Board of Directors

Doug Spencer is the sole proprietor of Spencer Associates, an impact investment and management consulting firm in Evergreen, Colorado. He spent almost 20 years as a fundraising professional, first with Mile High United Way, then later with Friendship Bridge, a microfinance institution in Guatemala, and Water for People. In between, he co-founded and was Chairman and CEO of a Montana based manufacturing business specializing in custom, single-shot rifles. Currently he serves on the board of Guatemalan-based Namaste Direct. His family has owned a ranch near Yellowstone Park since 1928, where he, his wife Kathleen and 2 grown daughters spend as much time as possible.

Nick Olds is executive vice president, Lower 48, responsible for leading ConocoPhillips’ Lower 48 operations. He previously served as executive vice president, Global Operations, responsible for the company’s operations in Alaska, Asia Pacific, Canada, Europe, Middle East & Africa., and in other leadership roles. He began his career with predecessor company Conoco in Houston in 1992. Since then, Olds has served in numerous engineering, development, and operations and management positions in the United States, Nigeria, Norway, United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Canada and Alaska. Olds graduated from Montana Tech University with a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering. In 2006, he also completed the Executive Development Program at the Wharton Business School. He is a member of the American Exploration and Production Council. He has also served as a board member on the Montana Tech University Foundation Board and Asia Natural Gas and Energy Association.

Michael Solot has spent the last 25 years investing in private equity and venture deals. He is a Managing Director with Chicago Capital Partners (CCP), a diversified, private equity firm which partners with owners and management. Prior to CCP, Michael served as a Managing Director with AGR Partners, a food/agriculture-oriented private equity firm, and with Wind Point Partners, a middle market private equity firm.  Prior to private equity, Michael was involved in both national sales management and business strategy at Werner Ladder (his family’s business) before it was sold.  Michael worked with Goldman Sachs and Bain & Co before joining Werner. Michael holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University and an MBA from Wharton.

Carolyn Heppel is active in numerous environmental causes. A life member of the Sierra Club, she served for many years on the board of the local Sierra Club chapter and received a Lifetime Achievement Award. Carolyn is a retired administrative assistant to the Dean of the Upper School at St. Mary’s Episcopal School in Memphis. She is a native of Memphis and graduated from the University of Tennessee. She and her husband, Scott, have a home in Big Sky, Montana, where they pursue interests in fly fishing, cross-country skiing, hiking, and photography.

Paul Bertelli is Founder Emeritus at JLF & Associates Architects and Planners, founded in 1979. His education began at the Boston Architectural Center in Boston, Massachusetts, and with his move to Bozeman in 1973, continued at Montana State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science and a Master of Architecture. For over 45 years, place-based architecture has been the pillar of Paul’s design-build approach. A highly sought-after designer, he has created unique and timeless houses from coast to coast.

Paul currently serves as a member of the Montana State University School of Architecture Advisory Council and just became a board member of Bozeman Symphony. Now a current board member of Yellowstone Forever, he previously served on the Advisory board of Y.F. He is a past advisory board member and founding trustee of the Yellowstone Business Partnership and he served on the advisory committee of One Montana and on the board of the Museum of the Rockies. Paul has had the privilege of consulting on the historic restoration of landmark lodges within Yellowstone National Park and has organized and conducted five master planning design charrettes for Yellowstone Park Superintendents.

Tom Detmer is a retired IT entrepreneur living with his wife, Marguerite, in Denver, Colorado.  Over his 35-year business career, Tom has both started businesses and run established businesses, primarily for Venture Capital groups. During his career, he has sold (or helped sell), taken public or purchased seven businesses representing assets of over $700 million.  Tom has served on numerous corporate boards, but currently serves on two non-for-profits and is an advisor to one for-profit board.  Tom graduated from Williams College and holds an MBA from the University of Denver.

Lisa became President & CEO of Yellowstone Forever in August 2020. She began her career with Goldman, Sachs, & Co. and later worked for the United Nations Environment Programme. She moved to Bozeman, Montana, in 1996 to become founding Executive Director of the Yellowstone Park Foundation. She left the Yellowstone Park Foundation in 2007 to join The Wilderness Society and was, most recently, Director of Development for the Bridger Ski Foundation. Lisa is the recent past board chair of Mountain Journal. She received her B.A. from Yale University and her master’s degree from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.

Annie Graham serves on several conservation organization boards, including the Advisory Council of The Gorilla Doctors, the Conservation Committee of the Houston Zoo, and the Houston SPCA. She splits time between homes in Texas and Montana, and spends a lot of her time in Yellowstone, where she is deeply committed to the Yellowstone Wolf Project. Annie and her husband, Bob, have two children.

Arielle Patrick is Chief Communications Officer at Ariel Investments, a global investment firm. She also serves on Ariel’s Operating Committee and represents firm on the Investment Company Institute (ICI) Public Communications Committee. In addition to her role on Yellowstone Forever’s Board of Directors, Arielle is an investor in two early stage companies and an advisor to a venture capital firm; sits on the Board of Trustees of the Institute for Public Relations; the Board of Directors (and Chair of the Development Committee) of The Harbor Sciences & Arts Charter School; the Steering Committee for the Young Fellows of The Frick Collection Museum; and the President’s Council of The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Arielle is also a Founding Member of Chief, a private club for female executives. Arielle graduated from Princeton University, where she studied in the Department of Classics with a concentration on Ancient Greek and Latin language, literature and history.

Susan Roeder has enjoyed more than twenty-five years in the building industry with Andersen Corporation, the largest window and door manufacturer in North America. She has led a variety of programs at Andersen focused on community outreach to nonprofit organizations through donations, sponsorships, and in-kind products. Susan’s current role focuses on partnerships with nonprofits in need of windows and doors looking for sustainable building solutions. Susan graduated from St. Catherine University with a degree in Communication. She and her family reside in Hudson, Wisconsin.

Jacqueline Rooney is currently on Facebook’s Internal and Corporate Communications team in San Francisco. Her background is in politics where she served as Chief of Staff to the Campaign Manager for Governor Mitt Romney’s 2012 Presidential Campaign. Along with serving on the San Francisco Zoo II’s Board, she is Founder and Chair of Yellowstone Forever’s Young Patron’s Committee. Rooney received her Bachelor of Science degree in International Affairs from John Hopkins University.

Bob is the retired CEO of NorthWestern Energy. He is a senior advisor to Guggenheim Partners, and a venture partner to The Westly Group, among other projects. He is involved with a number of non-profits, generally in higher education and natural resources stewardship. Previously, he co-founded a business, was in public service, and was a public interest lawyer. Bob and his wife met when they were both VISTA Volunteers. They live in Helena Montana. Bob considers it a privilege to support Yellowstone Forever and the Park’s mission!

Stephanie Tarbet is a strategic communications executive with more than 15 years of experience leading corporate communications teams and organizational transformations. She currently serves as the Vice President of Communication, Brands and Government Affairs for Michelin North America, the leading mobility company dedicated to sustainably enhancing its customers’ mobility by designing, manufacturing and distributing the most innovative tires, services and solutions, experiences and high-tech materials. Stephanie received her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her master’s degree from Clemson University. In addition to serving on the Yellowstone Forever Board of Directors, she is engaged in a number of community organizations and also serves on the board of directors for the Clemson University MBA Program and the Slade Dozier Foundation. She and her family reside in Greenville, South Carolina.

Elizabeth Webb is a business executive with 40 years experience in the fashion and retail industry. Her early career was focused on building a highly successful chain of clothing stores in California. That lead to freelance consulting jobs in New York, Europe, and Mexico for several top clothing brands. This international travel opened opportunities for her to create and support women’s cooperatives in underserved communities. Elizabeth now devotes the majority of her time to wildlife preservation, with her top priority being Yellowstone National Park. Her family ties to Montana inspired Elizabeth and her husband, Carl, to own and operate an 8,000-acre cattle ranch on the outskirts of Yellowstone for over twenty years. In collaboration with Montana Land Reliance, they became dedicated land stewards, preserving in perpetuity this vibrant habitat for wildlife. In addition to her conservation advocacy, Elizabeth is honored to serve on the National Advisory Board for the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health.

David Youn is the president of a portfolio of companies within Fortune Brands Innovations (NYSE: FBIN) that manufactures composite doors, decking, and other sustainable home and outdoor products. He is also a board member of the Window and Door Manufacturers Association. Prior to this, he served as the president of The Master Lock Company, worked as an expat in South Korea as corporate vice president in Samsung Electronics’ global home appliance business, led big consumer brands at Procter & Gamble, and was a management consultant at Accenture. David has an undergraduate degree in political science from Stanford University and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He and his family reside in the Chicagoland area.