Global Parks Board Members

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, Colombia, Peru and Mongolia, and on numerous assignments in Russia.

Diane Chalfant

Diane is retired from the U.S. National Park Service. She has an extensive background in management, park operations, policy development and partnerships. She has worked in eight parks and in the NPS Washington Office where she provided oversight for the national Interpretation and Education Program, the Volunteers-in-Parks Program, Harpers Ferry Interpretive Design Center, Youth Programs, the National Partnership Office and the National Tourism Office. She has worked in many countries including China, Japan, Peru and 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.

Mary K. Foley, Ph.D.

Mary served as the Regional Chief Scientist for the Northeast Region of the U.S. National Park Service managing a team of scientists for national parks from Maine to Virginia. The regional science team provides technical support in several disciplines including aquatic ecology, forest and pest management, plant and wildlife management, endangered species protection, long-term ecological monitoring, climate change research and adaptive management, and natural resource management planning and policy. She has a B.S. in Forest Ecology and an M.A. and Ph.D. In Paleoclimatology.

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.

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.

Todd Koenings

Todd founded Global Parks after working at the American Red Cross and Conservation International. He has been involved in almost all aspects of the development of the technical assistance program in Global Parks and the International Conservation Caucus Foundation. With ICCF, he has lead the development of caucuses in the parliaments of Mongolia and Thailand.

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 worked on projects in Thailand, Colombia, Paraguay, Palau, China, Ecuador (Galapagos), Croatia, and East Africa. He served on the Executive Council of the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees.

Paul Ries

Paul Ries had a 42 year career with the US Forest Service. He initially worked across the Mountain West as a field forester, Silviculturalist, District Ranger and Manager of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area before becoming a Regional Director in two Forest Service Regions. Paul later became a national Director for the Forest Service and retired as an Associate Deputy Chief. With Global Parks he has made seven trips to Mongolia bringing together teams of specialists in Forest Management, Reforestation, Forest Nurseries, Forest Health, and Forest Recreation.

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.

Mel Turner

Mel had 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.