Who We Are

John has rejoined ENLC for a second tenure as Executive Director. His experience with ENLC includes mineral compliance inspections, vegetation treatment and restoration projects, grant writing and administration, and the management of seasonal field programs. Beyond ENLC, John brings a varied background in natural resource and outdoor industries, including more than 30 fall seasons as a professional guide and horse-packing wrangler in the Colorado Rockies. He also spent 25 seasons in Alaska’s commercial fishing industry, with experience ranging from seafood processing operations to owning and operating a salmon tender vessel.

Kelsey joined ENLC in February 2023. She holds a bachelor's degree in biology and a master's in environmental science from Christopher Newport University, where her graduate research on the lesser long-nosed bat contributed to the species' de-listing. Before ENLC, she spent six years as a biological science technician at Great Basin National Park, studying bats, plants, and burned landscapes.

Hans joined ENLC as Botanist in 2023, returning after an earlier stint as a seasonal technician on ENLC's Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation program from 2007 to 2009. He holds a bachelors degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and studied floristics at the University of Wyoming, where he collected more than 7,500 plant specimens. Hans is a certified arborist and continues his botanical work in ENLC’s Gregory Gust Herbarium.

Lara joined ENLC in 2006, focused on wildland fire rehabilitation. She holds a BA from UC Berkeley and an MSc in earth sciences from James Cook University in Australia. The 2005 Southern Nevada Complex Fires brought her to Ely, where she has focused on post-fire assessment and treatment design ever since.

Austin Garner is a passionate aquatic ecologist. He attended Utah State University for his Bachelors in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences and Masters in Watershed Ecology. Austin’s favorite pastime is interacting with the unique fishes of the Great Basin, all living relics of the region’s deep geologic story. Prior to enter in the natural resource’s world, Austin served in the US Army. Austin worked for a summer the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to prevent the spread of invasive Dreissenid mussels, and worked for five years with the USU Quantitative Fisheries and Aquatic Ecology Lab to understand how to Utah Lake ecosystem and the threatened June Sucker (Chasmistes liorus) has been responding to restoration efforts. Austin is eager to push forward the conservation and restoration of Northern Nevada’s native aquatic species, including threaten Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus henshawi).

Ties joined ENLC in September 2023. She earned a biology degree from Washburn University and has worked as a field biologist across Kansas, Iowa, Texas, and Oregon, studying species from prairie chickens to sage grouse. Ties holds MSHA safety certification and focuses on team safety in the field.

Administrative Assistant

Tracy is often the first friendly voice you’ll hear when you contact ENLC. She has spent more than 20 years in customer service and loves working with the public, whether that’s answering questions from landowners and partners or making sure visitors to our Ely office feel welcome. Behind the scenes, she keeps things running smoothly so our leadership and field teams can focus on restoring the landscapes of the Great Basin. Tracy is also a lifelong animal lover, so she fits right in with an organization that works to keep wildlife habitat healthy.