Meet Our Team
Khale Century Reno (Big Horn, WY)
Executive Director
kcreno@wildwyo.org
With deep roots in the Wyoming landscape (family settled in Big Horn, Wyoming in 1883) and a first name that doesn’t fit neatly on most bubble forms, Khale Century (KC) Reno is the Executive Director. The title KC has held the longest has been educator. She has been in the education world for over 20 years teaching students from young to old in various disciplines: environmental science, outdoor education, health, and physical education. After completing the graduate program with the Teton Science Schools, she received her M.Ed. from Montana State University. Some other work and education adventures include: sports medicine/health education degree from Linfield College in McMinnville, OR, semester study in Queensland, Australia, basketball pro-player in Switzerland and Denmark, a college basketball coach in Seattle, WA, and teaching PE and health at the Journeys School in Jackson, Wyoming. Outside of work adventures include: raising two boys (Boone and Ace) with husband Renzy, working on her family’s cattle/sheep ranch, backpacking, teaching piano, watching polo and still playing basketball. All of these experiences have taken her through the ups and downs of working with people, creating community, and navigating topics that have sides sitting on opposite sides of the table. KC loves to create conversation amongst those that would at first seem to be at odds and help them connect over shared stories. "At the end, one finds that we have more commonalities than not and the challenge lies with how we move forward."
Lauren Marsh (Lander, WY)
Arid Wildlands Program Manager
lauren@wildwyo.org
Growing up in the suburbs of Alabama, Lauren’s initial concept of public lands stemmed from family camping trips at local state parks and a vague notion of the National Park Service. Post-bachelor’s degree, Lauren drove out west to work for the Bureau of Land Management conducting habitat restoration for desert tortoise in the far reaches of the Mojave Desert. She has been in love with these landscapes ever since; the more rugged the better! Following her time in the Mojave, Lauren dove heart-first into a 10-plus year career of stewarding western wildlands, primarily as a wilderness & climbing ranger crew lead for the US Forest Service in Washington’s southern Cascades, and recently she comes to us from the realm of special use permitting on the Bridger-Teton National Forest in which she has been developing programmatic efficiencies to provide space for creatively addressing conflicts between public demands and natural resource protection. Lauren is excited to bring her love of wilderness together with her love for deserts and high plains landscapes in her new role for WWA. Off-the clock you can find Lauren following elk tracks, trying not to fall off her bike on technical descents, or reaching desperately for that next climbing hold, and generally spending as much time as she can with her partner Brian and their three dogs Kai, Millie, and Thea.
Governing Council
Martha Jenkins - President
Laramie
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Peter Stahl - Vice President
Laramie
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Jack Smith - Secretary
Lander
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Mila Stender - Treasurer
Sheridan​
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Don Crecelius
Sheridan
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Iva Moss
Arapahoe
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Tyler McLaughlin
Gillete​
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Bart Koehler - Advisory Council
Juneau, AK
Welcome
Jack Smith!
WWA is thrilled to welcome Jack Smith to our governing council. Based in Lander, Jack has an
M.S. degree in Range Management (Reclamation and Restoration Ecology) from the University
of Wyoming and has a long history of involvement in the protection of Wyoming’s wildlands,
including leading numerous hikes for WWA throughout the years. Jack had a successful 30-year
career with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality within the Land Quality, Water
Quality and Abandoned Mine Lands Divisions. As a retired Environmental Scientist, but full-
time wildlands wanderer, he brings an extensive knowledge of Wyoming’s natural and human
history to the team and has visited most of the state’s wilderness, wilderness study and
designated roadless areas. Jack also enjoys cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, flatwater
kayaking, and wildlife observation. Jack’s first trip into the wilderness occurred when he was
eight months old as he was carried to Lake Geneva in the then Cloud Peak Primitive Area. He
has been visiting wildlands ever since. He believes wildlands are critical, not only to the plants
and animals that depend upon functioning ecosystems to survive, but also for humans to
understand our connection and role in the natural world. “Trying to get people to understand the
significance of these lands to the level where they are committed to preserving them is a difficult
and important job.” With extensive public speaking experience at professional symposia, agency
meetings, and public outreach meetings and forums, Jack will provide valuable leadership as we
navigate conservation challenges. Our executive director is especially excited to get a fellow
Tongue River High School alumni on the team. Welcome Jack!
