indian Country” and currently is the Tribal Advocacy Associate for the Indigenous Land Alliance of Wyoming.

bigwind@wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org | 307.332.7031, ext. 200

Since her first trip to Wyoming in 1997 to climb Gannett Peak, Era has been drawn to Wyoming’s environment and quality of life. Even when she lived in Jordan, work with National Outdoor Leadership School brought her back each year until she moved to Lander in 2012. Between leading trips and teaching wilderness medicine for NOLS, Era interned at the State Legislature with WOC in 2018. Inspired by this experience, she switched directions, earned her M.S. in Environmental Science and Policy, and worked as a contract lobbyist for WOC before accepting the Legislative Advocate position in May 2023. She is excited for the opportunity to work with varied constituents across the state and find solutions that protect Wyoming’s quality of life. When not in the office she can be found enjoying open space or volunteering for the Lander Search and Rescue team.

era@wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org  |  307.488.0373

Misti was born and raised in the tiny town of Liberty, Pennsylvania, where she enjoyed playing in the nearby creeks and running through the neighboring woods. In 2001, Misti visited Lander, Wyoming, with a friend for what she thought would only be a six-month stay. After instantly falling in love with the Wind River Range, those six months turned into 19 years and Misti now calls Wyoming home. For 10 years, she ran a small business in Lander but in 2019, started to look for a change. When the opportunity came up to work for Wyoming Outdoor Council,  Misti was thrilled to become a part of a team helping to protect the public lands she treasures. She lives in a little log cabin overlooking the Winds, with her husband and three children. 

misti@wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org |  307.332.7031, ext. 140

Letara is from the Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone Tribes and grew up in Crowheart. Her connection to the land, water, and wildlife started from birth on the Wind River Reservation, where her father served as a game warden with the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Fish and Wildlife Department. LeTara joins WOC with seven years of experience in conservation and advocacy work, public relations, Tribal programs and policy, and small business development. She is a current member of both the national and state Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Task Forces and she serves as the Wind River Business Development Representative for the Forward Fremont County Political Action Committee, and business councilor for the Wind River Start Up Challenge. Letara graduated from the Advance Native Political Leadership Institute for Political Leadership, and, most recently, she was awarded the USA Todays 2023 Woman of the Year award. In her spare time she loves the great outdoors, traveling, and coaching youth basketball.

letara@wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org |  307.332.7031