Heidi has five years of non-profit and programming experience serving as Executive Director of the Children’s Museum of Eastern Oregon and the Panhandle Humane Society. She's incredibly passionate about TMPF's mission and her experience in managing educational programming helped the Students Stewards Program flourish since she began working here as AmeriCorps Program Director.

​Devin served nearly two years as a Naturalist Educator for Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation before starting as Student Stewards Program Director. He is originally from Grass Valley, California. He received his B.A. in English from the University of Nevada, Reno, with a minor in Spanish  In his free time, Devin enjoys riding mountain bikes and dirt bikes, and exploring Nevada's great outdoors. As VP of Education, Devin is excited to be a part of the continued growth of TMPF, and hopes to inspire the community through the SSP program. 

Elena served as a Naturalist Educator for TMPF in the spring and summer of 2018 and is now working as the VP of Rosewood Nature Study Area.  She's a local, and is extremely excited and proud to be working to restore an abandoned open space back to a functional ecosystem in her hometown.  In her free time, Elena can be found obsessing over dogs or participating in trivia nights.

​Hannah is the Parks Foundation's Student Stewards Program Manager. She began her time here as an AmeriCorps Naturalist Educator in 2018. Originally from Bozeman, MT, she received her B.S. in Biology from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA and has spent the last several years working for non-profits in Montana and Connecticut. Hannah is an avid birder and is looking forward to sharing her love of science and the natural world with her new community!

David is our Development Director, homegrown right here in the Truckee Meadows. He has a background in media, sales, serving the public, graphic design, radio and voiceover. He enjoys hanging out with his wife and raising their daughter, backyard chickens, two chihuahuas and one cat. You'll see David on the trail, backpacking, disc golfing, skiing or boarding and at live music events. He is thrilled to be with Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation to engage our community and support our open spaces.

Jay is our new Trails Program Manager, and will be working to implement the goals of the Truckee Meadows Trails Initiative. He comes to us after a 30 year career with Nevada State Parks. His time with State Parks involved several years being a recreation specialist for the Nevada Tahoe Resource Team, and 13 years as park supervisor for Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park (Sand Harbor, Spooner Lake and Backcountry, Cave Rock, and Van Sickle). Jay loves the outdoors and is an avid hiker and mountain biker. And let's not forget, professional volunteer. Jay enjoys working with the Thunderbird Lodge Preservation Society and Tahoe Mountain Bike Patrol.

Ashley is local to Northern Nevada but has spent her fair share exploring other areas. Like many locals that leave the area, something about Reno drew her back and she is happy to call Northern Nevada her home base once again. She graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with a B.A. in Speech Communications and Journalism. Ashley's career has offered opportunities in the nonprofit sector, government and education. She has always had a passion for exploring and connecting with nature. She welcomes the opportunity to help the youth of our community build a relationship and appreciation for the outdoors as well. 

Matt is the Communications Manager for Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation. After serving with TMPF as an AmeriCorps VISTA in 2017 he worked to promote AmeriCorps programs throughout Nevada for four years and is excited to be back at the place that started his journey in the nonprofit world. Matt studied Radio Television Production at the University of Montana and brings over a decade of experience to the TMPF communications team. When he isn't working you can find Matt watching baseball, hiking with his family, or being pulled behind a boat.

Kevin is a local to the Truckee Meadows where he received his Master’s of Education from the University of Nevada-Reno with a focus on Career and Technical Education. He enjoys hiking with his wife, geocaching with his daughter, and running or reading all by his lonesome. As a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer and a former AmeriCorps employee, he is excited to continue supporting national and community service with Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation.

Bradley is from a small, rural town in southern Nevada where they grew up herping with their family in the Mojave Desert. They attended UNR and studied Wildlife Ecology, then later pursued a degree in Secondary Science Education. Before joining our staff, Bradley served an AmeriCorps term as a Naturalist Educator. If you ever have a question about toads or the best paddle-boarding spots in the Truckee Meadows, they are your go-to person!

Austin Cooper is a passionate outdoorsman whose life revolves around his love for nature. Born and raised in Reno, Nevada, he developed a deep appreciation for the outdoors from a young age. Whether it's deer hunting during the crisp autumn mornings or setting traps for fur-bearing animals in the winter, Austin thrives in the wild. His passion for ecology blossomed as he witnessed the delicate balance of nature firsthand. Austin pursued work in environmental science, eager to deepen his understanding of the ecosystems he cherished. Through his research, he became an advocate for conservation, working tirelessly to protect local habitats and educate others about the importance of preserving the environment. For Austin, the outdoors isn't just a hobby; it's a way of life. His unwavering passion for fishing, hunting, trapping, ecology and conservation defines him as a dedicated steward of the environment and a true lover of the wild.

Hello! My name is Peavine Pete and I’m the newest addition to Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation! I am a Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) and usually live in the deserts of Southern Nevada, but TMPF adopted me from the Northern Nevada Tortoise Group. Now I get to live in Northern Nevada! I’m between 10 and 15 years old, I can’t exactly remember, but I live to be about 80 in captivity, so 5 years doesn’t seem like much to forget. Sadly, my species is listed as THREATENED under the Endangered Species Act. Much of our tortoise habitat in the desert is being lost due to development, degraded from invasive species, or fragmented by roads or other impassable barriers. 

I enjoy long walks outside, cozy burrows and marigolds! I am passionate about the preservation of our beautiful local, desert outdoors spaces. I’m very excited to join the TMPF Team and to become an ambassador to the community for habitat conservation. Stop by Rosewood Nature Study Area and say hello!