Staff

Chet Work, Executive Director

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Chet joined the Teton Regional Land Trust in the summer of 2010.  Prior to coming to TRLT, Chet was the local conservation manager for the Idaho Chapter of The Nature Conservancy.  His responsibilities included managing working ranches, monitoring easements and protected properties as well as identifying and protecting ranches and farms throughout east Idaho.  In his position at The Nature Conservancy, Chet not only gained a strong knowledge of the landscapes Teton Regional Land Trust strives to protect but also worked closely with the TRLT staff  and gained a respect for the organization.

Chet holds a Master of Environmental Management from Duke University and conducted post-graduate study in local ecology and education at the Teton Science School in Jackson, WY.  He brings a strong knowledge of and passion for the Greater Yellowstone Region and has experience with land trust work, strategic planning and donor relations.

Chet is an avid outdoorsman who loves to explore local rivers and trails. He has lived in Teton Valley for five years with his wife Leigh and twin daughters. Chet’s passion for conservation is fuelled by a desire to see his daughters enjoy the same wildlife, open space and scenic views he has enjoyed throughout his life.

Babette Thorpe, Land Protection Director/Major Gifts Director

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Babette is a key contact and organizer for land protection projects. Babette also develops focus area plans for land protection, including development of acquisition funding, conservation planning, and implementation. Babette interacts with landowners to help them meet their conservation goals.

She has a degree in literature from Mary Washington College and worked for the Piedmont Environmental Council, a land trust that has helped place more than 175,000 acres under easement in Virginia. She also has planning experience, having worked four years for a county planning and zoning department, done post graduate work in planning at the University of Virginia, and served on the planning commission for a small Virginia town.

Bonnie Self, Operations Director

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Bonnie's responsibilities include administering grants, overseeing the fiscal operations and assisting in fundraising responsibilities.

Bonnie moved to Teton Valley to work for Friends of the Teton River as the Finance and Development Director after completing her Master of Public Administration at Cornell University. Prior to graduate school, Bonnie resided in Gunnison County, Colorado where she worked as a non-profit fundraiser, administrator and outreach director for several local conservation groups. Before settling in the non-profit sector, Bonnie received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with honors from Washington University and worked as an accountant for a large Certified Public Accountant firm.

Bonnie continues Teton Regional Land Trust’s strong fiscal accountability to its donors and grantors. Bonnie resides in Teton County with her husband, Douglas Self and their daughter Zoella. In her free time, she enjoys the local hiking and biking trails and powder mornings.

Tamara Sperber, Stewardship Director

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As TRLT's Stewardship Director, Tamara stewards conservation easements and TRLT owned properties, oversees restoration projects and monitors ecological resources.

Tamara received her B.S. in Ecology from Idaho State University and her M.S. in Land Rehabilitation from Montana State University. She has over 5 years of habitat restoration experience, including planning, managing, and monitoring large-scale riparian restoration projects.

Mari Castello, Stewardship Associate

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Mari received her Bachelors degree in Natural Resource Conservation from The University of Montana. After completing her degree she worked as a firefighter for the USFS in Montana. Before moving to the Teton Valley Mari worked for Southwestern Illinois Resource Conservation and Development as a Land Conservationist and Forest Health Technician. In her free time, she enjoys any time spent outdoors especially those activities that include her dog, Dixie.

Renee Hiebert, Conservation Specialist

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Renee spends her time assisting both the Land Protection and Stewardship Programs. She uses her resource skills to prepare baseline assessments, steward conservation easements and TRLT owned properties, and assist with preparation of conservation easements.

Renee received a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Kansas in 1998. She worked as an archeologist, hydrologist, range technician, naturalist and wilderness trail worker and ranger in the Teton, Wind River and Eastern Sierra mountains for six years before joining the Land Trust staff in 2004.

Angie Rudolph, GIS Specialist

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Angie has over 10 years experience in the Geographic Information Services (GIS) field.  She currently works in both the private and public sectors where she provides GIS training, data management, data analysis, map production, custom database design, as well as web development, design, and maintenance.

Angie received her B.S. in Geology from the University of Nebraska and continued her education at Idaho State University.

Emily Nichols, Development and Outreach Coordinator

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Emily's responsibilities include membership development, outreach, communications, volunteer coordination and event planning. Emily helps to spread the Teton Regional Land Trust message through media contact, press releases and newsletters. She also manages the recruitment of volunteers and employs their help for many projects.

Emily, a Montana native, has lived in Teton Valley since 2004. She worked closely with the community during her time as a photographer and writer at the Teton Valley News. Emily earned her photography and writing degree from Montana State University in 2003. She is excited to share her experiences and extend the Teton Regional Land Trust’s message to the six counties in its service area.