STAFF

Karen Dallett
Executive Director

Spring 2012 Please join the executive board in welcoming Karen Dallett as our new Executive Director. She comes to us from The Pachamama Alliance in San Francisco and the Indigenous Environmental Network. Karen has an extensive non-profit background in grant writing and programming and loves the high desert mountain terrain. She has been an executive leader in many projects such as the Santa Fe Film Festival, programming at the Sundance Resort, established the Park City Literary Festival and created and was the Executive Producer and on-air host for NPR's, "This Green Earth". She has also owned a successful bookstore/cafe', and winebar in Park City, Utah and now comes to our organization with the highest of recommendations.

Michael "Crow" Black
Volunteer Coordinator
K1BRR

A one time nomad & CAD expert who ended up working as a mechanical designer, Crow has been a 3D modeler & project manager in Silicon Valley, has owned his own animation company, and has experience as "Logistics Manager" and "Officer of the Day" for large scale Ranger Ops at events in remote places and under extreme conditions, such as Burning Man. He has served as a Ranger many different environments and events across the country. He is a hunter, 4x4 enthusiast, and novice tracker with First Responder & HAM certs, and has done Search & Rescue alone and in cooperation with other agencies.

Bill Carson
IT Director
K7BRD, QSL

Via Michigan, England, Idaho, and California, Bill has finally found a home in the Black Rock Desert. After visiting to launch rockets in 1997, he got stuck under an electrical storm on the playa and has been here ever since.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

David Book
President
KD7YIM

Self proclaimed Desert Rat David Book has been with Friends for nearly 10 years. Dave's been scouring the deserts of Arizona, California, and Nevada since the 1970's. He's an active member of Washoe Country Search & Rescue, Friends of Nevada Wilderness, Oregon California Trail Association, Sierra Club member and trip leader, does amateur radio and has been a Burning Man attendee since 1993. Dave has also been a BLM volunteer since the mid 1990's. When he's not at meetings, he's out poking around in ghost towns, mining camps and deserted backroads. His favorite motto's: "I don't care where I go or what I do, I just want to go" and "When you're in the desert, you always have a view"

Will Roger Peterson
Vice President

Will Roger is currently a member of the board of directors of Black Rock City LLC (Burning Man) and on the board of the Black Rock Arts Foundation. He also serves on the Sierra Front - Northwest Great Basin Resource Advisory Council. Will's background in science, fine art, education and management support his broad interests that range from environmental issues to interactive public art. He splits his time between his studio in Oakland, CA and his outpost in Gerlach, NV. Will's other interests include motorcycle riding, sailing, wind surfing, hiking, underwater photography, aerial photography, astronomy, green and alternative energy and preserving Nevada's wilderness. Will is also a member of the NRA, ACLU and SAC.

Wayne de Geere III
Treasurer

Wayne is a big guy who does everything on a large scale, especially when it comes to his Prevost rolling palace. A long time desert dweller, he brings entrpreneurial vision and technical know-how to the organization. Wayne also has a lovely wife Breanna, and they have a young son, Wayne IV.

Sue Vaughn
Secretary

Born and raised in Western Pennsylvania, Sue enjoyed back packing and hiking in the Allegheny foothills. She left the east coast for the high desert in the early 80’s and enjoys exploring the vastness and beauty it has to offer. Along with her husband Dave, who is an amateur telescope observer, they appreciate that the National Conservation Area offers some of the best pristine dark skies viewing in the western states. Sue has been active with Friends of Black Rock for over 10 years, volunteering numerous hours in conservation grassroots projects and educational outreach.

Jeff Barker

Known as "JB" in the local circles, was raised in Washoe County, and manages the old Iveson Ranch, a short distance from Gerlach, where he and Sylvia are developing a Wildlife Conservation Ranch supported by Art Car Storage and Playa Base Camp, as well as the BarSyl Bazaar in Gerlach. Jeff has spent the majority of his life in and around the Black Rock High Desert Area. JB's lifelong background in sales and marketing with major international companies makes him an asset to any business, but his heart is here!

Mark A. Beguelin

Mark moved to the Reno area in 1972, attended area schools and graduated from UNR in 1986. After law school in San Diego, CA, he returned to Nevada to begin a career, starting out in the Nevada Attorney General's office and later moving into private practice. Mark is a member of the Hardy Law Group in Reno and practices primarily in the area of domestic relations. The general BR/HR area has called to Mark since the mid ‘70s and he visits the area as much as possible. He has a strong interest in local emigrant, mining, and natural history and enjoys sharing the wonders of the BR/HR area. Mark is an avid and responsible 'four wheeler' and is a life member of the Blue Ribbon Coalition. He strongly supports Tread Lightly! and LNT camping and is a General Class amateur radio enthusiast.

David Cooper

Dave Cooper came to the Black Rock Desert in 2001 as the first BLM Manager for the Black Rock Desert - High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area and 10 associated wilderness areas. He led the effort to develop the first award winning collaborative Resource Management Plan for the 1.2 million acres of public lands that make up the NCA and wilderness areas. He also authorized special recreation permits for numerous activities and events that take place in the Black Rock country such as the annual Burning Man event. Dave retired in 2009 after 33 ½ years of federal government service and providing visitor services to the public in Illinois, Idaho, Oregon, Colorado and finally Nevada. He now makes his home in Gerlach NV, the gateway to the Black Rock Desert. "Now I have time to explore this vast remote region, hike the canyons, traverse the mountain ranges, learn more of the emigrant history, continue to provide visitor services and soak in the hot springs".

Jim Kudrna

James Kudrna is the manager of Kudrna Nevada LLC and owner of Soldier Meadows Ranch & Lodge. Jim retired in 2005 after over 30 years in the real estate industry as a broker, manager, marketer, CFO, dealer, portfolio acquisition specialist, and developer. Jim is experienced in the implementation of marketing, planning, organization financing and development of all types of communities and resources. He is an avid conservationist, friend of all wildlife, critic of waste, a minimalist, and now he is becoming a rancher at Soldier Meadows, a key destination along the Emigrant Trail. He loves to hunt chukkar (and doesn't much care if he gets any), fish, camp, explore, fix things, learn, teach, build consensus, travel, and make changes happen. Jim is married with two sons, and received his formal education in economic forecasting and business at Western Washington State University. Update, March 2012: Sadly, Jim passed away early in March. He will be deeply missed.

Deborah Lassiter

Debbie Lassiter grew up in Elko County in a railroad and mining family that loved hunting, camping and rock hounding throughout Northern Nevada. She is currently the Vice President of Environmental Affairs for Allied Nevada Gold and spends much of her time at the Hycroft Mine in the Black Rock. She is a member of the BLM Sierra Front Resource Advisory Council, serves on the board of directors of the Nevada Mining Association and is participating in the BLM Great Basin Landscape Conservation Committee. Debbie’s background in environmental science and experience in Nevada support her participation in resource management activities. She lives in Reno with her husband Patric and their two children. She needs more time to ride her motorcycle and do some serious cycling.