Board of Directors
Meghan Wolf
President & Secretary
Meghan is Patagonia’s Environmental Activism Manager based in Reno, overseeing the company’s campaigns to protect our lands and waters. She started with Patagonia in a retail store in 1999 and was hooked on working with a business that had a triple bottom line, giving equal weight to people and the environment as much as profits.
Shortly after moving to Nevada in ’05, she began volunteering with Friends of NV Wilderness and discovered the wonders of the state’s public lands. She went on to serve on the Board of Directors for 13 years. Knowing firsthand the benefits of the outdoor recreation economy coupled with the basic need for people to have access to nature, Meghan co-founded the Nevada Outdoor Business Coalition. She loves most outdoor recreation activities, including trail running, mountain biking, xc skiing, all of which were reasons for moving to Nevada – for its endless outdoor treasures. Connect with Meghan on LinkedIN.
Louis Bubala
Treasurer
Louis Bubala advises clients in bankruptcy and financial disputes as an attorney with Kaempfer Crowell. He also is on the executive committee for the American Bankruptcy Institute’s Southwest Bankruptcy Conference held in Las Vegas most years. Lou volunteers as secretary and director for Friends of Nevada Wilderness, dedicated to preserving all qualified Nevada public lands as wilderness. He mixes the law and outdoors as a volunteer attorney for The Nature Conservancy. He and his family live in East Washoe Valley, minutes from BLM, the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Washoe Lake State Park, and Scripps Wildlife Management Area. Connect with Louis on LinkedIn.
Dan Hooper
Board Member
Originally from New Zealand, Dan grew up surfing and mountain biking. Dan found his passion for the mountains and snowsports in college and started his career in the outdoor industry as a ski instructor.
Over the last twenty years, Dan has held leadership roles at ski areas around the United States. Landing in Las Vegas a decade ago, today Dan serves as Lee Canyon’s general manager, overseeing operations, future development, and Lee Canyon’s Play Forever environmental initiatives. Lee Canyon is a part of Powdr, an adventure lifestyle company.
In 2021, Dan was recognized as one of Las Vegas’ 40 Under 40 for his accomplishments in evolving Lee Canyon into an inclusive, year-round outdoor recreation area with an emphasis on conservation. Connect with Dan on LinkedIn.
Verna Mandez
Board Member
Verna Mandez is a lifelong Nevadan and daughter of a Cuban Immigrant. As an activist and community organizer, Verna has focused her work and studies on the impacts environmental degradation has on communities of color and low-income communities, and how Nevada can be a leader in clean energy and environmental policy.
Verna is currently the Deputy Director of the Nevada Conservation League - a local nonprofit focused on environmental policy both in Nevada and Federally. Before her time at the Nevada Conservation League, Verna Mandez worked for U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto in Nevada, where she assisted with the Energy and Natural resource portfolio and led the Southern Nevada, Transportation, Science, and Technology portfolios.
Before her time at the office of Senator Cortez Masto, Verna worked as a Community Organizer at Battle Born Progress, and Political Assistant for the Bring Back Solar campaign. Her work has centered around various issues including the preservation of public lands, access to renewable energy, and ensuring historically marginalized communities are at the center of environmental policies.
Advisory Board
Colin Robertson
Board Advisor
Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation
As the Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation’s first Administrator, Colin focuses on advancing Nevada’s immense variety of outdoor recreational opportunities to improve public health and wellness, educate Nevada’s youth, engage underserved populations, and attract new outdoor recreation-oriented businesses to the state. He leads the Division’s collaboration with other state agencies, private sector and nonprofit organizations, and our federal partners in Nevada to promote sustainable outdoor recreation and business development through advancing a vibrant recreation economy that centers on protecting our natural resources.
Rachel Bergren
Board Advisor
Rachel Bergren currently serves as the Executive Director for Get Outdoors Nevada (GON). With more than two decades of experience in the field of environmental and conservation education and non-profit leadership, Rachel joined GON in February 2021. She considers herself a “nature nerd” and has dedicated her career to inspiring others to connect with and care for wildlife and wild places.
Tom Clark
Board Advisor
As the owner of Tom Clark Solutions, Tom provides a full spectrum of services to assist clients in achieving their business and political goals. He also provides expert public relations services for clients and strategic consulting for community education campaigns, as well as state and local political campaigns. Aside from Nevada politics, Tom is an outdoor enthusiast and serves as the Immediate Past President and Board Member of Friends of Black Rock High Rock.
Victoria Cousino
Board Advisor
Victoria grew up in the rural Vermont countryside where the vast wilderness fostered a sense of curiosity and creativity. After moving to New Mexico to attend graduate school she fell in love with the desert southwest and eventually relocated to Las Vegas to pursue a career in architecture.
Victoria takes pleasure in introducing others to the natural and sometimes unexpected beauty and outdoor opportunities that southern Nevada has to offer, and advocates for keeping these spaces open and accessible for all. Victoria’s passions include trail running, mountain biking, and landscape photography. Connect with Victoria on LinkedIn.
Jared Fisher
Board Advisor
Jared has been the “Director of Everything” for Escape Adventures for the past 30 years. He has a demonstrated history of working in the travel & tourism industry with experience in partnering with the US Government Department of Agriculture, National Park Service, and the Bureau of Land Management in Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, California, Idaho, Oregon, and Wyoming. This strong professional leader graduated from University of Nevada-Las Vegas, partners with RTC of Southern Nevada, and it a past member of the Nevada State Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board.
Tim Healion
Board Advisor
Tim's 35-year career in food & beverage in Northern Nevada including having been instrumental in starting the legendary Deux Gros Nez and The Pneumatic Diner. His current business adventure is with the Laughing Planet Café in Reno, which advocates for locally sourced and super healthy food.
Tim has advocated for health and well-being from the local community to the state legislature. He has promoted and managed local, regional, national, and international events including the Mighty Tour de Nez Celebration of Cycling, which under his reign, became a top 5 multi-day bicycle race on the national calendar and experienced international television coverage.
As a self-proclaimed “outdoor geek”, Tim has acknowledged the tie between good food and the outdoors. “We get a lot of support and business from those who live here and also from those who visit the area because of what the area has to offer in regards to playing outside.”
Big Jim Sage
Board Advisor
A resident of Southern Nevada since 1947, "Big Jim's " life has evolved around mules, horses, cattle, and the mountains and desert.
As a kid, his folks took him to work on ranches in Red Rock Canyon where he fell in love with its beauty. In 1994, he and his family established Cowboy Trail Rides so others could enjoy its majesty and beauty from the back of a horse or mule.
Cowboy Trail Rides pride themselves in the rugged climbing trails they've built and maintain, that give guests unspoiled views of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.
Jim was a part of the NVOBC's executive committee because he believes in strong advocacy to help keep lands open for our residents and guests to enjoy and appreciate thru fun and educational activities. He wants to ensure continued use of these lands for future generations.
Jim a member and packing director for Back Country Horsemen of America's Bristlecone Chapter and Friends of Red Rock and Friends of Nevada Wilderness.