Cassy Bohnet, Colorado Education Coordinator, Education
Cassy studied at the University of Northern Iowa, where she received her bachelor’s degree in biology education in 2007 and her professional science master’s degree in ecosystem management in 2008. As a graduate student, she worked on a prairie biomass research project at the Tallgrass Prairie Center at UNI, and it was there she decided to combine her teaching skills with her knowledge of ecosystems to work as an environmental educator. Cassy gained experience in the environmental education field as an intern at the Lost Island Nature Center in Ruthven, Iowa. She moved from the Iowa plains to the mountains of Colorado in August 2008. Cassy believes education is essential to improving our society’s conservation practices. At RMBO Cassy designs educational opportunities using birds to educate people about ecosystems and environmental issues.
(303) 659-4348 x15

Victoria Collier, Communications & Membership Coordinator, Administration
Victoria moved to Colorado’s Front Range from the Western Slope in August 2010 to “wield her wicked red pen” at RMBO. She previously worked in communications and public relations for the Sonoran Institute, the City of Tucson’s recycling program, Durango School District and many private clients. Vicki/Victoria studied at Michigan State University and the University of New Mexico before earning a bachelor’s in journalism (public relations emphasis) from Western Washington University. In addition to promoting taking care of our planet, she enjoys the West, yoga, unadulterated food, jazz and taking the back roads.
(970) 482-1707 x30

Reesa Yale Conrey, Wildlife Biologist, Nebraska Prairie Partners, Science and Stewardship
Reesa joined RMBO to lead our research on mountain plovers in western Nebraska in March 2011 after completing post-doctoral research at the U.S. Geological Survey Fort Collins Science Center, which focused on the effects of climate on nest survival of shortgrass prairie birds. Reesa received her doctorate in ecology from Colorado State University (2010), master’s in wildlife biology from the University of Montana (2002), and bachelor’s in environmental and evolutionary biology from Dartmouth College (1998). She has worked on the population ecology of burrowing owls nesting on Colorado’s prairie dog towns, including the effects of rainfall and plague, and on population connectivity in small mammals living near highways in western Montana’s forests. In her spare time, Reesa hikes, travels, gardens, spends time with her husband and cats, and reads too many novels. She is based in Fort Collins.
(970) 482-1707 x17 

Kelly Corman, Private Lands Range/ Wildlife Ecologist, Stewardship
A native of Nebraska, Kelly grew up on a row-crop and cattle operation and has been involved in natural resource management and research on fish and grassland birds. He received a bachelor’s in fisheries and wildlife from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and studied conservation and landscape genetics of the Lesser Prairie-chicken in the Texas Panhandle and eastern New Mexico for his master’s in range and wildlife management at Texas A & M University – Kingsville.  Kelly joined RMBO in September 2011 and works with landowners, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and other partners to deliver habitat conservation projects in southeastern Colorado through Farm Bill funding sources.  Kelly is stationed in the Lamar NRCS field office.
(719) 336-9059; kelly.corman(at)co.usda.gov

Francyne DeBauge, Project Administrator, Science
Fran received a bachelor’s in international business and economics from the University of Colorado at Denver in 2006. Since graduation, she has worked as a resource developer in the nonprofit sector. Fran is combining all her skills to take on the budget and project management needs of the Science Team at RMBO.
(970) 482-1707 x32

Nancy Drilling, South Dakota Projects Coordinator, Science
A native Iowan, Nancy received her master’s at Illinois State University and is finishing her doctorate in conservation biology at the University of Minnesota. She has worked on many avian projects in all corners of the U.S., including research on forest passerines, shorebirds, waterfowl and colonial water birds. She also has experience in Southeast Asia, including three years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand and several years working and conducting avian research in Indonesia and Malaysia. Nancy coordinates RMBO projects in South Dakota, including the second S. D. Breeding Bird Atlas.
(970) 482-1707 x14

Kacie Ehrenberger, Education and Outreach Director, Education
Kacie is a devoted Hokies fan, having received a bachelor’s in forestry and wildlife from Virginia Tech in 1999. She earned a master’s in forestry and natural resources from Purdue University where she studied the bird and amphibian response to a wetland restoration project. She worked for Indiana's Department of Natural Resources for the nongame and endangered species program and then as the statewide aquatic education coordinator. She was an educator for Patuxent Wildlife Research Refuge, Indianapolis Parks Department and Martin University prior to becoming RMBO's Education and Outreach Director in January 2009. Kacie believes education plays a vital role in conservation as a natural resource management tool.
(303) 659-4348 x16

Jora Fogg, Biologist, Science
A native of Washington State, Jora joined RMBO in April 2009. She graduated from The Evergreen State College in 2003 with a bachelor’s in ecology and in 2009 with a master’s in ornithology. Jora moved to Colorado from California, where she worked as an avian field biologist for PRBO Conservation Science, the University of California, Berkeley, and the Tahoe National Forest.  She works with the Integrated Bird Monitoring in Bird Conservation Regions (IMBCR) program out of the Fort Collins office and manages projects in Colorado and the Northern Colorado Plateau Network.
(970) 482-1707 x27

Seth Gallagher, Director, Stewardship
In 2004 Seth joined RMBO where his duties include managing the NRCS-CDOW Private Lands Wildlife Program, assisting with landowner outreach activities, and designing and implementing on-the-ground habitat enhancement projects with partners. Seth earned an associate degree in wildlife management from Minot State University-Bottineau in North Dakota (1997) and a bachelor’s in wildlife management from Lincoln Memorial University, Tennessee (2000). He went on to study nesting ecology of Red-shouldered Hawks at Central Michigan University.
(970) 482-1707 x12

Nancy Gobris, Biologist/Banding Coordinator, Education
Nancy received a bachelor’s in biology and environmental science from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a master’s in wildlife and forest resources from the University of Georgia, where she studied Bachman’s Sparrow. She worked as a field biologist on a variety of forest bird research projects for the University of Georgia, the U.S. Forest Service and Tall Timbers Research Station in Florida through 2000. She then fled the extreme heat of the Southeast for the cool mountains of Colorado, joining RMBO in 2001. She worked in monitoring and special projects, running transects, conducting research on cavity-nesting birds and operating banding stations. Nancy began banding birds on the Georgia coast in 1992 and has been banding for RMBO since 2002. She coordinates RMBO’s banding operations and manages the banding data.
(970) 586-2182

David Hanni, Director, Science
David has 10 years of professional experience conducting and managing large-scale monitoring programs. David and his team at RMBO are monitoring avian populations in 11 states for federal, state and private organizations. The goal is to provide natural resource managers with scientifically defensible population information to support informed decisions that will conserve birds and their habitats in the Rocky Mountain and Great Plains. David has a bachelor’s in wildlife biology from Colorado State University.
(970) 482-1707 x13

Cindi Kelly, Bald Eagle Watch Coordinator, Education
Cindi grew up in a small town outside of Pittsburgh. She always had a love for animals and moved to Ohio to work at a marine life park for 15 years. After her first visit to Colorado, she knew that was the place she wanted to call home. She moved there in 2001 and began her journey of volunteering. After meeting Sigrid Ueblacker, founder of the Birds of Prey Foundation, she began volunteering with Colo. Dept. of Wildlife, RMBO, City of Boulder and Boulder County on a variety of raptor projects. She works as the director of marketing/operations for Rocky Mountain Presence — a natural foods/body care/supplement brokerage company in Boulder. She enjoys gardening, reading, being a “localvore” and spending time with her pug, Moose, and two cats, Penguin and Targhee. She believes that we take so much from the earth that we need to give back as well and protect the species and environment as much as we can.
(303) 659-4348 x13

Colin Lee, Private Lands Wildlife Biologist, Stewardship
Colin joined RMBO in 2011 and is stationed at the NRCS Area Office in Greeley, Colo.  In cooperation with the NRCS and Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife, he works to protect wetland resources on private lands in the South Platte and North Park watershed basins. He formerly worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a Native American tribe, private landowners and other entities to implement wildlife, wetland and soil conservation projects in California, New Mexico, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. Colin earned undergraduate degrees in natural resources management and international development from the University of California at Berkeley and a graduate degree from New Mexico State University, where his thesis focused on Northern Pintail wetland use and winter survival in New Mexico and northern Mexico. 
970-330-0380 x214 Colin.Lee(at)co.usda.gov

Greg Levandoski, Chihuahuan Desert Project Manager, International
After receiving a bachelor’s in ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of New Hampshire in 1996, Greg promptly fell in love with avian field research. He has worked on a variety of research projects ranging from monitoring nesting alcids in the Bering Sea to counting migrating raptors along western ridgelines and chasing warblers through Caribbean thorn forests. However, most of his work has been in monitoring populations of passerines in the western U.S. The search for a broad base of experience to understand avian conservation needs led him to work in 15 U.S. states (10 western), three Mexican states, and Jamaica. Greg is working on a broad-scale project throughout northern Mexico that aims to better understand the distribution and abundance of wintering birds in Chihuahuan Desert grasslands.
(970) 482-1707 x15

Ross Lock, Wildlife Biologist, Stewardship and Science
Ross worked for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission as a wildlife biologist, serving as a district supervisor of wildlife management areas for five years and as the nongame and endangered species coordinator for 30 years. He was a member of the Whooping Crane and Piping Plover national recovery teams. Ross retired from NGPC in 2001 and moved to Colorado. He began working with RMBO in 2004 as a seasonal field biologist conducting Mountain Plover nest surveys in southeastern Colorado and bird surveys on playa lakes on the state’s eastern plains. He became the Mountain Plover project manager in 2007, working with private landowners in eastern Colorado to conserve Mountain Plover nests on agricultural land. He serves as the crew leader for a bird monitoring project on 10 National Monuments and Historical Sites in five southern plains states. Ross received a bachelor’s in zoology and botany (1964) and a master’s in zoology (1966) both from Fort Hays State University in Kansas.
(970) 482-1707 x23

Alberto Macias-Duarte, Research Ecologist (Mexico), International
Alberto grew up in the heat of the Sonoran Desert of Mexico. He obtained his bachelor’s in ecological engineering at the Centro de Estudios Superiores del Estado de Sonora in 1997. Alberto decided to become a wildlife ecologist and began graduate studies at the Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua in 2000. He obtained his master’s in natural resources management working with the endangered Aplomado Falcon and grassland birds in the Chihuahuan Desert. Alberto obtained a Ph.D. in wildlife and fisheries sciences at the University of Arizona in 2011 investigating the impacts of irrigated agriculture in northern Mexico on the continental breeding dispersal patterns of burrowing owls, using stable isotopes and genetic markers. Alberto's professional interests include wildlife and habitat conservation in North American deserts, bird population ecology, and the applications of mathematics and statistics to ecological research. Alberto now supports RMBO research projects from our office in Hermosillo.
011-52 (662) 210-1278; alberto.macias[at]rmbo.org

Noe Marymor, Private-Lands Wildlife Biologist, Stewardship
Since receiving her bachelor’s in wildlife biology from Colorado State University in 2005, Noe has worked as a private lands biologist in both Nebraska and Colorado, helping landowners develop and implement habitat conservation projects. Noe joined RMBO in September 2008 as a PLWB and works with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Colorado Division of Wildlife to deliver habitat conservation projects through Farm Bill funding sources in northeast Colorado. Noe is stationed in the regional NRCS office in Greeley.
(970) 330-0380 x207; noe.marymor[at]co.usda.gov

Mathew McLaren, Biologist, Science
Mathew joined RMBO in 2010 and works on the bird monitoring program. After graduating from the University of Colorado with a degree in biology and environmental science, Matthew spent five years conducting field work throughout Alaska. Since then he has worked on several projects in Colorado and Wyoming, including studying Mountain Plover nest success and habitat use in Wyoming and assisting with RMBO’s Mountain Plover nest-marking program in eastern Colorado. He is based in the Fort Collins office.
(970) 482-1707 x22

Brandon Miller, Private Lands Wildlife Biologist (northwest Colorado), Stewardship
Brandon gained field experience and familiarity with northwestern Colorado while working on two greater sage-grouse research projects for the Colorado Division of Wildlife. He has also worked for the U.S. Forest Service on a range of field projects throughout the West. As a private lands wildlife biologist, Brandon provides technical resources for private landowners and land managers to incorporate wildlife management into their conservation efforts utilizing Farm Bill and other programs. Brandon earned an associate’s degree in recreation and wildlife from Hocking College and a bachelor’s in wildlife resources from the University of Idaho.
(970) 879-3225 x111; brandon.miller[at]co.usda.gov

Marty Moses, Private Lands Wildlife Biologist (Durango), Stewardship
Marty completed his master’s in wildlife ecology at New Mexico State University where he studied the ecology of Banner-tailed Kangaroo Rats in Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands. Marty also holds wildlife degrees from the University of Idaho and Hocking College in Ohio. He has worked on all kinds of critters from black bears to bats to butterflies all around the country and was a soil conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service for two years in Longmont, Colo.
(970) 259-3289 x113; Martin.Moses[at]co.usda.gov

Arvind Panjabi, Director, International Program
Before coming to RMBO in 2000, Arvind worked on bird conservation projects from Alaska to Panama. He managed RMBO’s Black Hills bird monitoring project through 2005 and published several informative reports on the avifauna of this unique region. He works closely with Partners in Flight, manages the PIF Species Assessment Database, and was instrumental in applying the PIF assessment process to the Mexican avifauna, in conjunction with federal and NGO partners in Mexico. In 2005, he launched RMBO’s International Program to build a permanent bridge for bird conservation throughout the Americas. He is involved in several cooperative projects in Mexico in Chihuahuan grasslands, western Mexico and the Sierra Madre Oriental. Arvind has a bachelor’s in wildlife biology from the University of Vermont (1993) and a master’s in wildlife biology from Louisiana State University (1999).
(970) 482-1707 x20

Joseph Parsons, Private Lands Wildlife Biologist, Stewardship
Joe is a private lands wildlife biologist working out of the NRCS office in Saratoga, Wyo., where he assists landowners in conservation efforts that will help improve Sage Grouse habitat. Joe was raised in a rural community in northeastern Wyoming near Devils Tower. After serving in the United States Marine Corps, he completed a bachelor’s in wildlife biology and management at the University of Wyoming. He has contributed to research on the impacts of wind farms as it relates to Sage-Grouse nesting success. He also has been a member of a team conducting Whooping Crane surveys in North Dakota and rare plant surveys in Wyoming. 
(307) 326-5657;  joseph.parsons[at]wy.usda.gov

James Pauley, CPA, Chief Financial Officer, Administration
Jim earned his bachelor’s and master’s in accounting from the University of Wyoming in 2002 and 2003 respectively. He worked for two years in public accounting in Lubbock, Texas, passed the Uniform CPA exam, and became a certified public accountant (CPA). After moving to Colorado, he worked for two years as reimbursement analyst for the University of Colorado Hospital. He began working for RMBO in September 2007. Jim enjoys outdoor activities including hiking and biking.
(303) 659-4348 x14

David Pavlacky, Spatial Ecologist, Science
A Colorado native, David received a bachelor’s in wildlife biology from Colorado State University (1995) and a master’s in zoology and physiology from the University of Wyoming (2000). He earned a doctorate in zoology from the University of Queensland, Australia (2008), where he studied landscape genetics and ecology of rainforest birds. David first worked for RMBO as a field technician in 1995, and he rejoined RMBO in April 2008 to work on the spatial ecology of playa wetlands in eastern Colorado and western Nebraska. His research interests include quantitative methods for the distribution and abundance of wildlife and landscape ecology of forest birds.
(970) 482-1707 x11

Andrew Pierson, Shortgrass Prairie Coordinating Wildlife Biologist, Stewardship
Andrew obtained a bachelor’s in biological sciences from the University of Nebraska in 2005 and has experience with the Student Conservation Association, AmeriCorps and the U.S. Forest Service. He has conducted monitoring work with Northern Goshawks, White-headed Woodpeckers and Flammulated Owls, along with other non-avian species, in western forests. Andrew joined RMBO in 2007 and works in partnership with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and others to implement on-the-ground stewardship activities for the benefit of at-risk species on private and public land in western Nebraska. He works out of the North Platte Natural Resources District office in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.
(308) 220-0052

Duane Pool, Landscape Ecologist (North Dakota), International
Duane lives in Bismarck, North Dakota, and works out of Bismarck State College, where he is an adjunct professor. Duane completed undergraduate and graduate degrees in natural resource and environmental economics and econometrics. His doctorate in forest, rangeland and watershed stewardship is from Colorado State University. His career has centered on developing management guidance for migratory bird programs through the application of spatial statistical analysis and GIS. He worked on waterfowl demographic studies and nest-site selection modeling for the Ducks Unlimited Great Plains Regional Office. He joined The Nature Conservancy in 2005 as the science coordinator for the Northern Great Plains Joint Venture and later served as the science coordinator for the Conservancy's migratory bird program working on the potential impacts of climate change on species of concern. Duane contributes to RMBO's mission by providing spatial analysis and GIS support to International projects.
(701) 471-9300; (701) 224-2624; 1500 Edwards Ave., P.O. Box 5587, Bismarck, ND 58506-5587

Laura Quattrini, Stewardship Biologist, Stewardship
Laura obtained a bachelor’s in wildlife biology from Ohio University with an environmental studies certificate. She has assisted with numerous avian research projects with organizations including Whitefish Point Bird Observatory, Carnegie Museum of Natural History/ Powdermill Biological Reserve, HawkWatch International, Southern Sierra Research Station and Humboldt State University. She has higher education teaching experience and was an Americorps VISTA organizing outreach efforts with landowners in southeast Ohio. 
(970) 482-1707 x21

Christina Santana, Private Lands Wildlife Biologist (Gunnison), Stewardship
Joining RMBO in 2011 as a Private Lands Wildlife Biologist, Christina works with landowners to develop conservation plans funded through Farm Bill programs. Her primary focus is on Gunnison Sage-grouse habitat improvement. She is stationed in the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Gunnison Field Office.  Christina earned a bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology with a minor in fishery biology from Colorado State University in 2003. She has eight years of Gunnison Sage-grouse field experience including working on a number of trap/telemetry crews and serving as the GUSG lek coordinator for the Colorado Department of Wildlife. She also has worked on multiple wildlife projects throughout Colorado’s Western Slope.
(970) 642-4441; christina.santana(at)co.usda.gov

Nathan Schmitz, Private Lands Biologist, Stewardship
An Iowa native, Nathan graduated from Iowa State University. He was previously a Farm Bill biologist for Pheasants Forever in Lamar, Colo., working on Lesser Prairie-chicken habitat projects in southeast Colorado. Schmitz has also worked for the Colorado Division of Wildlife and the University of Wyoming studying Sage-Grouse. Nathan works out of the Colorado Springs NRCS office.
(719) 543-8386; nathan.schmitz[at]co.usda.gov

Larry Snyder, Nebraska Prairie Partners Assistant, Stewardship
A lifelong resident of Kimball, Nebraska, Larry received an associate degree in production agriculture from Northeastern Junior College in 1986. He has 26 years of experience in livestock and dry land crop production in the southern Nebraska Panhandle. An avid outdoorsman with an eye for watching wildlife, Larry began conducting special species surveys in 2002 with the Nebraska Prairie Partners as a seasonal field technician. Now as the full-time Nebraska Prairie Partners Assistant, Larry is responsible for implementing the Mountain Plover nest protection program and wildlife escape ladder project, and he is involved in the Nebraska Prairie Partners Education and Outreach programs. Larry continues to help conduct special species surveys and has begun the implementation process of playa restoration projects in the southern panhandle.
(308) 762-2372

Rob Sparks, Research Biologist/GIS Manager, Science
Before coming to RMBO in 2003, Rob worked in Costa Rica with the Great Green Macaw Conservation Project and the Arizona Bald Eagle Nestwatch Program. Rob is responsible for implementing study designs, managing spatial data and creating distribution models. He has used generalized linear models to explore habitat relationships for wintering grassland birds in Mexico. Rob received a degree in botany from Miami University in 1998.
(970) 482-1707 x19

Bill Tiedje, Landowner Outreach and Program Technician, International
Bill developed a passion for wildlife and conservation at a young age, growing up on a family farm in central Iowa. While attending Colorado State University, Bill worked part-time for RMBO, assisting in data proofing and digital mapping. He graduated from CSU in May 2011, completing bachelor's degrees in agricultural economics and natural resources management. Bill became full-time in October 2011, excited about the opportunity to continue supporting RMBO's International Program.
(970) 482-1707 x31

Alex Ushakov, IT Specialist, Science
Alex works on RMBO’s avian databases, web site and staff computer issues. He earned bachelor and master degrees in computer science from Moscow State University of Electronic Machinery and an MBA from University of Colorado at Denver. He is a highly experienced information technology professional with a background in the architecture and deployment of web-based services in educational and administrative environments and also in audio/video production, teleconferencing and videostreaming. He had extensive IT practice in configuring, setting-up, and troubleshooting software and hardware. Prior to joining RMBO, Alex served as lead IT software specialist at Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries (Denver), the Austin Val Verde Foundation of Santa Barbara, Calif., and University of California at Santa Barbara.
(970) 482-1707 x29

Nick Van Lanen, Biologist, Science
A Wisconsin native, Nick graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2002 with a bachelor’s in wildlife ecology. Since 2001 he has spent 12 seasons studying birds across seven states. These projects investigated a range of topics including breeding, stop-over, migratory and wintering behavior of songbirds, raptors and gamebirds. Nick also spent 18 months as an interpretive naturalist on the Georgia coast. Despite enjoying birding and kayaking for a living, he realized that conducting research aimed at conserving birds was his true passion. He returned to school and in 2010 received a master’s degree from Colorado State University for his research investigating the potential competitive interaction between Northern Spotted and Barred Owls. After graduate school Nick immediately started working for RMBO as the Wyoming field crew leader. Now a full-time biologist, Nick assists with data analyses, report writing and publications.
(970) 482-1707 x28

Magdalena 'Maggie' Vinson, Nebraska Education Coordinator, Education
Maggie relocated from the Monadnock region of southwestern New Hampshire to join RMBO and the Nebraska Prairie Partners team Scottsbluff, Neb., in June 2011. She coordinates the Nebraska education and outreach activities, focusing on wildlife habitat of the ponderosa pine and shortgrass prairie ecosystems. Maggie received her bachelor’s in Russian language and literature from Smith College 2005 and her master’s in environmental studies/environmental education from Antioch University New England in 2010. When she’s not working, Maggie loves to bike, run, cook, and explore the lands near where she lives.
(303) 220-0052

Chris White, Biologist, Science
After graduating from Arizona State University in 2002 with a bachelor’s in biology, Chris volunteered at Liberty Wildlife, an avian rehabilitation facility in Arizona, and worked occasional field jobs. After moving to Fort Collins, Colorado, he began working for RMBO as a data entry technician in the fall of 2006. He now works planning and conducting field work and is the regional monitoring coordinator on RMBO’s Science team.
(970) 482-1707 x24

Erin Youngberg, Biologist, International
Erin found her way to RMBO as a volunteer intern for the Bald Eagle Watch Program in January, 2010.  A bird lover from a very young age, she jumped at the chance to get involved with such a great organization. She was then hired as a seasonal field technician for the International team’s grassland nest productivity study at Soapstone Prairie Natural Area during the 2010 summer season.  When she wasn’t observing baby birds, she was performing regularly with her bluegrass band, Finders and Youngberg.  Originally from Jackson, Wyoming, Erin graduated with her bachelor’s in wildlife biology from Colorado State University in 2009. She is extremely interested in conserving habitats for our birds and is excited to be lending her skills to RMBO!
(970) 482-1707 x33