Anna Clare Monlezun Ph.D.

Graze, LLC

Dr. Anna Clare Monlezun is a rangeland ecosystem scientist, systems thinker, and collaborative facilitator. She considers herself a life-long student of nature who thrives in interdisciplinary work environments, assisting stakeholders in the discovery of common-ground paths for management planning, co-learning, and long-term thrivability in the interface of ranching and conservation. She offers state-of-the-science knowledge and practical engagement in agroecology, grazing management, agrivoltaics, ecosystem services valuation, and environmental markets. A published writer, researcher, musician, and poet, Anna Clare enjoys bridging the worlds of science, art, and land stewardship. She employs her unique skillset in both her for-profit company, Graze LLC, and non-profit organization, Rangeland Living Laboratory Inc. A Colorado rancher herself, Anna Clare and her husband own La Dolce Vita Ranch, a diversified cattle, sheep, and ecotourism operation high in the Rocky Mountains. There, she enjoys working with her horses, inventorying plant and animal species, turning herd checks into hikes, and photo-journaling the passing of time. She holds a B.A. in Comparative Literature and Humanities, an M.A. in Community Counseling, an international Post-Graduate Certificate in Expressive Arts: Therapy, Consultation, and Social Change, an M.S. in Animal Sciences, and a Ph.D. in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability.

Eric Westra, Ph.D.
Utah State University

Eric was born and raised in Fort Collins CO and grew up around the weed science program at Colorado State University. He received his bachelors degree in Soil and Crop Sciences and conducted various aspects of soil-herbicide interaction research for his masters degree at CSU. Eric continued for his PhD in Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management at CSU where his research was focused on the management of herbicide-resistant kochia in Colorado. After graduating in 2016, Eric transitioned into a Research Scientist position at CSU and developed an applied field weed research program working on various aspects of weed science in multiple cropping systems. Eric is currently a Research Assistant Professor at Utah State University where he continues his research program on field applied weed research in agronomic crops and invasive species in Utah.

Lisa Blecker
Colorado Environmental Pesticide Education Program

Lisa Blecker is the Pesticide Safety Educator at Colorado State University (CSU) and faculty member in the department of Agricultural Biology. In this role she oversees the revision of study guides and exams for applicators seeking their private and commercial applicator certifications, delivers continuing education programs for pest management professionals, delivers worker protection standard (WPS) training, and teaches an undergraduate course, AB 410 Understanding Pesticides. Lisa is currently the Administrator for the Pesticide Regulatory Education Program (PREP), a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, providing professional development opportunities for pesticide regulatory officials in states, tribes, and U.S.-affiliated territories.

Andrew Kiniss, Ph.D.
University of Wyoming

Andrew Kniss is a Professor of Weed Science at the University of Wyoming. He obtained his PhD in Agronomy with a minor in Statistics from the University of Wyoming; an M.S. in Agronomy with a Weed Science specialization from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; and a B.S. in Agroecology from the University of Wyoming. Andrew’s research program focuses on crop-weed interactions, non-target impacts of weed management, and developing sustainable weed management programs in sugarbeet, winter wheat, corn, and dry edible bean. He has authored or co-authored 57 research articles in peer-reviewed journals. He teaches undergraduate and graduate level courses on weed management, crop protection, and statistics. He has served on the Weed Science Society of America Board of Directors as Member-at-Large, and is a past President of the Western Society of Weed Science.

Mirella Ortiz, Ph.D.
Utah State University

Mirella Ortiz is an Assistant Professor in Weed Science at Utah State University. Her responsibilities include teaching Fundamentals of Integrated Weed Management to undergraduate and graduate students and leading an aquatic weed management research program in the Plant, Soils, and Climate Department

Kristin Wolfe
Colorado Department of Agriculture

Kristin Wolfe is the Plant Pest Survey Coordinator for the Colorado Department of Agriculture. She holds a Masters of Science from the University of California- Riverside in Entomology. She enjoys all things insect-related both inside and outside of work. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids, dog, cats, chickens, lizard, tarantula, and any other pet she can get her hands on.

Noe Marymor
Envu

Noe Marymor is the Education Outreach & Grants Coordinator for Envu Range & Pasture. Her role is to assist government and private partners in developing landscape scale rangeland restoration initiatives across the western U.S. Before starting in this role last year, Noe was a wildlife biologist for the USDA-NRCS for 18 years in Colorado and Nebraska. Her career has focused on habitat management for big game and prairie grouse on in the Great Plains

Peder Engelstad
Colorado State University in Cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey Fort Collins Science Center

Peder Engelstad is a research associate and PhD student in the Vogeler Lab at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO. He is the primary developer on the Invasive Species Habitat Tool (INHABIT), a web-based decision support tool hosted by the USGS. He works primarily with models of invasive terrestrial plant species to better our understanding of the ecological and spatial processes underlying plant invasions and improve the utility of models for practitioners tasked with the management of invasive species.

Jaycie Nicole Arndt
Institute for Managing Annual Grasses Invading Natural Ecosystems

Jaycie Arndt is an assistant research scientist with the University of Wyoming and coordinator of IMAGINE (Institute for Managing Annual Grasses Invading Natural Ecosystems). She conducts rangeland and weed science research, develops educational materials, coordinates a local invasive grass working group, and facilitates annual grass workshops throughout Wyoming.

Rick Johnstone
IVM Partners

Rick Johnstone serves as President and founder of the non-profit corporation IVM Partners and is Owner of VMES, LLC vegetation management consulting. He directs vegetation management research and training under IVM Partners and is an advisor for and liaison between federal, state and tribal land management agencies, universities, electric and natural gas utilities, and conservationists. Under VMES he provides vegetation management consultation and is an expert witness in litigation. Rick served as System Forester for two electric utilities and is past-President of the Utility Arborist Association and a Registered Professional Forester with a BS degree in Forest Resources Management from West Virginia University. He has 45 years experience and is a technical advisor for restoring native pollinator and wildlife habitat using cost effective integrated vegetation management strategies.

Jim Bromberg
Rocky Mountain National Park

Jim Bromberg, the Vegetation Program Manager at Rocky Mountain National Park, has been steering the park’s vegetation program since 2016 and has been working with the program since 2011. With a focus on invasive species management, native plant restoration, plant materials production, and rare and sensitive species protection, Jim’s dedication and expertise have been instrumental in preserving the park’s ecological integrity. He has also worked as a vegetation ecologist at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve in Idaho and began his career managing and protecting public lands as a biologist at Point Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area in California. Originally from the bustling streets of New York City, Jim’s passion for nature and conservation led him to pursue a master’s degree in Ecology from Colorado State University. When he’s not meticulously tending to the park’s flora, you can find Jim exploring the majestic mountains through invigorating hikes, with his faithful canine companion by his side.

Ian Schillinger-Brokaw
Denver Parks and Recreation

Ian Schillinger-Brokaw is an Urban Ecology Planner for the Denver Parks and Recreation Planning Design and Construction Team. With over 7 years-experience in the field of natural resource management, Ian focuses on ecological restoration and finding collaborative ways of stewarding public lands so that they better serve the ecological and social needs of the communities interacting with them, human and non. This type of work has included, planning, project management, policy development, public outreach and education, restoration design and implementation, natural resource assessment/inventory and grant writing.

Skyler Moore
Denver Parks and Recreation

Skyler Moore is a Park Horticulturist for Denver Parks and Recreation. Throughout his 6 years in the green industry, he has had various roles spanning commercial grow operations, horticulture design/installation and field based ecological restoration. Through his time in the field, he has developed a passion for the interactions of plant life cycles and herbicide mode of action and seen the relationship between proper IPM practices and increased ecological function. By integrating native flora and fauna into communities, Skyler seeks to dissolve the barrier between society and the natural environment in order to help revive the notion that humanity and nature are homologous.