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Fundraising group for Grand Teton expands capacity through new leadership
Jackson, Wyoming – November 13, 2012 – Grand Teton National Park Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of new members to its board of directors and resource council. Jane Hill, Richard Mithoff, David Viehman, Barry Gold and Neal Manne have joined the Foundation board; Dennis Butcher, Allison Lee, Phil Leeds, Jim Ryan and Shawn Whitman are the newest members of the resource council. The group brings considerable and varied experience to the Foundation as it executes its mission to provide financial support for projects that enhance and protect Grand Teton’s treasured resources.
“We look forward to fulfilling our commitment to fund dynamic, significant projects in Grand Teton this year amid the fresh perspectives and energy contributed by these newest board and resource council members. Our advisors serve as valuable liaisons between Grand Teton National Park and its local and national constituents, and we continue to benefit from their enlightened guidance and support,” says Leslie Mattson, president of Grand Teton National Park Foundation. Many of the new members have strong ties to the Jackson community, including involvement with local organizations and businesses ranging from outdoor gear shops to area real estate.
New members will join current Board Chairman Bob Hartman, Vice Chair Barbara Carlson, Secretary John Townsend and Treasurer Scott Spangler in comprising what Mattson calls “one of the Foundation’s most active and effective leadership teams to date.” In 2012, board and resource council members will work with Foundation staff to continue funding ongoing initiatives in Grand Teton, including youth engagement, wildlife research, and several new park-prioritized projects.
Barry Gold works in finance and divides his time between New York, Washington, D.C., and Jackson, WY. He is currently a senior adviser working with the Starwood Capital Group’s Energy Fund.
Jane Hill worked extensively in politics in Washington, D.C., before moving to Jackson full-time with her family. In addition to GTNPF, her local involvement includes the Journeys School, CLIMB Wyoming and the JH Pony Club.
Neal Manne is a trial lawyer at Susman Godfrey LLP, a law firm based in Houston, TX. He and his wife, Nancy, have been homeowners in Jackson since 2001.
Richard Mithoff is founder of Mithoff Law Firm in Houston, TX. Mr. Mithoff is an avid climber.
David Viehman is originally from Orlando, FL, and moved to Jackson in 1992. He is an associate broker and one of the owners at Jackson Hole Real Estate Associates, LLC.
Dennis Butcher practices internal medicine at St. John’s Hospital and has lived in Jackson Hole since 1980. He is an avid fly angler, cyclist and hiker.
Allison Lee worked in locations around the globe as an investment banker before moving to the US. She enjoys hiking, rock climbing and skiing with her family.
Phil Leeds has lived in Jackson Hole since 1977. He is co-owner of Skinny Skis and Moosely Mountaineering, two local outdoor stores.
Jim Ryan is the market president for Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. in Jackson, where he also runs the business banking department in Jackson, Pinedale and Star Valley, WY and in Driggs, ID.
Shawn Whitman grew up in Wyoming and served as chief of staff for the late Senator Craig Thomas and for Senator John Barrasso. He currently lives in Alexandria, VA, with his family and is a consultant at Kountoupes Consulting, LLC.
JACKSON, WY—Grand Teton Lodge Company, owned by Vail Resorts, has gifted $600,000 to Grand Teton National Park Foundation since 1999 making the lodging group the largest and one of the longest running corporate partners in Foundation history. Gifts from Grand Teton Lodge Company properties—Jackson Lake Lodge, Jenny Lake Lodge, and Jackson Hole Golf and Tennis—originate through a voluntary program that allows guests to contribute $1/night of their stay to the Foundation’s work in the park. The gift includes in-kind services provided by the group as well. Through this generous private support, the Foundation continues to enable an extensive list of visitor service, education, and improvement projects and assists the park in offering high-quality interpretation, recreation, and education to visitors. As the primary fundraising partner for Grand Teton National Park, the Foundation works with individuals, foundations, and businesses to raise funding that underwrites projects and programming in Grand Teton.
“We want to celebrate our long relationship with Grand Teton Lodge Company and take this opportunity to publicly thank John Rutter, his team, and Vail Resorts for providing ongoing funding for park projects and for understanding the value these projects provide for park visitors,” Foundation President Leslie Mattson said. “We also thank each and every guest who has contributed through the lodging program. It’s gratifying to see many visitors who want to participate in the education and improvements that help Grand Teton remain one of the country’s top outdoor destinations.”
“It has been our pleasure working with Grand Teton National Park Foundation. The work they have done and are doing for Grand Teton National Park is invaluable,” John Rutter, vice president of Grand Teton Lodge Company and Flagg Ranch Company, said. “We look forward to continued success and a strong partnership to make this magical place spectacular.”
The lodging program originated in 1999 with Clay James, former president and general manager of Grand Teton Lodge Company, which was owned by CSX Corporation. Vail Resorts continued the program when it purchased the company in the latter part of 1999. James launched the initiative at Jenny Lake Lodge and Jackson Lake Lodge with the goal of educating visitors about the benefits of private support in parks while generating significant funding for on-the-ground projects in Grand Teton National Park. “We were the first park concessioner to create a check-off program in a national park,” James said. “Guests were happy to contribute because the money stayed in the park for projects that benefited visitors.”
Today, lodging programs based on this model can be found in national parks and their gateway communities across the country, James said, and he is pleased that other parks are also benefiting from this idea. Projects supported by Grand Teton Lodge Company have spanned a wide range of enhancements and educational initiatives that connect visitors to Grand Teton and improve resources. These critical projects include the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center, the auditorium addition that opened in 2011, and trail restoration.
“To work on behalf of the park is a true honor,” Mattson said, “and the relationships we form with partners like Grand Teton Lodge Company are one of the main reasons we can bring exceptional projects and programs to the millions who visit each year. Jackson is a community that truly understands the power of giving back. People see a need and it becomes important for them to help solve it.”
About Grand Teton National Park Foundation
Established in 1997, Grand Teton National Park Foundation provides private financial support for special projects that enhance and protect Grand Teton National Park’s treasured cultural, historic, and natural resources. Since its inception, the Foundation has raised nearly $23 million for special projects that benefit Grand Teton and visitors.
About Grand Teton Lodge Company
With a mission to preserve, protect and inspire, Grand Teton Lodge Company is an authorized concessioner of the National Park Service within Grand Teton National Park operating the lodging, restaurants, tours and activities at Jackson Lake Lodge, Jenny Lake Lodge, Colter Bay Village, Jenny Lake and Gros Ventre campgrounds as well as the Jackson Hole Golf & Tennis Club, which is located just outside the park in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. www.gtlc.com
About Grand Teton National Park
Located in northwestern Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park preserves a spectacular landscape rich with majestic mountains, pristine lakes and extraordinary wildlife. The park's world-renowned scenery attracts nearly four million visitors per year and offers an array of recreational activities for all ages and all abilities.
