Shi-Lynn, a long-time resident of Nevada, moved to Las Vegas in the early 1990s. He graduated from Cheyenne High and attended UNLV where he studied Marketing. Like many southern Nevada hikers, some of his favorite canyons to explore were erased from existence by the ever-reaching arms of growth and development. Witnessing the boundless sprawl of Las Vegas firsthand made him curious about how certain areas were protected and preserved. In 2016, while attending an outreach event and hike in Gold Butte, he fell in love with the area. Gold Butte supporters informed him of their petition for national monument status and he quickly signed up and began his journey in conservation.

Shi-Lynn has volunteered to lead hikes with several organizations. He currently leads hikes with his group, Hike Nevada. He is an adventure photographer and writer. He leads communications for multiple diversity, equity, and inclusion-based conservation organizations. Shi-Lynn joined the Board of Directors in 2021 and hopes to continue spreading awareness for Gold Butte National Monument. He believes that educating the public about the wonders of Gold Butte NM will lead more people to become advocates of the monument like him.

Mitch retired from Western Oregon University and Chemeketa Community College after 30 years of teaching software engineering and computer science. He has served on numerous volunteer boards for educational organizations, community organizations, and non-profits over the years. Also worked as Executive Director of a non-profit corporation providing services to handicapped adults prior to shifting his professional focus. A software engineer by profession, Mitch has a lifelong connection to the outdoor lifestyle of the western US.
Growing up in Idaho, his youth was spent in the mountains and wilderness of central Idaho, working years in the mountains and coast of Oregon and now retirement in southern Nevada deserts. Backpacking and camping in Idaho, cycling, fishing, hiking, and rafting in Oregon, and now desert exploring in retirement. The southwest deserts and their dark skies are great places to improve skills in other retirement hobbies of astrophotography and ham radio communications.

Terri is a freelance marketing communication and web consultant with a passion for conservation—protecting our natural and historical resources or future generations. Having grown up in the Pacific Northwest, she finds everything about the desert, and Gold Butte, fascinating as well as precious. She enjoys getting outdoors, filling all five senses with nature, through hiking and photography.
She manages much of the technology and communication for Friends of Gold Butte, including the website, membership platform, and the email newsletter. She has been an active board member since its inception in 2009, with the exception of a couple years.
Terri is always thrilled to take people out to Gold Butte for the first time and loves seeing their eyes light up when they realize it has so much more to offer than just a boring desert. She works hard to help make sure Gold Butte is managed in a way that people can enjoy it forever.

Brenda is a southern Nevada ``almost-native,`` having lived in the area since she was two. She grew up in Boulder City and has lived in Moapa Valley for over twenty years.

She attended the University of Nevada, and previously worked for the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, where she managed the 4-H program. 4-H is a youth development program primarily run by volunteers and is managed by Cooperative Extension, a division of the land grant university system. She has two grown children and three grandchildren.

She began as the part time Outreach Coordinator for FoGB in early 2016, thinking it would be fun to work with volunteers again, especially when hiking or organizing events. When the former executive director left the organization in 2019, the Board of Directors offered her the position of Operations Manager. This has proven to be a good match, as she now counts FoGB's volunteers among her good friends and really enjoys the variety that her position provides.

When Brenda isn't working she enjoys riding and showing her horses, baking, drawing and painting, and repurposing furniture.

Lois moved to Nevada from New York after 38 years in public education, after retiring from her position as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction at a school district on Long Island. Prior to this position, Lois held positions in public education as a high school principal, and as a chemistry, biology, and science research teacher. Lois received her Ph.D. in Science Education from the Science and Mathematics Education Centre at Curtin University in Perth, Australia. She holds a Master's Degree and a Bachelor’s Degree, both from Stony Brook University.
Growing up on Long Island meant lots of beach time and boating, clamming ns fishing, swimming and water skiing throughout the summers. Although Lois has always been a wanderer and has traveled on many continents, the western lands of our country, especially the desert, were her favorite place. Lois now spends almost all her free time exploring the public lands of Nevada, especially Gold Butte National Monument. She happened to join a hike in Gold Butte and because of her love of wild places she is now dedicated to preserving and protecting the Monument.

Mike and his wife, JoAnn are 2021 transplants to Mesquite, still spending summers in the Midwest, with kids and grandkids, but as much time as possible looking for adventure in Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and Colorado. He has immersed himself in the outdoors after spending 40 years as a software consultant with both domestic and international clients. Mike was able to fit in outdoor adventures across the globe, including Mt. Fuji in Japan, cliffs of Mohr in Ireland and the 12 Apostles in Australia. Having retired in 2021, the area around Mesquite has provided a continuation to these adventures.
Mike enjoys hiking, especially taking in the considerable differences of nature that we have within a few hours of Mesquite. Gold Butte is unique within these areas due to: it’s vastness, (330,000 acres), early Native American and Pioneer history, rustic environment, geological diversity (mountains and deserts), the variety of wildlife, plants, and trees.
Realizing the needs that our public lands like Gold Butte have, Mike has been involved in FoGB volunteer efforts, like setting posts, filling pot holes, installing signs, trash pickup. Being added to the FoGB leadership team allows Mike to expand his impact on the Education, Stewardship, Advocacy, and Preservation of the Gold Butte Monument.

Chris grew up in Flatland (Chicago) and spent a chunk of his youth wandering around Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, before finally making it ``out West`` in the early 80's. It was love at first sight and, he has continued to spend most of his free time there ever since. He spent his career as research faculty at MIT's Media Lab and, still lives in New England but, always made time to travel west for hiking, backpacking, and camping.

Nevada was not high on his list of destinations however, until he joined a backpacking trip in the Toyiabe Range and realized just how vast and open the Basin and Range province is. Who can resist the sandstone? Chris is also attracted to the variety of land forms of Gold Butte and its fairly pristine desert environment. He has raised two desert-loving children but, his desire to preserve wild desert environments for future generations fuels his work with Friends of Gold Butte.