Teaching, researching, and engaging in collaborative conservation is, by definition, a highly collaborative endeavor. Through our Affiliate Program, we deepen relationships with collaborative professionals and enthusiasts both at CSU and in our network of external partners. The CCC Affiliates below help us make collaborative conservation more than just a good idea.
Joe Zebrowski is a former instructor in Geospatial Technology at New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, NM, where he taught remote sensing and geographic information systems courses and assisted students, faculty, and staff with mapping projects. He continues to work on small mapping projects through NMHU. He also provides GIS support to conservation efforts at Ikh Nart Nature Reserve in Mongolia. He also facilitates collaborative conservation projects and has a strong interest in landscape-scale conservation. Joe received a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Master of Sciences in Geography, both from Texas A&M University.
“Through a prior military career, I directly learned the importance of collaboration among many groups in getting any task done. As a mapping professional, I was since often called on to use my skills to create a common understanding of on the ground conservation efforts. This often led to facilitating discussions and meetings, which drew me into the world of collaborative conservation. In addition to improving ways maps can be used to assist collaborative conservation, I have a strong interest in the human factors that affect how partners work together.”
In 1987, Rox Hicks began working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a volunteer biologist at the National Elk Refuge, Jackson, Wyoming. She later achieved permanent status working on habitat projects and assisting the principal biologist with ungulate studies. In 1997, Rox relocated to northwest Montana continuing as a Montana Partners for Fish and Wildlife biologist stationed at the Creston Fish and Wildlife Center, Kalispell, Montana. Currently, Rox is located in Baggs, Wyoming, working with the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative to deliver habitat improvement projects, build partnerships, and funding for both public and private interests.
Rox works to maintain existing partnerships and develop innovative partnerships to achieve collaborative conservation. Networking and developing common sense solutions among private and public interests leads to successful on-the-ground conservation and connections across western landscapes.
Jonathan lives in the mountains if the Upper Arkansas River Valley.
In his free time, Jonathan can often be found exploring public lands, fishing, hunting, backpacking, boating, cycling, or relaxing with some fiction. He holds an M.S. in Environmental Sciences and Policy from Northern Arizona University.
For over a decade, Jonathan has conducted fieldwork and managed environmental resource projects across the western U.S. This interdisciplinary experience includes working for multiple consulting firms and NGOs, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the USGS. Jonathan looks forward to continuing collaborative conservation work in the Arkansas Basin facilitating meaningful, watershed-wide projects for the communities and ecosystems of the region.
Audrey combines her passions for continuous learning and the complexities of human dimensions of natural resources to bring a curious, creative, and empathetic perspective to her work in facilitation and dispute resolution with CDR Associates. Audrey completed a Masters of Environmental Leadership (M.S.) from CSU’s Conservation Leadership Through Learning program while working as the Communications Coordinator for the Center for Collaborative Conservation.
Audrey’s work is grounded in collaborative problem-solving and interest-based negotiation to generate durable solutions within the realms of land-use, water, and transportation. Many of Audrey’s projects have an environmental sustainability and stewardship focus.
Louis Wertz is a collaborative conservation storyteller. He believes strongly in the power of narrative to shape the West and rebuild a collective culture of land stewardship across rural-urban, red-blue and all our other divides. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, he now lives in Wheat Ridge, Colorado with his wife and their two kids and two dogs.
Prior to joining WLA, Louis worked for DC-based international NGO EcoAgriculture Partners, telling global collaborative conservation stories and helping design global initiatives to advance “integrated landscape management.” He helped structure and launch the 1000 Landscapes for 1 Billion People global partnership (learn more at landscapes.global), focused on providing simple access to training, tools, and financing to locally-led collaborative conservation initiatives worldwide.
Jessica is a facilitator with Southwest Decision Resources and a Ph.D. candidate at Northern Arizona University based in Flagstaff, Arizona. Jessica facilitates and researches in focus areas including forest restoration, recreation planning, community planning, and collaborative governance and management practices.
As a professional facilitator, Jessica designs, facilitates, and reports on collaborative community and natural planning efforts throughout the Southwest. As a conservation social scientist and Ph.D., Jessica studies collaborative governance and management practices in varied contexts as well.
Nicole is a network weaver, facilitator, and storyteller with a passion for conservation. A bit nomadic, Nicole regularly travels from Virginia to Colorado, and has sailed the Intracoastal Waterway more than once. Nicole founded Crowd Conservation in 2015 to support collaborative and community engagement efforts for effective conservation. She uses her background in ecology and training in facilitation to span the boundaries between researchers, government agencies, nonprofits, and communities.
Nicole supported the CCC and WCCN communication efforts from 2020-2024. Nicole has served as a facilitator for collaborative conservation efforts on projects ranging from watersheds to wildfires, wildlife management to public lands protections. She is a founding board member of Sustain Music and Nature, co-founder of the Storyteller’s Circle as professional development for conservation communicators, and she is currently developing a mentorship toolkit to support conservation emerging leaders.
Paul Orbuch, Orbuch Consulting, LLC, is the Coordinator of the Boulder County Fireshed on behalf of the National Forest Foundation, previously for the USFS Arapaho Roosevelt National Forest. The Fireshed aims to align woodland and grassland wildfire mitigation, forest health and home defense efforts across multiple land boundaries. He also sits on the Steering Committee of the Northern Colorado Fireshed Collaborative and on the Advisory Committee for the Colorado Forest Collaboratives Network.
It began in 1994 as Counsel with the Western Governors’ Association. I helped to coordinate environmental efforts in the U.S.-Mexico border area across the 10 states on both sides. I also supported the inclusion of non-governmental organizations to develop and implement the 10-year national wildfire strategy in 2001. Recently I helped to guide the formation of the 2-3-2 Cohesive Strategy Partnership that spans across the Colorado-New Mexico border and led to a $30 million 10-year CFLRP grant.
I am an organizer, mentor, and facilitator, whose passion is helping our working relationships model the world we’re seeking to build together. My Master’s thesis explored how mentoring relationships and associated practices can support people and movements in achieving their goals.
With a B.A. in Environmental Studies, and an M.A in Sustainable Communities, I have dedicated my education and career towards the broader field of conservation. Specifically focusing on youth mentorship and empowerment and movement organizing, I have put my skills, time, and resources towards network and relationship building. I believe good work is done collectively.
