ABOUT US

Our Staff and Board

Teri Hernandez

CHAIRMAN

Teri Hernandez has represented non-profits at regional and national levels, providing fiduciary oversight and developing reputation, and ensuring effective organization and planning. She served as Trustee of San Francisco Bay Area non-profits and as a board member of the Red Cross Bay Area and National MS Society. Currently, she is a Trustee of Silicon Couloir. Teri founded HernandezHQ LLC, a consulting company, and co-founded the American Insurtech Council. She moved to Jackson Hole in 2013 and enjoys every minute of the wonderland that it is.

Gary Halling

VICE-CHAIRMAN

Gary Halling was a Trial Attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, in Washington, D.C. for five years. He joined Sheppard Mullin in San Francisco in 1993 as a partner and led the firm’s global Antitrust and Competition Practice Group from 2001-2016. His clients included DHL, Mastercard, the Hearst Corporation, and Samsung. Gary retired as a partner in 2017 and remains Of Counsel to the firm. He moved with his wife Susan to Jackson Hole in 2019, where he enjoys outdoor activities like hiking, Nordic skiing, and fly fishing.

Thomas Smits

TREASURER

Thomas Smits, a Colorado native, attended Western State College and served on the Gunnison City Council. He pursued a banking career in various Colorado cities and was elected Mayor of Montrose. In 2015, he joined Wells Fargo Bank in Jackson Hole and is now President and CEO of Teton Management Consultants. Thomas is active in community roles, including planning commissioner, adjunct professor, and chairman of the Teton County 4-H Foundation. He is married to Katie, with five children, and enjoys camping, fishing, and helping his sons raise pigs in 4-H.

John “Tote” Turner

SECRETARY

John Turner, a native of Jackson Hole, developed a passion for hunting, fishing, and wildlife photography during his early years at the Triangle X Ranch. After graduating from Jackson Hole High School in 1989, he pursued higher education and career opportunities near the East Coast, where he met his wife Christine and started a family. In 2011, John returned to Wyoming with his family, rekindling his love for the outdoors and spending time on local public lands whenever possible.

Patrick Starich

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Mr. Starich has over three decades of experience in technical leadership and business management in the global energy sector. He excels in strategic planning, budgeting, organizational structuring, staff coaching, and project execution. He has a proven history of collaborative team development and stakeholder engagement. As a nonprofit leader, he has held various positions, including President of the Geophysical Society of Houston and Jackson Hole Friends of Scouting, and Executive Director of Friends of the National Elk Refuge. Patrick is an avid wilderness backpacker and former alpinist.

Jamie Evans

DEVELOPMENT

Jamie is a seasoned educator with expertise in grant writing, leadership, and athletic coaching. Recently settled in Jackson, she is eager to contribute her skills and network to the Friends of the National Elk Refuge. Passionate about education, conservation, and fly fishing, Jamie is excited to support the development of the Nature Discovery Center, a project that aligns with her commitment to community engagement and environmental stewardship. With a strong background in fundraising and program development, she looks forward to helping advance the Center’s mission, fostering meaningful connections between visitors and the refuge’s unique ecosystem.

FRIENDS OF THE NATIONAL ELK REFUGE

[email protected]
PO Box 6286, Jackson, WY 83002

Friends of the National Elk Refuge, Inc. is a Wyoming nonprofit corporation registered under IRS Code 501(c)(3). The Friends welcome both cash and in-kind donations. Cash donations may be tax-deductible depending on donor’s individual circumstances. The Friends do not appraise or assess the value of in-kind donations such as investment securities, materials, or services. Determination of the tax-deductible value of in-kind donations is the responsibility of the donor.