Who We Are
Doug Morris
Doug served for 40 years in the U.S. National Park Service, 13 years as Superintendent for national parks and a training center. He has served on projects in China, Ecuador (Galapagos), Croatia, and East Africa. He served on the Executive Council of the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees.
Joel Holtrop
Joel retired as Deputy Chief for the U.S. National Forest System. He oversaw the strategic and national program leadership for the 193 million acre National System of forests and grasslands located in 42 states and Puerto Rico. His natural resource management emphasis areas include ecosystem management, engineering, forest management, rangeland management, lands, minerals, geology management, recreation, heritage, wilderness, wild-scenic rivers management, watersheds, fish, wildlife, air, and rare plants. Joel is a member of the National Association of Forest Service Retirees.
Michael Soukup, Ph.D.
Michael retired as the U.S. National Park Service Associate Director for Natural Resource Stewardship and Science. He was responsible for guiding the protection and compatible enjoyment of natural resources in the 390 units of the National Park System. He directed programs in air quality, water resources, geological resources, biological resources, environmental compliance, social science, and information management.
Destry Jarvis
Destry is a former Presidential Appointee to the U.S. National Park Service and has over 30 years’ experience working in all facets of parks, recreation, wildlife and open space management through leadership positions in government, non-profit, and public interest institutions.
Maria Burks
Maria served for 39 years in a variety of ranger and superintendent positions in the US National Park Service in both parks and headquarters offices. Her expertise includes development and leadership of visitor services programs, NGO and partnership cultivation and organizational change. She has served on international projects in Georgia and Mongolia, and on numerous assignments in Russia, both pre- and post-retirement.
Marc Koenings
Marc retired from the U.S. National Park Service as Commissioner, National Parks of New York Harbor. He served in management positions in several national parks, maintained a focus on sustainability and opportunities for public education throughout his career, and served on many task forces and special initiatives.
Brett Wright
Brett is Professor and Chairman of Clemson University’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management. He serves as Acting Director of the University’s Institute for Parks and has been a principal in its “Open Parks Grid” project. He has worked with East Africa countries to consult with their parks and tourism ministries, and in India and Bhutan.
Mel Turner
Mel retired in 2003 from a 30 year career as a planner, manager and administrator with the Government of the Province of British Columbia, mostly with BC Parks. Mr. Turner draws on his experience in all facets of recreation/conservation policy, planning and management to pursue opportunities as a senior consultant on selected international, national, provincial and regional projects involving policy, planning, management, design and liaison on protected area issues. He has served extensively throughout the Caribbean, including drafting the protected areas system plan for Grenada, and he currently serves as leadership for the Elders Council for Parks in British Colombia.
Kathy Chopik
Kathy worked at the executive level of the provincial government of British Colombia, Canada, as the Assistant Deputy Minister for Strategic Policy in the Office of the Premier and as the Assistant Deputy Minister in a natural resource economic development portfolio. Kathy worked with Ministers and Cabinets to improve decision-making processes involving Treasury Board, Cabinet committees and Cabinet. Kathy has extensive background in establishing government priorities and developing the implementation plans for large government initiatives.
Doug served for 40 years in the U.S. National Park Service, 13 years as Superintendent for national parks and a training center. He has served on projects in China, Ecuador (Galapagos), Croatia, and East Africa. He served on the Executive Council of the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees.
Joel Holtrop
Joel retired as Deputy Chief for the U.S. National Forest System. He oversaw the strategic and national program leadership for the 193 million acre National System of forests and grasslands located in 42 states and Puerto Rico. His natural resource management emphasis areas include ecosystem management, engineering, forest management, rangeland management, lands, minerals, geology management, recreation, heritage, wilderness, wild-scenic rivers management, watersheds, fish, wildlife, air, and rare plants. Joel is a member of the National Association of Forest Service Retirees.
Michael Soukup, Ph.D.
Michael retired as the U.S. National Park Service Associate Director for Natural Resource Stewardship and Science. He was responsible for guiding the protection and compatible enjoyment of natural resources in the 390 units of the National Park System. He directed programs in air quality, water resources, geological resources, biological resources, environmental compliance, social science, and information management.
Destry Jarvis
Destry is a former Presidential Appointee to the U.S. National Park Service and has over 30 years’ experience working in all facets of parks, recreation, wildlife and open space management through leadership positions in government, non-profit, and public interest institutions.
Maria Burks
Maria served for 39 years in a variety of ranger and superintendent positions in the US National Park Service in both parks and headquarters offices. Her expertise includes development and leadership of visitor services programs, NGO and partnership cultivation and organizational change. She has served on international projects in Georgia and Mongolia, and on numerous assignments in Russia, both pre- and post-retirement.
Marc Koenings
Marc retired from the U.S. National Park Service as Commissioner, National Parks of New York Harbor. He served in management positions in several national parks, maintained a focus on sustainability and opportunities for public education throughout his career, and served on many task forces and special initiatives.
Brett Wright
Brett is Professor and Chairman of Clemson University’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management. He serves as Acting Director of the University’s Institute for Parks and has been a principal in its “Open Parks Grid” project. He has worked with East Africa countries to consult with their parks and tourism ministries, and in India and Bhutan.
Mel Turner
Mel retired in 2003 from a 30 year career as a planner, manager and administrator with the Government of the Province of British Columbia, mostly with BC Parks. Mr. Turner draws on his experience in all facets of recreation/conservation policy, planning and management to pursue opportunities as a senior consultant on selected international, national, provincial and regional projects involving policy, planning, management, design and liaison on protected area issues. He has served extensively throughout the Caribbean, including drafting the protected areas system plan for Grenada, and he currently serves as leadership for the Elders Council for Parks in British Colombia.
Kathy Chopik
Kathy worked at the executive level of the provincial government of British Colombia, Canada, as the Assistant Deputy Minister for Strategic Policy in the Office of the Premier and as the Assistant Deputy Minister in a natural resource economic development portfolio. Kathy worked with Ministers and Cabinets to improve decision-making processes involving Treasury Board, Cabinet committees and Cabinet. Kathy has extensive background in establishing government priorities and developing the implementation plans for large government initiatives.