Board of Trustees

Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions (CGE) is fortunate to have a dedicated Board of Trustees, comprised of parents, teachers, former trekkers, and individuals committed to advancing the organization's mission. 

20241019_133140

 

The invaluable support of our Board of Trustees ensures the success and growth of CGE. If you share the passion for outdoor education and are interested in volunteering, whether on the Board or elsewhere, CGE encourages you to reach out.

Contact Information:

Email: GulchBoardSearch@cottonwoodgulch.org

 

Marjorie Kittle

Chair

Location: Seattle, WA

Affiliation: Consultant, Salix Advisors, LLC

Gulch Experience: Turquoise Trail ’83, Prairie Trek Group 3 ’84; Base Camp staff ’88, Group III Staff and Co-leader ’89-92, TT Leader ’94 and ’95

Scott Pierce III

Vice Chair

Location: Albuquerque, NM

Affiliation: Vice President, J. H. Blades & Co., Inc.

Gulch Experience: Group I ‘77-78, Group I cook ‘84, Group II/III staff ’86

Saba Presley

Treasurer

Location: Albuquerque, NM

Affiliation: Inclusion Science Teacher/ Mountain Mahogany Community School

Gulch Experience: School Partner since 2018

Laurie Hooper

Secretary

Location: Reistertown, MD

Affiliation: Attorney

Gulch Experience: Group II ’67, Group II Staff ’72-’73

Carrie House

Trustee

Location: Gallup, NM

Affiliation: Planner, Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments

Gulch Experience: Turquoise Trail ‘79

Alice Kodama

Trustee

Location: Berlin, Germany

Affiliation: Environmental Engineer

Gulch Experience: Turquoise Trail ’00-01, Group II ’02, Turquoise Trail Cook ’12

Adam Gebauer

Trustee

Location: Spokane, WA

Affiliation: The Lands Council, Public Lands Program Director

Gulch Experience: Trek Staff 2003-2005, 2008; Prairie Trek Group Leader 2007

Bill Mendelsohn

Trustee

Location: Littleton, MA

Affiliation: VP, Contract Negotiations, Skillsoft Corporation

Gulch Experience: Outfit ’79, ’80; Group I ’81, ’82; Base Camp Staff ’86, ’87

Catherine Koons-Hubbard

Trustee

Location: Milwaukee, WI

Affiliation: Camp Fire, Manager of Nature & Outdoor Programming

Gulch Experience: Trekker 1987-1989; Turquoise Trail Staff 1992-1994, 1996; Basecamp Staff 2002, 2006

Fred Peter

Trustee

Location: Kirtland, NM

Affiliation: San Juan Coal, LLC

Gulch Experience: Outfit ‘78; Little Outfit ’76-’77

Austin Troy, Ph.D.

Trustee

Location: Denver, CO

Affiliation: Professor and Environmental Consultant

Gulch Experience: Group I ’84, Group II ’85, Group II/III ’86, Group III ’87, Group III cook ’91-92

Amy Kohout, Ph.D

Trustee

Location: Colorado Springs, CO

Affiliation: Colorado College, Associate Professor of History

Gulch Experience: Turquoise Trail Staff 2004-2005, Assistant Director 2006-2008

Jamie Kresberg

Trustee

Location: New York, NY

Gulch Experience: Trekker (1980’s) and Basecamp specialist (pottery) 2017-2022

Benjamin Tobias

Trustee

Location: Albuquerque, NM

Affiliation: Manager of Student Basic Needs at Central New Mexico Community College

Gulch Experience:  School partner since 2015

Kelli Howie

Trustee

Location: Albuquerque, NM

Affiliation: Sandia National Laboratories

Gulch Experience:  Trek Parent, 2021-present

Past Chairs

Greg Barker

Chair Emeritus

Location: Mancos, CO

Larry Barker

Chair Emeritus

Prairie Trek ’64-’67, Staff ’68-’76

John Bloch

Chair Emeritus

Prairie Trek ’63-’65, Family Trek ’09 & ’11

Jameson French

Chair Emeritus

President and CEO, Northland Forest Products, Portsmouth, NH

Group II ’68-’69, Base Camp Staff ’70-’71

Henry Hooper

Chair Emeritus

Murdock Trust, Visiting Fellow, Vancouver, WA

Group II ’68 and ’69, Group II Staff ’74 and ’75, Little Outfit Leader ’78, Group I Leader ’79-’81, Family Trek ’98

Honorary Past Chairs

Molly Merrell Madden

Turquoise Trail ’64-’65, Staff ’66-’72

Board Member ’04-’09

Wenda Trevathan, Ph.D.

Prairie Trek ’63-’65, Family Trek ’09 & ’11

Chair Emeritus

Tom Henio

Mining Foreman, Gallup, NM

Little Outfit ’61-’64, ’70, Group II ’66, Base Camp Staff ’67, Little Outfit Staff ’70

Annual Reports and 990s:

Annual Report 2023:

Consider Joining Our Board of Directors

Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions (CGE) is in search of a new Board member. Our Board of Directors is a diverse group of individuals who provide guidance and governance for our organization. Directors are unpaid volunteers who act as trustees on behalf of CGE and have overall responsibility for ensuring that CGE’s mission is fulfilled and that legal and financial obligations are met.  We are looking for passionate individuals from all backgrounds for election to a 3-year term (maximum of three consecutive terms).

At a minimum, board members are expected to:

  • participate in all board meetings, including two board meetings per year in person in Albuquerque
  • serve as an active member of at least one committee
  • bring skills, knowledge and enthusiasm to ensure that CGE embodies its Mission, Vision, Organizational Values and the goals set out in our Strategic Plan
  • be competent in Google Docs and video conferencing
  • play an active role in securing the financial resources necessary for CGE to achieve its mission including making one financial donation to CGE per year which is significant to them
  • hire, support and evaluate CGE’s Executive Director, fire as necessary, and have in place a professional succession plan
  • speak as CGE ambassadors informed about our mission, goals and programs
  • provide financial oversight, including voting on annual budget and asking questions or requesting additional financial recommendations from the Finance Committee or Program staff when needed.
  • serve as ethical stewards of our values and the public’s trust
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds with any and all skillsets. We are also currently recruiting diverse leaders with expertise in the following areas:
  • Accounting or finance
  • Education
  • Management of people
  • Diversity & inclusion
  • Land management or stewardship
  • Fundraising and development
  • Risk management
  • Insurance
  • Human resources

We are always happy to talk with you about future opportunities in our board. Reach out to the board at  (GulchBoardSearch@cottonwoodgulch.org) with any questions.