Council Members
The Sagebrush Ecosystem Council consists of nine members and six ex-officio members. Governor Brian Sandoval originally established the Council with Executive Order 2012-19 to oversee the Program. During the 2013 Legislative Session, AB461 was approved, and the resulting statutes (NRS 321.592 and NRS 321.594) provide state administration. Nevada's legislators are the first in the 11-state western region to formalize the state's commitment to this effort within statute.
Chris MacKenzie, Chair
Board of Wildlife Representative
Chris MacKenzie, a fourth generation Nevadan, grew up enjoying the bounty that the Nevada outdoors offers—with work experience as a ranch-hand, fishing guide, bar bouncer and other seasonal jobs—until going astray by attending law school after graduating with a finance degree from the University of Nevada, Reno. Today, MacKenzie is a partner in the law firm of Allison, MacKenzie, Pavlakis, Wright & Fagan, Ltd., in Carson City. His areas of focus include business, administrative, estate, real property, and water law. MacKenzie served on the Wildlife Commission from 2001-2007 (Chairman, 2005-2007), and Vice Chairman of the Nevada Dream Tags Advisory Board since its inception.
Martin Paris
Ranching Representative
Martin Paris manages his family’s cattle operation and serves as the Executive Director of the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association. He is a fifth-generation rancher and a native of Battle Mountain, Nevada. Martin has a diverse background in agricultural policy and production, having formerly worked for various policy organizations and the U.S. House of Representatives. Paris holds a B.A. in Political Science from California Polytechnic State University.
Kyle Davis
Mining Representative
Kyle Davis is a Partner at Pinyon Public Affairs, a full-service strategic communications firm. He is an experienced lobbyist and political strategist working at all levels of government in Nevada. Kyle has successfully navigated difficult issues through the Nevada Legislature, including landmark legislation dealing with energy, public lands, transportation, wildlife, land-use planning, water, and public health. He regularly works with a broad set of stakeholders to bring disparate interests together for common sense solutions. Kyle is a third-generation Nevadan, raised in the rural town of Lovelock. He lives in Reno with his wife and two children.
Bevan Lister
Agriculture Representative
Bevan Lister manages his family's farming operations raising Alfalfa hay and beef cattle. Lister is an experienced water driller and contractor. He has served on boards and commissions dealing with natural resources, including 11 years as a volunteer leader with the Farm Bureau. Lister holds a Bachelor’s degree in Irrigation Engineering from Utah State University.
Kelly McGowan
Conservation and Environmental Representative
Sherman Swanson
General Public
Dr. Sherm Swanson is a range and riparian specialist for the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Service and associate professor in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science at the University of Nevada, Reno. Swanson holds a Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Resources from the University of Idaho, and earned his Master’s and Ph.D. in Resource Geography and Rangeland Resources from Oregon State University.
Daphne Emm Hooper
Tribal Nations Representative
Daphne Emm Hooper (Walker River Paiute) serves as the Director of Indigenous Relations for the University of Nevada, Reno and works to foster strong university relationships with Nevada’s Tribal communities. Previously, Ms. Hooper served as the City Manager for the City of Fernley and has dedicated her career to public service including serving as the Executive Director for Nevada Urban Indians, Community Liaison for the City of Reno, and Partnership Development Specialist for the Reno Sparks Indian Colony. Ms. Hooper is the co-founder of the Nevada Tribal Leadership Development Program at the University of Nevada, Reno. Daphne holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science, a Master of Arts Degree in Organizational Management, and a Master of Science Degree in Community Economic Development.
Mathew Johns
Energy Representative
Mathew (Matt) Johns serves as Vice President, Environmental Services and Land Management for NV Energy. He is responsible for all federal, state, and local permitting, environmental compliance, and lands for NV Energy. Prior to joining NV Energy in 2015, Matt work 20 years as an environmental consultant for industrial clients and federal agencies. Matt holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from University of Colorado and Master of Science in Agricultural Engineering from Texas A&M University.
Jake Tibbitts, Vice-Chair
Local Government Representative
Jake Tibbitts was born and raised in Blackfoot, Idaho on a family farm and ranch and has lived in Nevada for 15 years. He has a B.S. in Biology and M.S. in Geographic Information Science with emphasis in geo-spatial rangeland science, both from Idaho State University. He is the Eureka County Natural Resource Manager (since July 2008) where he manages the County’s natural resources and keeps the County leaders involved and engaged on natural resource issues of importance to the County. Jake serves on many boards and commissions related to natural resources and land management including current chairman of the Nevada State Land Use Planning Advisory Council, commissioner on the Nevada State Conservation Commission, supervisor on the Eureka County Conservation District, board member of the Nevada Association of Conservation Districts, member of the Rural Nevada US Forest Service Resource Advisory Committee, and Nevada Delegate on the Council for Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching (CARET). He has a deep interest in sustainable natural resource use and management and preservation and enhancement of rural communities and working landscapes.
Ex-Officio Members
J.J. Goicoechea
Director
Nevada Department of Agriculture
Vinson Guthreau
Director
Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Kristen Jule
Field Supervisor
Kristen Jule has served as Field Supervisor at the Reno Fish & Wildlife Office since July 2024. Her federal career began in 2011 with the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), where she spent thirteen years balancing fish and wildlife conservation with delivering affordable, reliable energy from federal hydropower projects across the Pacific Northwest. Kristen earned a bachelor’s degree in Zoology from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and holds both a Master of Science and a Ph.D. in Animal Conservation from the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom. The Reno Fish & Wildlife Office, part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Pacific Southwest Region, oversees Nevada’s Great Basin, Eastern Sierra, and Tahoe Basin.
Jon Stansfield
Humboldt-Toiyabe Forest Supervisor
Heidi Ramsey
State Conservationist, Nevada
Jon Raby
State Director
Jon Raby began service as the Nevada State BLM Director in March, 2019. Jon’s career in federal service began in 1990 and includes over 20 years with the BLM in Oregon, Montana and Washington D.C. In addition to the BLM, Jon has also worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service. Jon has also held several important assignments including BLM Liaison to the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals Management and as Chief of Staff in the BLM Director’s Office in Washington, D.C. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Ohio Northern University where he also played defensive back for the Polar Bears. Jon leads the management of 48 million acres of public land in Nevada and 59 million acres of Federal mineral resources. The State Office oversees six district offices in Carson City, Winnemucca, Battle Mountain, Elko, Ely and Las Vegas.
