OUR BOARD
What does it mean to be on Wild Bear’s
Board of Directors?
Our board is comprised of good hearted and generous people from throughout the region. They want to give back to the community in a meaningful way. They come from all backgrounds, with expertise and passion to move Wild Bear Nature Center to the next great place. They want to be part of a rising ship, leaving a positive legacy for generations to come.
INTERESTED IN JOINING US?
Check out the details and reach out to Wild Bear’s Board Chair Corky Dineen (corky@wildbear.org) or fill out an application using the button below!
MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CHAIR
CORKY DINEEN
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I am a retired CEO renowned for building a successful company from the ground up. With a robust career in leadership, I have also made significant contributions to the nonprofit sector, demonstrating a deep commitment to community service and philanthropy. Growing up, and growing my business in the Midwest, I developed a strong work ethic and a passion for helping others, which have been hallmarks of my career. I moved to Colorado 12 years ago and am in love with the mountains and the natural beauty of the region. An avid nature lover, I enjoy spending time outdoors, and supporting causes that benefit children and families. I feel it is extremely important to educate our children, and adults, about nature and how we must appreciate, protect, and enjoy our environment.
SECRETARY
BRIAN CURTIS
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I am a few months shy of being a born-and-raised Coloradan, having moved to the state just before my first birthday. Since then, I’ve gotten around… including stints in Maine, Scotland, Sweden, Washington (both the state and DC), Vietnam, France, and Australia before settling down back in Colorado.
With an undergraduate degree in Sociology and Economics, an MBA, and an MA in Cultural Studies, I have – perhaps overzealously – pursued my personal passion for learning. While on the job, I continue the theme by working on educational products at Coursera. My belief that education has the power to make the world better is what originally drove me to join the board of Wild Bear in 2018.
While not working or volunteering (and especially when the sun is shining), I can usually be found with my wife and dog, doing all the usual things that Coloradans enjoy: skiing, biking, hiking, climbing, paddling, and drinking good beer.
TREASURER
ANDREW NEAL
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I am very passionate about the outdoors. From hiking to biking to skiing, I feel that the outdoors are a treasure that should be protected. I grew up in Ohio and outdoor activity and nature preservation were not part of my youth experience. Upon moving to Colorado, I realized what wonders nature can hold and I want to share that preserve that wonder for future generations. I am involved with Wild Bear because its mission of education and preservation is something that I deeply care about.
SECRETARY
ALEXANDRA ZABIEREK
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alexz@wildbear.org | She/her
Alex’s love for the outdoors once first sparked when she moved to Alaska on a whim for a job after law school, went on her first “real” hike, and never looked back. She is thrilled to be channeling that passion into her work on the Board to ensure the outdoors is accessible to everyone. In her professional life, Alex is an in-house attorney for an international telecommunications company. Prior to that, Alex worked in house at a large mountain ski resort company based in Colorado. Alex also previously served on the Nederland Parks and Recreation Advisory Board from 2022-2025, including serving as Board Chair from 2024-2025. Alex and her husband Brian split their time between Nederland, CO and Crested Butte, CO with their two standard poodles, Charlie and Bea. In her spare time, Alex enjoys taking advantage of her backyard and getting outside for alpine skiing, hiking, backpacking, and tennis.
MEMBER
CARRIE POLLOCK
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carrie@wildbear.org | She/her
I moved to Boulder in 2011 right after graduating college in NC. I had moved from a small mountain town and it only took me a few months of “city life” to realize I needed to be back in the mountains with a small community. I have been in Nederland ever since and love calling this gem my home.
I have been a massage therapist for over a decade and have my own private practice in Boulder. I love to do yoga, hike, and travel as much as possible.
I have been with Wild Bear volunteering on the Capital Campaign Committee since December 2023 and was very happy to have been invited to sit on the Board in April 2025. I have watched Wild Bear touch so many family’s lives through out my time in Nederland. To me, Wild Bear has a huge positive influence of the generation coming up.
MEMBER
JIM KARDOS
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I’m a lifelong technologist, problem-solver, and outdoor enthusiast. Over the past decade I’ve led global engineering teams that operate massive cloud and AI platforms, honing deep expertise in scalability, data-driven decision-making, and organizational design.
Outside of work, you’ll generally find me outdoors—hiking, biking, skiing, up-hilling, or traveling with my wife, Ashley, and our two young boys, exploring new cultures and ecosystems. My family moved to Nederland in 2022 because we wished to live deliberately among a strong local community. We are deeply ingrained in the community through regular volunteering, Nederland Elementary PTA Board membership, fundraising for local organizations, and our kids have been regulars in the Wild Bear programming which has been instrumental in their acclamation over the last 3 years.
I joined Wild Bear’s board to pair my technical and organizational skills with my passion for nature and nature based education. My goal is to help this organization expand its reach, modernize its tools, and build durable programs so that every child—and adult—can discover, enjoy, and protect the natural world we all share.
MEMBER
KATY YATES
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She/Her | AKA Katydid
I’ve lived in Boulder since 2001 when my husband, Bob, and I moved from London with our two boys. I’m a retired Respiratory Therapist, I worked in San Francisco and Omaha. Now I spend most of my time working on learning Spanish, volunteering to benefit children, nature, and the LGBTQ community.
I joined the WB board in March 2023.
My hobbies include sewing, pottery, and in the winter you will find me snowboarding with the Women’s Program at Eldora! Travel is the hobby that Bob enjoy together. In particular we like to travel to Brooklyn to visit our grown sons & to Latin America to practice speaking Spanish.
MEMBER
ALEX KOSSEFF
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Living in the foothills between Boulder and Nederland, I've had a front-row seat to the natural beauty that makes this area so special. My passion for the outdoors began early and evolved into a career dedicated to outdoor education and connecting people with nature.
As Executive Director of Paradox Sports and founder of the Outdoor Safety Institute, I've spent my career helping organizations strengthen their educational programs and community impact. My work has taken me across the outdoor education landscape, from advising the Access Fund and Outward Bound USA to serving on committees for the National Science Foundation and Winter Wildlands Alliance.
My connection to Wild Bear grew from my deep belief that education and the ourdoors can transform lives. Having instructed rock, ice, and alpine climbing for organizations like Outward Bound and Montana Mountaineering Association, I understand firsthand how meaningful experiences in nature shape both individuals and communities. This perspective, along with my experience in organizational leadership and program development, is what drew me to Wild Bear's mission of inspiring lifelong connections to nature.
I'm also the author of the AMC Guide to Outdoor Leadership (now in its third edition) and hold multiple certifications from the American Mountain Guides Association. When I'm not working or volunteering, you'll find me climbing, skiing, cutting firewood, or exploring the trails around Nederland with friends and dogs – living the Wild Bear mission every day.
MEMBER
MOLLY GANLEY BEITEL
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I have dedicated my career to building organizations that nudge the world in a kinder direction, and I love serving Wild Bear as it helps people connect with bugs and clouds and trees and each other. I do organizational development work for The Nature Conservancy during the day and I like to hike, ski (nordic and alpine!), backpack, and trail run in my free time.
MEMBER
DONNA FLYNN
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An avid backpacker, trail runner, paddler, and nordic skier, Donna believes our wild spaces are critical for a sustainable future for all generations. She's been a member of the Wild Bear community for 18 years, as a parent and volunteer. She's also led strategy, transformation, design, learning, and HR in her career with Steelcase, Microsoft, and various other organizations.
MEMBER
JOHN THEW
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John Thew is the founder of Bounce Accounting and creator of the Nonprofit Finance Academy, where he works with nonprofit organizations across the country to strengthen financial management, improve sustainability, and build stronger missions through practical financial leadership. Over the past 30 years, he has served as a nonprofit CFO, consultant, educator, and advisor, helping executive directors, finance teams, and boards make confident, informed decisions.
Originally from the New York’s Hudson Valley, John developed a deeper appreciation for nature and the outdoors after moving to Colorado. Living near the mountains has given him a firsthand understanding of how important it is to preserve natural spaces and create opportunities for children and families to connect with the environment in meaningful ways. While not an expert outdoorsman, he believes deeply in the power of nature education, conservation, and community stewardship.
John was drawn to Wild Bear Nature Center because of its commitment to inspiring curiosity, environmental awareness, and lifelong connections to nature. He is proud to support the organization’s mission through both his professional expertise and his passion for helping mission-driven organizations thrive.
MEET OUR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE
CHAIR
JUSTIN GOLD
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(he/him)
Justin Gold is the founder of Justin’s, a Boulder-based company that makes naturally delicious, high-quality nut butter, organic nut butter cups, and plant-based snacks. From humble beginnings at local Farmers’ Markets to launching a national brand, Justin’s is now one of the country’s fastest growing natural foods companies, with Gold serving as an innovator and thought leader in the space.
CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGER
LIZ MCGUFFEE
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(she/her)
Four generations of my family have found solace, joy, and wonder in Eldora, Colorado. We have been lucky enough to spend summers in these mountains, playing in the creek, hiking local trails and learning the names of all the wildflowers. My Wild Bear nature name is Gentian, my grandmother’s favorite flower.
As a child, my cousins and siblings were allowed to spend hours in nature: unsupervised, exploring and learning. Each of my children attended Wild Bear when we would return for the summer in Eldora, and it provided them with a contrast to their urban life, and a sense of belonging in nature.
For more than ten years, I have been working on the project to find a permanent home for Wild Bear, and I am thrilled to see that project come to fruition. Go Wild!
MEMBER
JOHN FARRELL
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I rejoined the Wild Bear board in 2022 after serving in a number of capacities during 2014-2018 including vice chair and building development committee chair. My involvement is driven by a deep commitment to Wild Bear’s mission of fostering a lifelong connection to nature, as well as a deep respect and admiration for the profound impact Wild Bear has had on the lives of so many people over the past nearly three decades.
I believe the construction of Wild Bear’s new nature center at Mud Lake will allow us to expand our mission and impact a broader and more diverse population across the Front Range, and am excited to work with the rest of the board and our tremendous staff and volunteers to make this state-of-the art facility and community asset a reality.
My commitment to the local community began in the 1990s while receiving my Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of Colorado. I currently live in Morrison Colorado and work at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden.
I spend every spare moment in nature, either climbing in the mountains, canyoneering in the Colorado Plateau, or recharging at a much slower pace just about anywhere the opportunity presents itself.
MEMBER
RICHARD POLK
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(he/him)
Richard Polk is president of Boulder’s 50-year-old Pedestrian Shops, noted for social programs and green business practices. Richard received a Pacesetter Award from the Daily Camera for leadership in business, the Ron Porter Lifetime Achievement Award from Downtown Boulder Inc., the Boulder County Business Hall of Fame, and the Local Business Hero Award from the Chamber of Commerce. While serving on Boulder’s City Council 2005-2007, he proposed a Solar Rebate ordinance that funds solar on affordable housing and non-profits. Richard chaired The Dairy Arts Center board for 18 years, leading its renovation. He is active with the Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Boulder Partnership, Xcel Energy’s Renewable Energy Trust, and the Polk Family Charitable Fund. Richard attended the Dublin School in Dublin, N.H., and the University of Denver. A Chicago native, his first job was at Polk Brothers, then the world’s largest retailer of name brand furniture and appliances.
MEMBER
MIKHY RITTER
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(she/her)
A 1981 CU graduate in anthropology and history known to friends as “Mikhy,” Michele Ritter has built an inspiring career in education, providing access and programing for diverse populations.
MEMBER
JEANNIE THOMPSON
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(she/her)
Jeannie Thompson has an extensive background in business, education, and health care, having worked in, and with, both large and smaller organizations – in both the public and private sector. Her main emphasis, after a number of years in the fields of epidemiology and virology, has been in university environments working with students and in the corporate world partnering with those seeking MBA education. She has collaborated with professionals seeking further formal or experiential education, women (and men) desiring mentoring experiences, and executives -- providing coaching services and assisting in career development and/or transition.
MEMBER
BOB YATES
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(he/him)
Bob brings to Wild Bear extensive experience as nonprofit leader and fundraiser. His service to the community includes leadership positions with Boulder Community Health, Museum of Boulder, All Roads, Downtown Boulder Partnership, Boulder County Farmers Market, CU Center for Leadership, Boulder Chamber, Visit Boulder, Rocky Mountain Equality, Chautauqua, Dairy Arts Center, and Boulder Parks & Recreation. Between 2015 and 2023, Bob served on the Boulder City Council, including a term as Mayor Pro Tem.
His capital campaign experience has ranged from raising funds to build the new Museum of Boulder, to the renovation of the Dairy Arts Center, to advising Community Cycles. In addition to the new Wild Bear Nature Center, Bob is leading the capital campaign to create a new downtown market hall for the Farmers Market. He leads the planning and fundraising for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Pearl Street Mall in 2027.
A retired lawyer and senior executive of a Fortune 500 company, Bob has served as an adjunct professor of law at the University of Colorado and the University of Denver. He reads to kindergartners through the YWCA Reading to End Racism program.
Bob loves to write. Since 2016, he has published a monthly newsletter, The Boulder Bulletin, which explains local government and celebrates community achievements. He is a regular contributor to Boulder Reporting Lab, and he recently finished writing his first book, The Assassin's Girlfriend.
FOUNDER & MEMBER
JILL DREVES
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(she/her)
Jill founded Wild Bear Nature Center in 1995 and dedicated 30 years to building the organization from a grassroots nature enrichment program into a cornerstone of Nederland's educational community. She served as Executive Director for 25 years before transitioning to Chief Vision Officer, where she led the capital campaign that raised over $10 million for Wild Bear's new nature center.
Prior to founding Wild Bear, Jill taught elementary school for nine years and worked as a naturalist with the Vail Nature Center. She holds a Master of Science in Museum and Field Studies, a BS in Human Development and Family Studies, and received her elementary teaching certificate in 1989. Her vision of inspiring children to connect with nature through creative exploration continues to guide Wild Bear's mission today.
I believe the construction of Wild Bear’s new nature center at Mud Lake will allow us to expand our mission and impact a broader and more diverse population across the Front Range, and am excited to work with the rest of the board and our tremendous staff and volunteers to make this state-of-the art facility and community asset a reality.
My commitment to the local community began in the 1990s while receiving my Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of Colorado. I currently live in Morrison Colorado and work at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden.
I spend every spare moment in nature, either climbing in the mountains, canyoneering in the Colorado Plateau, or recharging at a much slower pace just about anywhere the opportunity presents itself.
BOARD MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES
The single overarching responsibility of non-profit Board of Directors is to build an effective organization, fiscally healthy and mission-aligned.
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1. Select, encourage, advise, evaluate, compensate, and (if needed) replace Executive Director
2. Discuss, review, and approve strategic directions and plan, taking long-term view.
3. Monitor performance regularly and assess against agreed-on goals
4. Ensure the organization operates responsibly and effectively. This includes avoiding conflicts of interest, complying with ethical and legal standards, and ensuring proper controls are in place to monitor financials
5. Act on specific policy recommendations and mobilize support for decisions taken, especially controversial ones
6. Provide a buffer for Executive Director - “take some of the heat”
7. Ensure organization has adequate resources (human and financial) to pursue strategies and achieve objectives
8. Nominate suitable candidates for election to board and establish/carry out effective system of governance
I understand that as a member of the Board of Directors of Wild Bear Nature Center, I have a legal and moral responsibility to ensure that the organization does the best work possible in pursuit of its mission, vision, and goals. I believe in the purpose and mission of Wild Bear, and I will strive to meet my responsibilities.
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1. I will be an ambassador for Wild Bear to the public, media, and donors.
2. I will take an active role in fundraising.
3. I will meet attendance requirements for board meetings per the Bylaws.
4. I will actively participate on at least one committee and attend (virtually or in person) all required committee meetings, retreats or special events.
5. I will make an annual meaningful personal financial contribution to the organization as well as a meaningful pledge to the capital campaign.
6. I will act in the best interest of Wild Bear and recuse myself from discussions and votes as required by the organization’s conflict of interest policy.
7. I will take responsibility for staying informed about current issues and priorities, making informed decisions, and voicing concerns.
8. I will work to promote Wild Bear’s long-term sustainability.
9. I will work collaboratively and respectfully with other board members, staff, and volunteers to achieve our goals and will reflect Wild Bear’s core values in how I engage with others
10. I will make every effort to fulfill my three-year commitment to serve on the Wild Bear Board and will work with the Board Chair to overcome any obstacles.
11. I will strive to find a replacement when I leave the Board of Directors
12. I will abide by the Board’s policy for communicating with staff appropriately
13. If I do not fulfill these commitments, I recognize the Board Chair may remove me from the board.
In turn, I understand and agree that Wild Bear Nature Center has the following responsibilities towards its Board Members:
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1. I will be kept informed; I will be provided the documents, policies, and information needed to make good decisions, and no information will be intentionally withheld from board members.
2. I will have opportunities to discuss the organization’s programs, goals and financial status with the Executive Director and other board members.
3. I will be provided answers from board members and staff to any questions that are necessary to carry out my fiscal, legal, and moral responsibilities.
4. I will have on-demand access to all policies, strategic plans, past meeting minutes and financial reports.
5. If Wild Bear does not fulfill its commitments to me, I can communicate with the Board Chair.