SCP Staff

Steve Kandell is the Director of TU's Sportsmen's Conservation Project (SCP). He joined TU in 2008, and is based in Durango, Colorado.  Steve was drawn to the West over a decade ago to pursue his passions for hunting, fishing and conservation.  Prior to working for the SCP, Steve worked as an environmental planner for both the private and public sectors, working with sportsmen, industry, local communities and others to address a variety of contentious public lands issues.  Steve now coordinates the SCP's efforts to secure a strong sportsmen's heritage in the West for future generations.  He can be reached at skandell@tu.org [1].

Brad Powell is the Energy Director for the SCP. Brad has a deep personal and professional interest in wildlife and management of important habitats, particularly on public lands.  An active outdoor enthusiast enjoying the trails, lakes, and rivers of the West, he was raised hunting for big game (rabbits and quail) and fishing for trophy fish (bluegill and bass) in Missouri. Brad received a degree in Forest Science from the University of Missouri, and worked for the U.S. Forest Service for over 30 years, serving as District Staff, District Ranger and National Monument Ranger for Mount St. Helens, and as Forest Supervisor in Kentucky and Alaska. He also served as Regional Forester in the Pacific Southwest Region (California) and in the Northern Region (Idaho and Montana). He currently resides in Payson, Arizona. Contact Brad at bpowell@tu.org [2].

Dave Glenn is the Backcountry Director for the SCP. He's been with TU since 2008, and is based in Lander, WY, where he lives with his three horses, two gun dogs, 11 chickens and a stray cat. Dave is a former Alaskan fishing guide, and recently worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School as their Rocky Mountain director of operations. Dave is an avid hunter/angler and enjoys horsepacking into wild country to hunt and fish.  Dave directs all backcountry protection operations of the SCP throughout the West. He can be reached at dglenn@tu.org [3].

Cathy Purves is the Science & Technical Adviser for the SCP.  She's been with TU since June 2005 and is based in Lander, WY, where she and her husband live among red dirt, white rocks and green sage with an assortment of dogs, cats and horses.  Cathy's history includes a 25-year career working on natural resources and environmental impact issues. She's worked on numerous successful conservation campaigns with grassroots and policy makers and now provides the necessary science and technical support to the SCP team in their conservation and protection work. She can be reached at cpurves@tu.org [4].

Shauna Sherard came to work for TU in September of 2011. She formerly worked as the outdoor editor for the Wyoming Tribune Eagle and freelanced for various magazines across the country. She lives in Wheatland, Wyoming with her husband, Cole, daughters, Clare and Makensie and various four-legged critters - one bird dog, one want-to-be bird dog and a crazy cat. She can be reached at ssherard@tu.org [5].

Scott Stouder has been TU's Field Coordinator for the protection of roadless lands in Idaho since 2003. With a passion for horses and mules, Scott and his wife Holly enjoy packing into Idaho's wilderness areas to hunt big game and fish for wild trout. He can be reached at sstouder@tu.org [6].

Bob Meulengracht is the Sportsmen for Responsible Energy Development (SFRED) Coordinator in Colorado. A Colorado native, Bob is a lifelong angler for native cutthroat, brook and rainbow trout. A passionate hunter for over 30 years, Bob and his family hunt upland birds, ducks, geese and big game. However, Bob's passion is mule deer hunting. After spending many years in conservation, first as a volunteer and then as staff for the Mule Deer Foundation, Bob joined the SCP in 2011. Bob lives in Lakewood, CO with his wife, two children, two dogs and two cats. Reach him at rmeulengracht@tu.org [7].

Charles Card is the SCP's Northeastern Utah Coordinator. Charlie is an avid sportsman and resides in Dutch John, Utah, the gateway to trout fishing on the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam. In 1994, he began his labor of love guiding from a drift boat because it was the next best thing to fishing for a living. Charlie is now leading TU's effort to keep the Green and its world-renowned trout fishery "just the way it is." A lifetime resident of the area, Charlie maintains his strong connection to both the river and the surrounding communities. Reach him at ccard@tu.org [8].

Shane Cross joined the SCP as Western Energy Counsel in 2011. He was raised on his family's cattle ranch near the Laramie Mountains in Wyoming, received a BA in Sociology from Stanford University and a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. Following law school, Shane practiced as a litigation attorney at Holme, Roberts, and Owen LLP, and is licensed to practice law in Colorado and Wyoming. Prior to law school, Shane managed a 20,000-acre cattle ranch in Southeastern Wyoming, worked in Nepal as a volunteer legal assistant advocating for for environmental protection on Himalayan projects and was an instructor at the National Outdoor Leadership School. Shane embraces opportunities to work closely with land managers, sportsmen, and the energy industry to promote healthy and sustainable communities in the West. In his free time Shane enjoys coaching wrestling, moving cows with his father and sister, and swapping stories in the middle of the road with his neighbors. Reach him at scross@tu.org [9].

Garrett VeneKlassen was born and raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico and spent his childhood hunting and fishing with his father throughout the mountains, grasslands, deserts and wetlands of New Mexico. Before becoming the SCP's New Mexico Public Lands Coordinator, he founded the New Mexico Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. He's also currently on the board of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation. Garret is a prolific outdoor writer and photographer, and at one time hosted his own outdoor show on ESPN, "Fly Fishing America." His writing and photography have been published in Field&Stream, Men's Journal, Gray's Sporting Journal, Fly Fisherman, High Country News, The Angling Report and Orvis News. A former fishing and big-game hunting guide in both New Mexico and Colorado. Garrett resides with his family in Taos Canyon, NM. As a self-proclaimed "reformed OHV outlaw," Garrett is an outspoken advocate for safe, conservation-conscious off-highway vehicle use on public lands. Contact him at gveneklassen@tu.org [10].

Tom Reed has worked for Trout Unlimited since 2005. In 2008, Tom led TU's successful Sportsmen for the Wyoming Range effort that resulted in protecting 1.2 million acres of mountain wildlife and fish habitat from irresponsible oil and gas drilling with the passage of the Wyoming Range Legacy Act in the 110th Congress. Today, he heads up the off-road vehicle program for TU as OHV Policy Director. A life-long Westerner and avid hunter/angler, he has spent his professional career in public relations and journalism. Tom, the author of several books--most recently "Blue Lines, A Fishing Life"--lives in Pony, Montana, with four bird dogs, a classic 1968 Ford Bronco and seven mountain horses. Reach Tom at treed@tu.org [11].

Mike Beagle, the SCP's Pacific Northwest Field Director, grew up hunting, fishing and backpacking in the south Cascades of Oregon then earned his Bachelors degree in History at Southern Oregon State College. He graduated from the US Army Officer Candidate School and the Airborne Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, before serving as a field artillery officer in the 9th Infantry Division.  He later taught history and coached football and baseball in Oregon high schools for 15 years and received his MA in History and Government from the University of Portland.  Mike loves to visit the backcountry at every opportunity with his two children. Contact Mike at mbeagle@tu.org [12].

Corey Fisher is the Assistant Energy Director for the SCP. He grew up in the same state as TU, Michigan. After jobs guiding and with the U.S. Forest Service, Corey joined TU to work on oil and gas development issues facing trout, wildlife and hunters and anglers in the West. Located in Missoula, Montana, Corey spends his free time in the mountains, on the rivers or in the sloughs hunting elk, deer, and ducks, or hiking wild country and casting to wild cutthroats. Corey can be reached at cfisher@tu.org [13].

Greg McReynolds is the SCP Coordinator for New Mexico. His priority is reducing the impact of off-road vehicles on public lands, but he also works on native fish and other sportsmen's issues. He lives in Albuquerque with his wife Denise and sons Luke and Gordon. Greg has spent time as a writer, photographer and editor for varous newspapers and magazines. He currently writes for the blogs Shotgun Chronicle (www.shotgunchronicle.com [14]) and Mouthful of Feathers. (www.mouthfuloffeathers.com [15]). When he is not working, he spends the fall chasing upland game birds and mule deer and the rest of the year fly fishing New Mexico's high mountain streams. Reach Greg at gmcreynolds@tu.org [16].

Ty Churchwell is a Backcountry Coordinator for TU's SCP and is based out of Durango, Colorado. Ty served as president of the Five Rivers Chapter of TU before joining the SCP staff in late 2008.  An avid fly fisherman, Ty has chased trout from Alaska to Chile. Protecting the wilderness and rivers of the San Juan Mountains are the focal point of his work in Southwest Colorado. When he's not working, find him on the Animas, Rio Grande, Gunnison and all the streams in between. Ty can be reached at tchurchwell@tu.org [17].

James Jeffress joined TU in early 2009 as the Nevada Backcountry Coordinator after a 31-year career as a wildlife biologist with the Nevada Department of Wildlife. As an area biologist in the northern part of the state, Jim played a significant role in the reestablishment of California bighorn sheep in Nevada and participated in over 50 land-use planning processes to enhance habitat for fish and wildlife. A father of two grown children who lives in Lovelock, Nevada, with his wife Mary, Jim finds that even after 40 years of exploring a state that features plenty of solitude but few locked gates, he still has a long list of places to explore. Reach Jim at jjeffress@tu.org [18].

Steven Brutger is the Wyoming Energy Coordinator for the SCP. Growing up on a family owned guest ranch in Montana, Steven developed a passion for hunting, fishing, horses and the value of the western landscape. He spent the last eight years in Wyoming working for the National Outdoor Leadership School as a backcountry instructor and major gifts fundraiser. Based in Lander WY, Steven lives with his wife, two kids and two Labs. Contact Steven at sbrutger@tu.org [19].

Mark Bagett joined the team in late 2009 as Backcountry Coordinator of eastern Oregon's John Day Basin. Before coming to the SCP, he served 20 years as a full-time outdoor journalist and photographer, followed by 10 years as a wildlife and habitat specialist for both the US Forest Service and Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. A veteran horsepacker and backcountry enthusiast, Mark has spent a lifetime pursuing big game, upland birds and freshwater fish across the country, but feels a particular commitment to the resources and self-sustaining culture of his native eastern Oregon. He and his wife, Brenda, are the parents of three grown children and enjoy a busy yet blissful existence on their mountain property outside of Canyon City, Oregon. Reach Mark at mbagett@tu.org [20].

Matthew Clark is the SCP's backcountry coordinator for the southwest corner of Colorado’s San Juan Mountains and the Dolores River basin. A lifelong resident of the area, he was raised on a farm and ranch in the shadow of Ute Mountain. Before joining the SCP in 2009, he worked as an Environmental Designer, guide, and farmer. Growing up working as well as recreating on the land has given him a deep commitment to finding common ground and workable solutions that help to ensure generations of people can continue to enjoy and prosper from our public lands. Matt can be reached at m.clark@tu.org [21].

Aaron Kindle is the Colorado field coordinator for the SCP. A lifelong Westerner, born in Laramie, WY, and raised in Wyoming and Colorado, Aaron has worked on a variety of conservation issues over the last 10 years, including championing protection for roadless backcountry in Montana and Idaho and working on stream restoration projects. Aaron went to college in Gunnison, CO, and graduate school in Missoula, MT. An avid boater and backcountry enthusiast, he spends dozens of days each year on the water and dozens more in the backcountry. He is also an avid hunter, and he and his family take pride in obtaining their food from the wilds. Aaron lives in Golden, CO with his wife and their two children. He works on energy, roadless and off-road vehicle issues for TU, and can be reached at akindle@tu.org [22].

Gregg Bafundo grew up in a military family and moved around quite a bit, but he developed his passion for the outdoors in the woods of northern Virginia. There he taught himself how to hunt, fish, backpack, climb and ski. He has worked as a mountain guide in Washington and New Hampshire and was a volunteer with Olympic Mountain Rescue for both high-angle rescue work and swift water rescue. A U.S. Marine, Gregg was stationed in North Carolina and West Virginia with 3/25, and was with them during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He is also a graduate of cold weather mountain warfare school and was deployed to northern Norway where he honed his wilderness skills. Currently the co-chair for Washington Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, he is working on coalition-based OHV legislation and shares his love of the outdoors with his wife. Reach Gregg at gbafundo@tu.org [23].