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.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Deborah Lassiter
President

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.

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.

David Book
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"

Sue Vaughn

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.

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".

Rebecca Gasca of Reno NV
Rebecca's passion for the Black Rock Desert began at Burning Man and continues to expand with each new adventure in the area. As the principal and founder of Pistil and Stigma, a government and public relations consulting group, Rebecca is proud to provide her area of policy and community relations expertise to the Friends and its members.