Bob Crabtree — founder and chief scientist

After completing his PhD at the University of Idaho studying coyote ecology, Bob launched a wild canine research program in Yellowstone just in time for the restoration of gray wolves. But over his 30 years working in the Greater Yellowstone, Bob’s research interests have sought a more holistic connection between nature, people, and technology. That’s led to what Bob calls “Adaptive Ecology”, studying not only how ecosystems adapt to changing conditions, but how the science of ecology must adapt to social and technological changes as well. That focus drives YERC’s mission today.

 Dean Koch - QUANTITATIVE ECOLOGIST AND DATA SCIENTIST

Dean is a recent graduate of the University of Alberta, where he earned his PhD in applied mathematics. He is a specialist in big data analysis for ecology, and worked for 5 years under a Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada research group (TRIA-Net) modeling mountain pine beetle outbreaks. He joins YERC as an international postdoctoral fellow, to work on physics-based computer simulations to forecast the cycle of water through the Upper Yellowstone River watershed. When he's not crunching the numbers, you'll find Dean backpacking and canoeing in the Canadian Rockies, or working on his disc-golf drive (yes, it's a real sport).

 Andy LaMora - Development Advisor

Andy’s involvement with YERC includes 4 years serving on the Board of Directors with 2 years as Chair. Now, as Board Member Emeritus, he continues to support YERC by assisting with grant writing and fundraising. Andy is currently CTO of Pipewire and formerly Global Director of Data and AI at Wipro Topcoder.

MELISSA TODD — Business Manager

Melissa balances the budget, administers the finances, and keeps YERC's business operations running so the scientists can do their jobs. Juggling the complex needs of a non-profit, which always includes resolving the occasional minor emergency, is nothing new for Melissa. She previously worked for a travelling theater company and for Bozeman's Intermountain Opera. And having always been interested in water issues affecting the West—she majored in geography at Montana State University with a minor in water resources— YERC's Adaptive Ecology mission is a particularly good fit for our office administrator.

Robert (Bob) Crabtree - President. Chief Scientist and Executive Director of YERC.

Kenneth Wilson - Vice President. Department Chair, Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Colorado State University (Ret.).

Krystyna Wolniakowski - Secretary. Executive Director, Columbia Gorge Commission. Former Regional Director of Western Partnership Office of the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation (NFWF).

Andy LaMora - Member Emeritus. Topcoder/Wipro. Global Director - Data, Analytics, & Artificial Intelligence.

Terry Leers - Member Emeritus. Program Leader of The Boeing Company’s Applied Learning Network (Ret.)

Mike Sutton - Member Emeritus. Currently, Executive Director, Goldman Environmental Foundation. Previously, VP Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Shelley Alexander - University of Calgary, Alberta, CA

Patty Cramer - Cramer Wildlife

Patrick Cross - Montana DOT Safe Wildlife Crossings

Justin Edge - Guide: fishing, hunting, photography

Edward (Oz) Garton - University of Idaho

Meredith Hecker - Montana State University, Bozeman, MT

Matt Holloran - Operational Conservation, LLC

Shengli Huang - US Forest Service

Subhash Lele - University of Alberta, Edmonton

Hank Loescher - NEON, systems ecology

Paul Moorcroft - Harvard University

Art McKee - University of Montana, (Ret.)

Chris Mowry - Berry College, Atlanta, GA

Jack Norland - North Dakota State University

John Pickering - University of Georgia

Carly Vynne - RESOLVE.ngo