Senator Richard Bryan
Senator Richard Bryan served as the Governor of Nevada from 1983 to 1989 and as a United States Senator from 1989 until 2001. Senator Bryan has long been an advocate for the state of Nevada, including its wild places. He sponsored the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA) which became law in 1998 and has had a tremendous impact on funding preservation and education projects on Nevada’s public lands. Great Basin National Park has received over 25 million dollars in SNPLMA funding which over the years, improving facilities, campgrounds, Lehman Caves, and supporting resource management and science at the Park.
Timothy Cashman
As a member of one of the old-time Las Vegas families, Tim Cashman successfully continued his family’s entrepreneurial and philanthropic endeavors. Following graduation from Loyola Marymount University, he joined his family’s heavy equipment business in Reno. Eventually, he managed operations in Reno and Elko before being named Vice President. He then purchased and successfully ran Cashman Cadillac and, eventually, purchased Southern Nevada-Harley Davidson with his business partner, Don Andress. Tim has also served on various boards over the years. He serves on the Nevada Taxpayers Association, Tahoe Fund, and C.M. Russell Museum boards. He is a trustee of the Robert & Dorothy Keyser Foundation and the Cashman Family Foundation. Tim firmly believes that if you prosper from commerce in a community, you should give something back through personal involvement and investment. Tim is an avid fisherman and outdoor enthusiast who enjoys spending time with his dog, Leonard, at his family ranch in Montana and Great Basin National Park (of course).
Alicia Estabrook
In Alicia's day job she serves as VP, Manager of Enterprise Risk Governance and Operations at the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta. Alicia has been working in risk management and governance for 10+ years and has been assisting our Governance Committee with policy and procedure development, process documentation, and enhancing financial controls. Alicia relates, "It has long been a goal of mine to give back to the national parks as they have given so much to me in the way of adventure, solitude, direction, and fresh air when I have needed it most. My great-grandfather was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps in Yellowstone, planting trees and breaking trails, and I like to think that a part of his spirit is alive in me when I work to benefit Great Basin National Park."
Kenji Hakuta, Chair, Education Committee
Kenji Hakuta is the Lee L. Jacks Professor, emeritus, at the Stanford University Graduate School of Education. His expertise is in language and education, and his work has been influential in local, state and federal programs and policies. As the Education & Outreach Chair of the Foundation, his expertise has been critical to developing the Foundation’s education and community outreach programs. He is a nature and outdoor enthusiast and has many related hobbies. He believes that, “the Great Basin is a unique region of the world that allows experiences to connect with the core of our existence.”
Jerry Hilburn, Great Basin Observatory Director
Jerry is an amateur astronomer with over 40 years of observational experience. His primary focus of research is tracking asteroids, which he considers his favorite objects for study. As a NASA Ambassador Jerry hosts monthly Zoom sessions, guiding students through the process of remote observation and data collection. Jerry served from 1977 - 1990 in the U.S. Navy Submarine forces working as a Sonar Technician. He is a successful entrepreneur and founded Catfish Software Inc. in 2004. Jerry is excited to be working with the Great Basin Observatory to enhance its operation, accessibility, and relevance to scientific exploration.
John Kenney
John Kenney served as GBO Chair and was responsible for getting a Mt. Cuba Astronomical Foundation grant to fund the GBO’s high resolution spectrometer. He spent his career teaching spectroscopy and chemistry to students at Concordia University. John has a deep love for the dark skies of the Great Basin, and for protecting and sharing them. John continues to serve on the GBO Operations Committee and help expand opportunities for student learning and research. "Serving GBNPF is a tremendous honor and privilege. I love working with the wonderful, talented, and gifted people who comprise the Foundation and simply being at the exquisitely beautiful Park whose multi-dimensional beauty spans earth, water, lofty mountain peaks, vegetation, wildlife, sky, and the heavens."
Julia Ratti
Julia believes in making the world a better place. And she backs up that belief with action. Her experience in the nonprofit, government and for-profit sectors has provided her the opportunity to improve her community – professionally and through public service. Her past roles include State Senator, City Councilmember, small business owner, consultant, and nonprofit CEO. She currently serves as the Director of Programs and Projects for the Washoe County Health District. In her free time, she enjoys camping in a vintage Airstream with her husband James and their rescue dog Gus.
JT Reynolds
JT Reynolds was born in Galveston, Texas on October 30, 1946. He developed a love for the “out of doors” and explored nature in rural areas at an early age. His family took vacations but did not camp because of Jim Crow rules. The Reynolds family visited their first National Park, Hot Springs in Arkansas en route to visit Ebbets Field where the Brooklyn Dodgers played. Their goal was to see Jackie Robinson. JT majored in Recreation and Parks Management, and minored in wildlife sciences. After college, JT served his Country for four years in the U.S. Army. After completing his military obligation, JT returned to work for the National Park Service in Washington, D.C. as an Environmental Education Specialist working with middle school teachers and taking inner city youth to local and regional NPS areas to camp and experience the great out of doors. After completing Park Ranger School at Albright Training Center, Grand Canyon, JT went on to hold many protection park ranger and regional office positions at NPS units from Yosemite to Grand Canyon. He also served on several agency recruiting and diversity task forces. Before retiring in 2009 as the superintendent of Death Valley National Park, he developed the Death Valley ROCKS (Recreation Outdoor Campaign for Kids thru Study) program. JT and his wife “Dot” now live in Henderson, Nevada. JT brings Great Basin Explorers groups from Las Vegas to experience the remote beauty of Great Basin National Park.
Ralph Phillips
Ralph Phillips has joined our Advisory Board and Development Committee. Ralph spent 3 seasons as a rafting guide in the west followed by 6 seasons as a visitor protection ranger at Rocky Mountain National Park and Dinosaur National Monument. Ralph also spent three decades as a professional fundraiser benefitting education and conservation, for places such as Friends of Nevada Wilderness, American Rivers, and The Nature Conservancy. Ralph’s first visit to Great Basin National Park in 1995 left a lasting impression and the Park became one of his favorite places. "I first visited the Park and immediately felt it was one of those singular places that can have a restorative impact on people - it's that special. It's a privilege for me to give back and help raise funds for projects to protect and preserve the Park and enhance the visitor experience for those who've yet to discover it's magic."