Victoria Cousino
KNIT
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.
Dean DeGidio
REI
Dean considers himself fortunate to have been the Store Manager for REI in Reno since the store opened in 1999. Since then he's experienced many of the wild places in Nevada.
He's passionate about REI's credo that a life outdoors is a life well lived, and believes that time exploring in nature is a valuable experience for us individually and as a community. Dean believes that the connections area residents make spending time outdoors not only supports a healthy community but it is increasingly understood how this activity helps drives the local economy.
He is proud to work at REI, which is committed to working with the other businesses that are a part of newly formed Nevada Outdoor Business Coalition to advocate for conservation in service of recreation.
David Quinlan
REI
David began with REI’s Outdoor School and Outreach Program in 2014 in Denver Colorado as a Navigation and Survival guide. After graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in Outdoor Education in 2012, and spending several years as a ski and whitewater guide in New England, job opportunities with REI and University of Colorado’s Outdoor Program pulled him west where he felt he was always meant to be.
REI and its Outdoor Education programs has taken David to several states across the country including Colorado, Washington, and now Nevada where he is now the Market Coordinator for Outdoor Programs and Outreach. David is extremely passionate about his role with REI, expanding its outdoor programs and growing awareness in the community for conservation and stewardship of Nevada’s public lands.
The most exciting part of moving to Las Vegas was to see how rapidly the outdoor recreation industry is growing within the market. There are year round accessible venues for hiking, camping, backpacking, running, climbing, mountain biking, paddling, and even skiing! Not to mention, it is the ideal launching point for several iconic National Parks including Zion, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, and the Grand Canyon!
Tim Healion
Ambassador
Tim has been involved in the food industry in Northern Nevada for about 35 years. He has been instrumental in starting a number of businesses both for and not for profit, including and not limited to: the legendary Deux Gros Nez, The Pneumatic Diner and the Tour de Nez Outreach. Tim’s current business adventure is with the Laughing Planet Café’s in Midtown Reno and by the University which advocate for locally sourced and super healthy food.
Tim has advocated for health and well being from local community to the state legislature. He has promoted and managed local, regional, national and international events. In particular, 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.”
Brina Marcus
Flightlinez Bootleg Canyon
Brina Marcus serves many roles in the outdoors and Nevada business. She is General Manager for Flightlinez Bootleg Canyon, Board of Directors for Lower Colorado Water Trail Alliance, Best Vegas Attractions, Boulder City Chamber of Commerce and the Nevada Outdoor Business Coalition.
Brina has always enjoyed the outdoors. She graduated from Southern IL University at Carbondale where she was surrounded by the Shawness National Forest, further growing her love for nature and exploring the outdoors. Brina relocated to Nevada in 2009, after experiencing the Ziplines in Boulder City and finding so much appreciation with the sheer beauty of the Mojave, the spectacular views of Lake Mead and the wildlife roaming through the desert.
Since starting with Flightlinez Bootleg Canyon in 2009, a conservation-based company that built and operate the aerial trail system in Boulder City, Brina has had the privileged of assisting in the preservation of Bootleg Canyon Park and sharing the beauty of the Mojave with thousands of tourist annually as they visit the Las Vegas area.
Eric Roberts
KNIT
Growing up in the shadows of the Wasatch and within a quick drive of the Uintah mountains, Eric has always cherished opportunities to reconnect with nature and enjoy all that the wild world has to offer. Since his relocation to Nevada in 2004, Eric has been converted to the beauty of Nevada’s desert, its delicate and rugged landscape, and its open expanses of natural beauty.
As an architect and maker and designer of man-made things, Eric cherishes the untrammeled expanse of natural beauty that exists here in Nevada. His heart is warmed by the natural design of Little Finland and its intricate rusty-red and salmon colored elegance; or, the design of native plant species that lie dormant on the desert floor waiting for the slightest trace of moisture so that they can burst forth into life! Nevada’s wild places are truly a treasure.
Eric is CEO/President of SH Architecture a regional firm with offices in Las Vegas, Seattle and Salt Lake City. He specializes in sustainable design technologies is responsible for developing a firm-wide vision for improving building performance. Eric holds a Masters of Architecture degree from the University of Idaho as well as a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Architecture from the University of Idaho. He is past President of the American Institute of Architects Las Vegas and Nevada Chapters. Eric and his wife Cathy have five pretty great kids and make Las Vegas the launch pad for their current adventures.
Big Jim Sage
Cowboy Trail Rides
Growing up in rural Southern Nevada since 1947, Big Jim's life has evolved around mules, horses, cattle and the beautiful mountains and deserts he calls home. He was fortunate enough to work on the last ranches from the McCullough’s out of Searchlight to the Howard Hugh’s Warm Springs Ranch that stretched from Gold Butte to the Delamar Range below Pioche. Then for the 1001 and the Geyser Ranch above Mt Wilson along what is now called the Great Basin Hwy.
As a kid, his folks took them to work on the ranches in Red Rock Canyon and he fell in love with its beauty. He came back with his family in 1994 and established Cowboy Trail Rides so others could enjoy and partake of 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 our guests unspoiled views of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.
Jim is a member of the Nevada Outdoor Business Coalition because he believes we need a strong advocacy to help keep lands open for our residents and guests to enjoy and appreciate thru fun and educational activities. Awareness for those given the responsibility to manage and govern this state helps insure continued use for future generations.
Jim is a member and Packing Director for Back Country Horsemen of America, Bristlecone Chapter. They advocate keeping trails open for horses and pack stock by helping build and maintain trails with the use of our pack stock. He is also a member of Friends of Red and Friends of Nevada Wilderness.
Meghan Wolf
Patagonia
Meghan has worked with Patagonia for 19 years, currently working as the Environmental Activism Manager for the northwest region.
In this role, she works with the six Patagonia retail stores in the northwest district covering grants, events, activism, community outreach and employee training to assist the retail teams in executing the company's environmental mission.
As part of a company-sponsored internship, she helped start the NV Outdoor Business Coalition.
