Our Team

Amanda
Hofmann-Handy
Chief Executive
Officer
Ext: 103

Bridget Blixt
Chief Operating
Officer
Ext: 113

Vickie McWaters
Director of Development & Marketing
Ext: 110

Melanie Tluczek
Director of Science & Education
Ext: 106

Brian Whitehead
Senior Program Manager
Ext: 107

Jen Bruening
Education Manager
Ext: 111

Tyler Chandler
Development Manager
Ext: 109

Jessie Dwyer
Biodiversity Manager
Ext: 104

Mary Fastiggi
Restoration Manager
Ext: 114

Annie Johnson
Education Coordinator
Ext: 115

Kerry Quinn
Development Manager
Ext: 131

Robin Sprague
Program & Events Manager
Ext: 108

Our volunteer steward leadership works in partnership with our staff to achieve the Conservancy’s mission. The Core Leadership Team (CLT) consists of steward leaders that help manage Conservancy Programs as well as facilitate the coordination, collaboration, and exchange of ideas, concerns, and opportunities throughout the Conservancy.

John Zikias
CLT Chair

Paul Staker
CLT Vice Chair

Doug Jensen
Citizen Science Chair

Carolyn DiFonzo
Citizen Science Assistant Chair

Gina Clark
Community Engagement Chair

Mary Simons
Community Engagement Assistant Chair

Jerry Riebling
Constuction & Maintenance Chair

Jeff McFarland
Construction & Maintenance Assistant Chair

Susan Kanvik
Guided Hike & Bike Chair

Dennis Genge
Guided Hike & Bike
Assistant Chair

TBD
Pastfinders Chair

TBD
Pastfinders Assistant Chair

Gretchen Barylak
Patrol Chair

Mike Roberts
Patrol Assistant Chair

Keri Means
Steward Education Chair

Robbi Fowler
Steward Education Chair

Denise Villalon
Trailhead Ambassadors Chair

Bill Fletcher
Trailhead Ambassadors Assistant Chair

Louise Turner
Youth Education Chair

Elizabeth Sommers
Youth Education Assistant Chair

Our Science Advisory Committee (SAC) provides expert support, reviews materials and helps connect us to external resources. The SAC brings a broad scientific perspective to the Parsons Field Institute research program by developing experimental design and methods on individual projects, reviewing overall research priorities and setting Field Institute work into a broader regional and national context.

Heather Bateman
Arizona State University

Russell Benford
Arizona Department of Forestry & Fire Management

Gita Bodner
The Nature Conservancy

Stevan Earl
Arizona State University

Helen Rowe
Northern Arizona University

Ron Rutowski
Central Arizona Butterfly Association

Scott Sprague
Arizona Game & Fish Department

John Weser
Scottsdale Community College

Our research partners work with us on individual research and monitoring projects to develop experimental design, guide the methods and help with data analysis and final documentation. Research partners also help guide the work of citizen scientists to produce robust and reliable results.

Anita Antoninka
Northern Arizona University

Stevan Earl
Arizona State University

Rich Hofstetter
Northern Arizona University

Steve Jones
Independant Botanist

Marianne Moore
Arizona State University

Helen Rowe
Northern Arizona University

Ron Rutowski
Central Arizona Butterfly Association

Tice Supplee
Audubon Southwest

Walter Thurber
Independant Ornithologist

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