COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF JACKSON HOLE - Key Persons
Born and raised on the outskirts of Boston, Alex received his degree in Accounting from Messiah College before heading west. After working and traveling around the western states and a handful of other countries for 4 years, he found his way to Jackson at the end of 2019 to call this place home. With a decade of customer service experience and a few years bookkeeping for a local brewery, Alex joined the Community Foundation at the beginning of 2023. As an avid endurance athlete, he spends his free time ski touring in the winters and trail running in the mountains in the summers. On the side, he has taught himself piano, using that and his experience as a classically trained cellist to make electronic dance music.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Before joining the Community Foundation, Anne served as Marketing Director at Center for the Arts for seven years. She held positions in marketing and communications in the non-profit and for-profit sectors before moving to Jackson in 2012 from her hometown of Nashville, TN. Anne is a graduate of Sewanee - University of the South where she majored in French Studies.
She volunteers in the community as a member of the Jackson Hole Travel & Tourism Special Events Committee, Chair of the Education Committee at St. John's Episcopal Church, and a member of the Parent-Teacher Organization at Jackson Elementary School. In her spare time, Anne enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons enjoying all that the Jackson has to offer.
Job Titles:
- Director of Grants & Nonprofit Outreach
A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Annie moved to Jackson after graduating from the University of Virginia in 1999. Like so many others, she was lured by the siren song of the Tetons. While it was the mountains that drew her, it is Jackson Hole's exquisite community of people that inspired her to choose this place as her permanent home.
Since her tenure in the Tetons began, Annie has been actively engaged in the nonprofit realm as a consultant, volunteer and facilitator of charitable giving. She orchestrated Old Bill's Fun Run from 2010-2020, and since 2020 has worked in other areas of the Foundation's grantmaking and nonprofit outreach. She serves on the board of Hole Food Rescue and is a volunteer Advocate with Community Safety Network.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board Officers Team
- Treasurer, Chair of Finance Committee, Audit Sub - Committee
Job Titles:
- Emeritus Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Fund Officer & Technology Specialist
Bronwen Fitzsimons has carved a career path that champions community good alongside economic growth. With experience at multiple prestigious foundations throughout the country, she brings a wealth of leadership, management, and community- building insight to the Community Foundation.
Before joining Community Foundation of Jackson Hole, Bronwen served the non-profit sector for 13 years through grant management work. At the Rockefeller Foundation in New York City, she handled all financial, organizational, and contractual pursuits necessary to fund and assist grantees. Prior to that, she worked at the Santa Barbara Foundation, where she managed the administration of the "Express Grants" program which awarded small grants to local nonprofits monthly. Her commitment to foundation work began, however, at the Grand Teton National Park Foundation in Jackson back in 2007.
Outside of the office, Bronwen enjoys skiing, hiking, and days on Jackson Lake.
Carolyn Ripps arrived in Jackson Hole via Washington, DC in 2004 for "just one" post-collegiate summer and has remained ever since. A graduate of the Groton School and Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, Carolyn has worked as a ski instructor at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, in fundraising at Grand Teton Music Festival, in sales and marketing at Tayloe Piggott Gallery, and most recently as a communications consultant for Persephone and JH Public Art. She lives in town with her husband Andy, daughter Gwen and son Alex, and can often be spotted up Cache Creek no matter the season. Carolyn is inspired by the local community and is a past Chair of the Girls Actively Participating! board of directors and currently serves on the Teton County Library Foundation executive committee and has volunteered regularly for Hole Food Rescue and Community Safety Network.
Job Titles:
- Teton Youth & Family Services
Cindy is a Jackson Hole Native. Her family arrived in Jackson in the late 1980s from a small town in Tlaxcala, Mexico. Cindy and her six siblings grew up on the Snake River Ranch, where her dad has worked since arriving in Jackson. She was fortunate to live in a beautiful place where she saw wildlife and amazing Teton views every day. Cindy loves sharing the magic of Snake River Ranch with her husband and three children when they visit her parents.
Cindy worked in the hospitality industry prior to joining the Foundation in 2018. She is a graduate of Climb Wyoming and a proud Habitat for Humanity homeowner. She and her family enjoy walking and biking along the Snake River.
Job Titles:
- Teton County Search and Rescue Foundation
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board Officers Team
- Vice Chair
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board Officers Team
- Chairman of Grants Committee, Executive Committee Member
Born and raised in Atlanta, Elizabeth fell in love with the Tetons as a child joining her parents on ski trips to Teton Village. After graduating from Wheaton College in Massachusetts with a BA in Art History, Elizabeth was eager to move West. Pursuing her love of learning, she completed a Master's in Curriculum and Instruction from Montana State.
Elizabeth has a variety of experiences with local non-profits. Before joining the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole, Elizabeth worked as the Director of Membership at the National Museum of Wildlife and the Director of Advancement at the Jackson Hole Classical Academy. Outside of the office, Elizabeth enjoys skiing, fishing, and gardening with her family.
Job Titles:
- Certified Public Accountant
- Chief Financial Officer
Erin grew up in Northern New Jersey before attending Georgetown University, where she studied Accounting, Finance, and French. During her studies, she was fortunate enough to spend 6 months living and studying in Lyon, France while attending the city's local business school. Erin and her husband relocated to Jackson from the east coast in 2018 to embrace the active lifestyle and to raise their three children in the dynamic, welcoming community of Jackson Hole.
Erin is a certified public accountant who has previously worked for the Financial Advisory division of Ernst & Young, as a corporate accountant for Renaissance Technologies, a quantitatively orientated hedge fund in New York City, and as the controller for a local craft brewery. Outside of the office, Erin enjoys running, skiing, biking and cooking.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Originally from central Pennsylvania, Hannah moved to Jackson in 2012. Prior to joining the Community Foundation, Hannah held positions with Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Teton Area, Cultivate Ability, and the Senior Center of Jackson Hole. Hannah studied recreation management at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania which led to her nonprofit introduction as Activities & Volunteer Coordinator at the Senior Center of Jackson Hole. In this role, she discovered her passion of working with volunteer programs - improving the volunteer experience and therefore creating a larger impact for the nonprofit.
She has volunteered for Community Safety Network, Pet Partners, and the Old Bill's Run Committee. As a member of the Association of Leaders in Volunteer Engagement, Hannah also gives her time through committee work for the association. Hannah holds a graduate certificate in nonprofit administration through Colorado State University. She is looking forward to working with the nonprofit community through the Foundation's grant programs.
Outside of work, Hannah enjoys biking, connecting with friends, and spending time with her husband and two Australian shepherds.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board Officers Team
- Secretary
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board Officers Team
- Chairman of Investment Committee, Executive Committee Member
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Member of the Board Officers Team
Job Titles:
- Administrator
- Backbone Leader of Teton Behavioral Health Alliance
Kate Schelbe is an experienced educator, school administrator, and nonprofit leader. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kate first moved to the valley in 2006 and is happy to call it home. Prior to joining the Community Foundation, Kate worked in a variety of educational settings, including Teton Literacy Center, Teton Science Schools, and Jackson Hole Community School, as well as a charter school in North Carolina, and a government school in Tanzania. Her experiences range from classroom teacher to middle school director, to Dean of Students. She also serves as the Executive Director of Girls Education International, a nonprofit that works to support educational opportunities for underserved girls and women in remote and undeveloped regions of the world.
Kate was drawn to the Teton Behavioral Health Alliance's vision that everyone living and working in Teton County experiences wellbeing and has access to the care and community support necessary to achieve their full potential. As the Backbone Leader, Kate provides strategic guidance, coordinates Alliance activities, cultivates community engagement, uses shared measurement to evaluate progress, and advances funding. The Alliance is utilizing the collective impact model to address challenges facing community well-being at the system level. This work aligns with Kate's values of people, place, and impact while applying her facilitation skills and systems thinking approach.
Kate holds a B.A. from Emory University and earned a certificate in nonprofit management from Duke University. In her free time, Kate enjoys reading and writing creative non-fiction, trying new vegetarian recipes, and going on adventures in the mountains with her dog.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Kelsey grew up in Franktown, Colorado before attending the University of Denver for her undergraduate and graduate degrees, where she studied business, mathematics, and business law and earned an MBA with a focus on finance. Kelsey and her husband moved to Jackson from Colorado in 2015 to spend more time pursuing their love of the outdoors and skiing.
Before joining the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole Kelsey was the accounting manager for Cumming Capital Management, a local private family office, and oversaw their private foundation accounting administration. Outside of the office Kelsey enjoys rafting, skiing, reading, and cuddling with her two cats.
Job Titles:
- Fund for Public Education
Kristina grew up around the shores of South Florida as well as the fjords of Northern Norway. She has lived in Jackson Hole since 2003 after first coming out to hike the Tetons for a summer. Kristina enjoys fly fishing and mountain biking local trails with her family and trusty pup Stella.
Kristina has an extensive hospitality background. Prior to joining the Community Foundation in 2019, Kristina worked numerous positions at the Four Seasons Jackson Hole, including the Concierge desk for 6 years.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Community Leader
- President
Laurie Andrews is a community leader with a long-standing career in land and conservation. She is embarking on a new path as she takes the helm of the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole after leading the Jackson Hole Land Trust for 15 years, spearheading land projects that resulted in nearly 8,000 acres permanently protected. Under her guidance, the Land Trust expanded to encompass the Greater Yellowstone area including the founding of a Wind River program in 2007 and a merger with the Green River Valley Land Trust.
Other key milestones include the navigation and execution of multiple long-term strategic plans, successful completion of significant project-based capital campaigns, and the launch of an inclusive community conservation program which has grown to include robust partner programs and multiple conservation projects such as Rendezvous (R) Park and Save the Block. Previously, Andrews served for seven years with The Nature Conservancy, as Southern Yellowstone Program Director, as Director of Philanthropy for the Washington state program, and as Development Officer for the California program. Prior employment includes major gifts development and event management for St. John's Hospital and Health Center Foundation in Santa Monica, California.
Andrews recently served as Vice Chair of the Land Trust Alliance Board and served for three years on the Jackson/Teton County Housing Supply Board. She also served on the Legacy Works Advisory Council for the Teton Region. Andrews holds a B.S. from Pepperdine University. An avid trail runner and adventurer, she enjoys exploring local and exotic destinations with her husband, Perk Perkins, and their three dogs.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board Officers Team
- Chairman of Nominating & Governance Committee, Executive Committee Member
Although she was born, raised, and educated in Chicago, a lifetime of summer trips out to Jackson to see family and the parks was impactful enough to lure Melanie out to the Tetons as soon as possible. Melanie brings strong non-profit experience to her role at the Foundation, having worked for the Chicago Public Education Fund, City Year Chicago, Advance Illinois, and the Chicago Botanic Garden after completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Chicago. She is passionate about community involvement, volunteers for the Jackson Hole Jewish Community Center and the Teton Raptor Center, and enjoys tending to her houseplants, hiking with her dogs, and swing dancing at the Wort.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- off Square Theatre Company
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Teton Youth & Family Services
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Chairman, Community Foundation of Teton Valley
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board Officers Team
- Chairman of Advancement Committee / past Chair, Executive Committee Member
Job Titles:
- Bill 's & Special Projects Coordinator
- Old Bill 's & Special Projects Coordinator
Suzanne Rees has over 7 years of experience in Event Management, but she has been planning parties and gatherings for much longer. From the deep South, she prides herself in being able to create meaningful and memorable experiences over shared interests (and good food).
Suzanne's professional and philanthropic goals both revolve around service to community, creating new opportunities for youth, and animal well-being. Before joining the Community Foundation, she worked as the Operations & Events Manager for Grand Targhee Resort and as a Non-profit Executive in Austin, TX. She graduated with a BA in Mass Communications from the University of Louisiana. Suzanne is a spirited volunteer for Festival International de Louisiane and various local animal rescue operations. In her spare time, she enjoys bringing her 2 rescue pups on adventures, biking, skiing, backpacking, traveling, and cooking for family & friends.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Director, Housing Solutions
Wendy was born in Tlaxcala, Mexico and was raised in Jackson. After 30 years in the valley, she cannot imagine a life away from the Tetons, her family, and her community. Wendy graduated from the University of Wyoming with a master's degree in public administration and returned to Jackson in 2018 to pursue a career that would best serve her community.
Prior to joining the Community Foundation, Wendy was the Director of Homeowner Services and Community Engagement for Habitat for Humanity, where affordable housing programs and policies were at the center of her work. She currently serves on the Teton Library Foundation Board, the Immigrant Hope Board, the Humanities Council of Wyoming, the JH Chamber Board, and the Affordable Housing Advisory Council for Federal Home Loan Bank.
Wendy loves to cook, play soccer, hike with her golden retriever, Paco, and spend time with her family & friends.
A third-generation Jacksonite, Will has been shaped by the values of the Jackson Hole community and is deeply motivated to promote a thriving valley for future generations. He brings over a decade of leadership experience in programs, operations, finance, and strategy to the Community Foundation. Previously, he served as the Chief of Staff at Summer Search, a national youth development nonprofit, where he led the creation and implementation of a 4-year, $80M+ strategic plan. He is also a proud alum of AmeriCorps (where he ran an after-school program for two years for underserved students in Columbus, Ohio), Education Pioneers, and NOLS.