Board of Directors
John Hendricks
ChairmanJohn Hendricks is founder & Chairman of Discovery Communications, Inc., the number-one nonfiction media company. Hendricks created the Discovery Channel in 1982 as the first cable network in the United States designed to provide high quality documentary programming enabling people to explore their world and satisfy their curiosity. Hendricks has been the driving force behind Discovery’s dramatic growth including the expansion of Discovery Communications from its core property, the Discovery Channel, to current global operations in more than 170 countries and territories with over 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers. Under Hendricks’ leadership, Discovery’s stable of networks now encompass over 100 networks of distinctive programming representing 29 entertainment brands including TLC, Animal Planet, Discovery Health Channel and Discovery Kids. Discovery’s other properties include Discovery Education and Discovery Commerce. As one of the leading visionaries in the media industry, Hendricks has been honored with a Primetime Emmy Award and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences highest honor, the Governors Award, for conceiving the TLC series, Great Books. Hendricks was the first corporate leader to receive the National Education Association’s Friend of Education award for “innovations in education and technology and greatly expanding educational opportunity for America’s schoolchildren.” In 2003, Hendricks was inducted into the Cable Center Hall of Fame, which “honors men and women whose achievements have provided service to the cable industry and contributed significantly to cable's growth and development and to the people, communities, and organizations served by cable TV.” Hendricks serves on the board of directors of a number of non-profit organizations including the United States Olympic Committee, the American Film Institute, and the James Madison Council of the Library of Congress. Hendricks also serves on the Advisory Board of Lowell Observatory and the University of Maryland College Park Foundation Board of Trustees. Before 1982, Hendricks founded and served as president of the American Association of University Consultants (AAUC), a private consulting organization he founded which specialized in television distribution, marketing and fundraising for educational programs and services. Hendricks holds a B.A. in history (magna cum laude, 1973) and an honorary doctorate (1991) from the University of Alabama, Huntsville.
David Bell
Vice ChairmanDavid Bell currently serves as Operating Advisor to Pegasus Capital Advisors, and Advisor to Google. An industry leader in marketing communications, David Bell is Chairman Emeritus of The Interpublic Group. Following the True North – Interpublic merger, Mr. Bell served as Vice Chairman with leadership responsibility for two operating divisions – The Partnership and, later, Advanced Marketing Services. Prior to the merger Mr. Bell was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of True North Communications Inc., the world’s sixth largest global advertising and marketing communications holding company. Under his leadership, True North global brands expanded the company’s competitiveness while significantly improving True North shareholder value in just two years. He also established a culture of collaboration for clients across True North brands, significantly driving organic growth. Before his appointment to CEO of True North, Mr. Bell led Bozell Worldwide as President and Chief Executive Officer. During his career at Bozell, the agency grew from $12 million to over $500 million in revenue. He came to Bozell in 1975, when the agency acquired Knox Reeves Advertising, where he had been President since 1972. Prior to that, he was an Executive Vice President; the agency's youngest Vice President; and an Account Executive. Mr. Bell began his career at Leo Burnett in its Executive Development Program. A 1965 graduate of Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, Mr. Bell was President of the student body and a champion debater. Later becoming the college's youngest Trustee, he received both the Macalester College Distinguished Alumni Award and its Charter Centennial Medallion.
Mr. Bell serves the industry as Immediate Past Chairman of The Advertising Council. Concurrently he also gives his time and expertise as Chairman Emeritus of the Advertising Educational Foundation and Chairman of PRO-AD PAC, the industry’s Political Action Committee. Throughout his career Mr. Bell has held key industry leadership positions including Chairman of the American Association of Advertising Agencies in 1996-97 and two-time Chairman of the American Advertising Federation. He serves on the Board of Directors of Primedia Inc., Warnaco, Inc. and The Partnership for New York. In addition, he is a Director of the National Forest Foundation, and a past Trustee of the Convent of the Sacred Heart school in New York City and of The Pittsburgh Theological Seminary as well. David Bell lives in Manhattan with his wife, Gail, an actress, and their son Andrew who is in high school. His daughter, Ashley, is a Junior at Yale.
Craig R. Barrett
Vice ChairmanCraig Barrett is retired CEO/Chairman of the Board of Intel Corporation and a leading advocate for improving education in the U.S. and around the world. He is also a vocal spokesman for the value technology can provide in raising social and economic standards globally. Craig Barrett was born Aug. 29, 1939 in San Francisco, California. He attended Stanford University in Palo Alto, California from 1957 to 1964, and received his Bachelor of Science, Master of Science and Ph.D. degrees in Materials Science. After graduation, he joined the faculty of Stanford University in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and remained through 1974, rising to the rank of Associate Professor. Dr. Barrett was a Fulbright Fellow at Danish Technical University in Denmark in 1972 and a NATO Postdoctoral Fellow at the National Physical Laboratory in England from 1964 to 1965. Dr. Barrett is the author of over 40 technical papers dealing with the influence of microstructure on the properties of materials, and a textbook on materials science, Principles of Engineering Materials. Dr. Barrett joined Intel Corporation in 1974 as a technology development manager. He was named a vice president of the corporation in 1984, promoted to senior vice president in 1987, and executive vice president in 1990. Dr. Barrett was elected to Intel Corporation's Board of Directors in 1992 and was named the company's chief operating officer in 1993. He became Intel's fourth president in May 1997, chief executive officer in 1998 and chairman of the Board on May 18, 2005. Dr. Barrett serves as Chairman of the United Nations Global Alliance for Information and Communication Technologies and Development, and is an appointee to the President's Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations and to the American Health Information Community. He co-chairs the Business Coalition for Student Achievement and the National Innovation Initiative Leadership Council and is a member of the Board of Trustees for the U.S. Council for International Business and the Clinton Global Initiative Education Advisory Board. Dr. Barrett is a member of the National Governors' Association Task Force on Innovation America, the National Infrastructure Advisory Council, the Committee on Scientific Communication and National Security, the U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum and is immediate past chair of the National Academy of Engineering. Dr. Barrett co-chairs Achieve, Inc. and also serves on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Semiconductor Industry Association, the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering, Dossia, the National Forest Foundation, TechNet and Science Foundation Arizona.
Bradley K. Johnson
TreasurerBrad Johnson is retired Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Financial Officer of REI, the national retail cooperative providing high-quality outdoor gear and clothing. Under Johnson’s fiscal leadership, REI has grown to be a model financial performer, and has been able to declare full member patronage refunds. REI’s financial strength has also helped further the co-op’s commitment to environmental stewardship, as well as to REI store communities and young people through a significant increase in corporate giving. Johnson is also recognized for his leadership of REI’s human resources, information services and legal functions, which provide strategy and infrastructure to support REI’s growth. Prior to joining REI, Johnson had 20 years’ experience as a retail industry executive, having served as chief financial officer for Lands’ End, Inc., Cornerstone Brands and Wilson’s Leather. At Lands’ End, Johnson was responsible for finance, human resources, information services, investor relations, and catalog production. He currently serves as a board member for the National Forest Foundation and Wilson’s Leather. Johnson is also a member of the Utah State University Advancement Board and is an active volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America. Johnson is a graduate of Utah State University and received an MBA from the University of Utah. He enjoys cycling, hiking and mountaineering.
Timothy Proctor Schieffelin
SecretaryMr. Schieffelin is an investment banker with Source Capital Group. Previous to this position, Mr. Schieffelin was a Senior Vice President at Bank of America, a position he held since 2003. Before that he held various positions at Citigroup/Citibank since 1976 including managing director in their private bank. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington & Jefferson College, and is a Certified Investment Management Consultant. He has a number of affiliations and memberships including the Investment Management Consultants Association; Washington & Jefferson College, former trustee (recently completed two terms); Friends of the John Jay Homestead, Descendants Advisory Committee (trustee '89-'08) ; the Maine Sea Coast Mission, trustee; Sand Pond Corp., board member; Christ Church Greenwich, Vestry member, and the Pilgrims of the United States. He is a life member of the Squadron A. Association, the National Rifle Association and the Greenwich Land Trust. In addition to his involvement on the NFF board, Mr. Schieffelin serves as a co-chair of the Sporting Clays Invitational committee. Mr. Schieffelin is married with four daughters.
Peter B. Foreman
Executive Committee MemberBackground: Mr. Foreman lives in Chicago and is married with 2 children and 4 grandchildren. He is an avid traveler, fisherman, and outdoorsman. Professional: Mr. Foreman has been involved in investment management for 39 years. Mr. Foreman has been involved in the securities industry since 1960. He began his career as a sales trainee for Glore, Forgan, Wm. R. Staats, Inc. He became a shareholder of the firm in 1964, and Senior Vice President and Director in 1967. From 1969 through 1975, Mr. Foreman was a Vice President, Director and shareholder of R.J. Levy Harris & Co., the original predecessor to Harris Associates, L.P. In January of 1976, Mr. Foreman became a founding partner of Harris Associates, L.P., an independent investment advisory firm specializing in the management of equity and balanced portfolios for families and institutions, and was highly instrumental in the development of the firm's business. In 1994, Mr. Foreman left Harris Associates L.P. and started his own investment management firm, Sirius Corporation. He manages Procyon Partners, a limited partnership focusing on fund to fund investing. Education: Undergraduate work done at Hobart College and Colorado State University. Civic: Mr. Foreman currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the John G. Shedd Aquarium as well as the Board of Directors of the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Tom Tidwell
Chief, U.S Forest Service - Ex-officioChief Tom Tidwell grew up in Boise, Idaho, and graduated from Washington State University. He has spent 32 years with the Forest Service in a variety of positions. He began his Forest Service career on the Boise National Forest in fire, and has since worked on eight different national forests, in three regions. He has worked at all levels of the agency in a variety of positions, including District Ranger, Forest Supervisor, and Legislative Affairs Specialist in the Washington Office, where he worked on the planning rule, the 2001 roadless rule and the Secure Rural Schools County Payments Act. Tom served as the Deputy Regional Forester for the Pacific Southwest Region with primary responsibility for fire and aviation management, recreation, engineering, state and private forestry and tribal relations. Under Tom’s leadership, there was a significant increase in the Region’s effectiveness to reduce hazardous fuels, and improved cooperation with CALFIRE on wildland fire suppression. Prior to becoming Chief, Tom served as the Regional Forester for the Northern Region, with responsibility for the national forests and grasslands in northern Idaho, Montana, North Dakota and portions of South Dakota. As the Regional Forester, Tom encouraged and supported community-based collaboration to find resolution on how and where to use active management to restore forest health and address wildfire threat to communities, and to provide protection for the values of unroaded landscapes. Tom’s field experience includes working from the rural areas of Nevada and Idaho all the way to the urban Forests in California and the Wasatch-Cache National Forest in Utah, where he served as Forest Supervisor during the 2002 Winter Olympics. Tom has extensive fire experience, beginning as a firefighter, and accumulating nineteen years as an agency administrator responsible for fire suppression decisions.
Tom is married to Kim, and they have one daughter, MacKenzie.
Tiki Barber
Board MemberTiki Barber is the unique individual who combines a stellar portfolio of athletics and broadcasting with a captivating presence. He is a renaissance man without equal today, as evidenced by a resume that includes: NBC correspondent, retired Pro Bowl running back, author, Sirius Satellite radio host, producer, actor, corporate spokesman, scholar and philanthropist. Barber joined NBC Universal in April 2007 on the heels of his Hall of Fame-caliber NFL career. A three-time Pro Bowler, he is splitting time as a correspondent for the "Today" show and as an analyst for NBC`s "Football Night in America," while also contributing to the 2008 and 2010 Olympic Games. In 10 seasons on the gridiron, Barber joined Marshall Faulk and Marcus Allen as the only players in NFL history with at least 10,000 yards rushing and 5,000 yards receiving in a career. He retired ranking third all-time in yards per carry (4.7) and 10th all-time in yards from scrimmage (15,632; rushing and receiving). Barber holds every conceivable Giants rushing record--total yards, rushing yards, rushing attempts and rushing touchdowns--and in his final regular-season game broke his own franchise single-game rushing mark with 234 yards, in a win vs. the rival Washington Redskins. A tireless entertainer and communicator, during his playing days Barber was a weekly co-host on FOX News Channel's morning program "FOX and Friends" (2005-07). He further debunked the jock stereotype when he hosted the "National Sweep" with Tiki Barber, a radio program delving into politics, news and entertainment that featured guests including: John McCain, U.S. Senator; Matt Lauer, host of the "Today" show; Rear Admiral Kenneth P. Moritsugu, U.S. Surgeon General; and Daniel Kurtzer, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel. Tiki currently co-hosts "The Barber Shop" with his twin brother Ronde. As active in the community as he was on the gridiron, Barber devotes generous time and money as a Board member for the Children's Miracle Network, a Board member for the Fresh Air Fund, and Leadership Council member for the Robin Hood Foundation. Barber has long been an advocate for the less fortunate and is a staunch supporter of literacy campaigns. Barber released his memoir "Tiki: My Life in the Game and Beyond," September 2007. He has also co-authored with Ronde four successful children's books and is under contract to write three young-adult novels. The Barber brothers, Tiki and Ronde, jointly donated $1M to the University of Virginia in October 2006. The University retired Tiki's #21 in November 2007. Born premature and suffering from febrile seizures as a toddler, Tiki Barber was told he never could play contact sports, however, he used the fierce determination passed down to him by his mother--a breast-cancer survivor and single parent--to shine both athletically and academically, at the University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce (Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society). Barber has appeared in national ad campaigns for VISA, Johnston & Murphy Shoes, Cadillac, Dish Network, Reebok, Foot Locker and Sports Illustrated. In 2001, he was named one of People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People," and in 2006, he and his brother were named as one of People Magazine's "Most Beautiful Twins." In October 2007, Tiki launched "Tiki Ventures" of which he is the Founder and Chairman.
Coleman Burke
Board MemberMr. Coleman Burke serves as the president of Waterfront Properties located in New York, NY. The commercial real estate company specializes in warehouse and storage properties with holdings in New York, Maine and Colorado. He has been with the company since its inception in 1983 as managing partner until his promotion to president in 2003. Prior to Waterfront Properties, Mr. Burke was a partner at Burke & Burke Law Firm for 13 years. He studied law at Case Western Reserve University, and served as a communications officer in the U.S. Navy after graduating from Yale in 1963. Mr. Burke is active on many boards, serving a member of the New York Bar, the New York Real Estate Board, the Bedford Historical Society, Pjepscot Historical Society, St. Matthew’s Church, Board of Overseers Case Western Reserve University School of Law, and is the Chairman of the American Oldtimers Hockey Association. In addition to his role on the National Forest Foundation board, he sits on the advisory boards of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies, the New York Botanical Garden, the Society for Vertebrate Paleontology, the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Robert Cole
Board MemberRobert G. Cole is shareholder with the law firm of Collins Cockrel & Cole. Bob’s legal practice focuses on all areas of local government law, with an emphasis on general counsel representation of municipalities and special districts. His work includes serving as Town Attorney for Gypsum and Pagosa Springs, Colorado, general counsel for numerous emergency service providers, and assisting clients with water supply development, public lands and environmental issues. Bob organized the City of Centennial, Colorado, a large Denver area city, and served as its first City Attorney. Bob received his law degree from the University of Colorado in 1986, where he emphasized natural resource law study and was the President of the Environmental Law Society. Bob received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1980 from Oklahoma State University in Forest Management. Before law school, Bob worked for nine years for the United States Forest Service on the Sequoia, Cleveland and Klamath National Forests in California, primarily in fire management and timber management, and also worked as a paid-call firefighter with Tulare County/California Division of Forestry. In addition to serving on the National Forest Foundation Board of Directors, Bob is a member of the Denver, Colorado, and American Bar Associations; Denver Metro City Attorneys Association; Society of American Foresters, Fire and Economics, Policy and Law working groups and previously Chair for the Mile High Chapter; the National Fire Protection Association Wildland Fire Working Section; an associate member of the Colorado State Fire Chiefs’ Association and the Association of Retired Forest Service Employees; and a former member and Vice-Chair of the Clear Creek County Planning Commission and Upper Bear Creek/East Mount Evans master plan task force. Bob is married to Patty McInnis-Cole. They have four young children and live in Evergreen Colorado, where their interests include family outings in the mountains and forests of Colorado, fly fishing, bicycling, and youth sports.
Bart Eberwein
Board MemberBart Eberwein, Vice President, Hoffman Construction Company, with offices in Portland and Seattle, and projects throughout the West. Hoffman is 85-years old, with annual sales bouncing between $600 million and $1.4 billion over the last 15 years. Recent notable projects include the Seattle Library (Rem Koolhaus); Experience Music Project (Frank Gehry); Tacoma Art Museum (Antoine Predock); Seattle City Hall (Peter Bohlin); Doernbecher Children’s Hospital (Bob Frasca). Hoffman clients with wide name recognition include: Intel, Hewlett Packard, Boeing, Philips, Fujitsu, Westin and Marriott Hotels. Mr. Eberwein, is a father of Ella, Hayden and Douglas and husband of Jill. Oregon Arts Commissioner; founding Board member of CAWS (Construction Apprenticeship & Workforce Solutions, Inc.) Past Board member of Cycle Oregon, Architecture Foundation of Oregon, Portland AIA, Oregon Literary Arts, Oregon Symphony, Northwest Youth Corps. Avid cyclist. Collector of modern first editions and other literary ephemera.
Robert Feitler
Board MemberRobert Feitler has served as director and chairman, executive committee of Weyco Group Inc., a manufacturer, purchaser and distributor of men’s footwear since 1996. Previous to this position, he was president and chief operating officer from 1968 to 1996 and vice president and treasurer from 1964 to 1968. Mr. Feitler attended the University of Chicago, earned his Bachelor’s degree from University of Pennsylvania, and obtained his J.D. from Harvard University. He currently serves as trustee with the Newberry Library, the University of Chicago, and the University of Chicago Hospitals and Healthcare System. He also serves as director of Friends of the Parks and TC Manufacturing Company as well as chair of the Smart Family Foundation and the Smart Museum of Chicago. Mr. Feitler is married to Joan Feitler and has four children, Pamela, Robert, Jr., Richard and Dana (deceased).
Lee Fromson
Board MemberLee Fromson is the President of Cascade Designs, Inc. based in Seattle Washington. For over thirty years, Cascade Designs has been dedicated to making premier outdoor, recreational and medical rehabilitation products that enhance the active lifestyles of its customers. The company has built strong brands such as Therm-A-Rest®, Mountain Safety Research (MSR), Seal Line, Platypus and Varilite through an enduring commitment to innovation. Lee has worked for Cascade nearly from its inception, starting as the Controller in 1982. Over the twenty plus years of service with the company, Lee has held ever-increasing roles, from Chief Financial Officer to Chief Operating Officer to his current Presidential position. Lee has been instrumental in every acquisition and major strategic decision in the company’s history. In addition to his duties at the company, Lee is very active in the Outdoor Industry Association, the trade association for businesses in the outdoor recreation marketplace. He has been a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee for this organization since 1998 and assumed the role as Chairman of Board in August 2003. The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition recently invited Lee to join its Board of Directors effective June 2005. This Coalition’s mission is to secure funding for the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) a nationally recognized program - that empowers local communities to acquire land for outdoor recreation opportunities and wildlife habitat protection through a competitive grant process. Lee holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, and a Masters of Business Administration Degree from the University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho.
Dr. Roje Gootee
Board MemberDr. Roje S. Gootee co-owns and manages Rush Creek Ranch, 3,083 acres of forest and rangeland in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon. At the time of the purchase, improper management by former owners had left much of the property in significantly depleted condition. Thirteen years of active restoration have resulted in substantial improvement, and the property is now an ATFS-certified tree farm. Dr. Gootee is a former United Statement Forest Service employee, having worked as a Range Conservationist on the Modoc National Forests, and a Forester on the Sam Houston and Mount Hood National Forests. She now works as a private consultant specializing in natural resource stewardship and policy, in addition to managing her family’s ranch. She holds a baccalaureate degree in Forest Science from Utah State University, and a Ph.D. in Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences from Washington State University. Her research focuses on the social and legal interference between private forests and environmental regulatory policy. Her research results have been presented in a variety of academic and professional settings including the Thomas Foley Institute, Yale University, and international conferences in Slovenia, France, and Ireland. Her consulting work is directed toward improving public understanding of environmental issues and working toward socially and ecologically sustainable policy solutions. She is an adjunct faculty member at Washington State University, a member of the State of Oregon’s Committee for Family Forestlands, a member of the Operations Committee of the Blue Mountains Forest Partners, and is the environmental advisor for the Franciscan Montessori Earth School, a private school in Portland, Oregon. She is also a member of the International Society for Environmental Ethics, the International Union of Forest Research Organizations, the Society of American Foresters, the Society for Range Management, the Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals, and the Oregon Small Woodlands Association.
Robert Katz
Board MemberRobert Katz became Chief Executive Officer of Vail Resorts in February 2006. He most recently served as the Company's Lead Director and has been intricately involved in guiding Vail Resorts' strategic direction and operations since 1992. Since 1990, he has been associated in various capacities including as a Senior Partner of Apollo Management, L.P., an affiliate of the former majority shareholder in Vail Resorts. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School in 1988, and has lived in Boulder, Colorado, since 2002, with his wife and two sons. Mr. Katz is Chairman of the Board of iPCS, Inc. at an affiliate of Sprint PCS.
Jamal Mashburn
Board MemberJamal Mashburn spent more than 20 of his 37 years with successes on the basketball court. Yet, before Mashburn ever set foot on the professional hardwood for the first time in 1993, he was already preparing for life after basketball. Since that time, Mashburn has been instrumental in assembling a business team armed for growth – a team that has built an ownership model including specialists in administration, finance, project management, insurance, and advertising. Mashburn is involved in numerous investments that span an impressive variety of industries. Of particular interest to Mashburn is his majority interest in automotive dealerships and real estate in the Lexington/Central Kentucky market area. These include Toyota/Scion and Lexus dealerships. Mashburn has also developed an ever expanding ownership interest in a variety of restaurant franchises, including 35 Outback Steakhouse Restaurants, 31 Papa John’s Pizza Restaurants, and multiple Dunkin’ Donuts Stores. Mashburn’s investment portfolio also contains other business ventures, including a range of ownership interests in the thoroughbred horse racing industry. Most recently, Mashburn’s basketball expertise has earned him a seat in front of the camera as a NBA analyst for ESPN. Mashburn is an extremely civic minded individual who believes in giving back to the community and helping others. Before signing his first professional basketball contract in 1993, he donated $500,000 to establish and endow the Mashburn Scholarship Fund at the University of Kentucky. The scholarship identifies ninth grade students in the Lexington, Kentucky, area, tracks them through high school and then awards them with a full scholarship to attend the University in the event they achieve their academic and personal goals. Mashburn is also a Founding Member, Officer and Director of the MAP Foundation and Mashburn Family Foundation, both of which are non-profit 501(c)(3) corporations. The mission of the MAP Foundation is to provide support to programs that benefit young minds by supplying ongoing opportunities for mentoring and developing well rounded individuals who will be of benefit to their communities. Mashburn Family Foundation’s mission is to provide resources and services to organizations that advocate for children who are at risk in their environment due to the lack of a traditional family structure. Mashburn Family Foundation focuses on children of alcoholic families, children of single mothers and latch key kids, proving support and encouragement through scholarships and programs that inspire children of today to become valuable leaders of tomorrow. Mashburn also ensures that each of his businesses actively participate in their own communities by way of donations to various charitable organizations. So, since Mashburn officially retired from his 12+year NBA basketball career at the close of the 2006 season, his professional business career has been in full swing. Just as he took full advantage of the opportunities granted to him as a professional athlete, Mashburn has combined that star quality with his team-first attitude to achieve success in his business endeavors.
Jeff Paro
Board MemberJeff Paro, Chief Executive Officer of InterMedia Outdoors Inc. (formerly Primedia Outdoors, a division of Primedia) is a 20-year industry veteran of enthusiast media. Jeff joined Primedia in 2002, and under his leadership assembled one of the outdoors' leading media franchises to form what is now InterMedia Outdoors Inc., America's largest outdoor enthusiast network. InterMedia Outdoors network serves and fuels the passions of over 20 million American Sportsmen. This multimedia brand portfolio includes such venerable franchises as Fly Fisherman, Florida Sportsman, Petersen's Hunting, In Fisherman, Bowhunter, Gun Dog, Wildfowl, Shallow Water Angler, Shooting Times, The Ducks Unlimited Great Outdoors Festivals, The Professional Walleye Tour and others. Prior to joining Primedia Jeff spent 6 years with Times Mirror as VP Group Publisher for Field & Stream and Outdoor Life Magazines, Sr. Vice President of Times Mirror Magazines, and President of The Outdoor Company (Field & Stream, Outdoor Life, and Outdoor Explorer). And he began his career with The New York Times Sports & Leisure Division, where he held a variety of sales, and management positions with Golf Digest, Tennis, and Snow Country Magazines, including National Sales Manager for The Tennis Company, and Publisher of Tennis USTA and Tennis Buyers Guide. Jeff likens his last ten years in the outdoors as “coming home”. His lifelong passion for the outdoors includes fly-fishing, skiing, backpacking, boating, upland bird hunting, mountain biking, and “anything that will get me and my family outdoors”. Jeff is a graduate of the University of Colorado, with a BA in Economics and Political Science. Jeff, his wife Pam and two children live in Short Hills, NJ
Susan C. Schnabel
Board MemberSusan C. Schnabel is a Managing Director of DLJ Merchant Banking Partners and was Co-Head of the European Private Equity team from 2003 through 2005. Susan has returned to Los Angeles having initially joined DLJ in 1990. In 1997, Susan served as Chief Financial Officer of PETsMART, a publicly traded high growth specialty retailer of pet products and supplies for one year. Susan rejoined DLJ in 1998 as a Managing Director with DLJ Merchant Banking Partners, and was responsible for directing CSFB's principal investing activities in the Los Angeles office. Susan also serves as a Director of Rockwood Holdings, DeCrane Aircraft Holdings, Environmental Systems Products, Target Media Partners, Shoppers Drug Mart, Frontier Drilling, Pinnacle Gas and Laramie Energy. Susan graduated with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University and received an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School.
Chad Weiss
Board MemberMr. Chad Weiss is a Founder and Managing Partner of JOG Capital Inc., a private equity concern which invests in the energy sector. Prior to establishing JOG Capital, Mr. Weiss spent more than 25 years as an investment banker serving the energy industry. Within the investment banking industry, Mr. Weiss served as Managing Director and Head of Royal Bank of Canada's Capital Markets Energy Group. Before joining RBC, Mr. Weiss was the Managing Director and Head of the Energy and Power Group with Bank of America Securities from 1998 to 2001, and held a similar position with Smith Barney, Inc., from 1985 to 1998. Mr. Weiss obtained a B.A. in Physics from Vanderbilt University and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. Mr. Weiss also serves on the board of Breitburn Energy Partners, LP., (NASDAQ, "BBEP") and serves as a board member of Livingston Energy, LTD. A private oil and gas producer whose operations are totally in the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, Canada.
James C. Yardley
Board MemberJames C. Yardley is Executive Vice President of El Paso Corporation and President of the Pipeline Group. El Paso owns the largest natural gas pipeline system in the United States and is also one of the nation’s largest independent natural gas producers. He also serves as President and Chief Executive Officer and as a Director of El Paso Pipeline GP Company, L.L.C., the general partner of El Paso Pipeline Partners, L.P. He is also on the board of directors of Scorpion Offshore Ltd., a worldwide offshore contract driller.
Mr. Yardley assumed his current role in August 2006. He has been with El Paso since 1978 and has held various roles in the company’s pipeline business, offshore drilling business, and corporate staff. He has been based in Houston, Birmingham, Alabama, and London, and currently resides in Houston.