Tucson, AZ—Western National Parks Association (WNPA), a Tucson-based nonprofit partner of the National Park Service (NPS), announced the appointment of five new members to its Board of Directors. The board is the governing body of the organization, and members serve as ambassadors for WNPA, articulating its message, mission, and accomplishments to the public.
“All of us at WNPA are delighted to bring on these five new board members,” said WNPA Chief Executive Officer James E. Cook. “Each new member brings a diverse set of skills, backgrounds, expertise, and experiences to help the organization move through these challenging times while staying true to its mission. The board has an important role, especially now given the challenges we and many organizations have faced during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Our outstanding volunteer board members all contribute in so many ways, including their valuable time, energy, wisdom, and financial resources to ensure the organization remains vital and thrives even in times like these. I have confidence that this new class of board members along with our existing board members, will help guide the organization forward in key areas and I, along with our management team, look forward to working with them!”
Dan B. Kimball is a native of Michigan. He received a Bachelor of Arts in earth sciences from Denison University and a Master of Science in water resources administration from the University of Arizona. Kimball held positions with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Office of Surface Mining, and environmental consulting firms and served as the superintendent of Everglades National Park and Dry Tortugas National Park for 10 years. Kimball serves on numerous community boards, including the Sonoran Institute, Archaeology Southwest, Friends of Saguaro National Park, and Western Art Patrons of the Tucson Museum of Art.
Stacy Lambatos was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, and graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis in entrepreneurship. She spent eight years in multiple leadership positions within events, B2B marketing, creative, and corporate branding for AOL Inc./Verizon Media. She is also the founder of CAYA, a culmination of her passions and professional experiences aimed at inspiring those in business environments to become more present and creative in their leadership roles.
Kindley Walsh Lawlor graduated cum laude from the Fashion Institute of Technology with a degree in fashion design and held numerous management positions at Banana Republic and Gap. She was vice president for Gap’s Global Sustainability and the Gap Inc. Foundation and now serves as president and CEO of Parks California. Lawlor previously served on different boards and committees, including the International Labor Organization Advisory Committee, and the Advisory Board for the Center for Responsible Business at Berkeley Haas.
Howard Levitt attended the University of California, Berkeley and graduated with a bachelor’s in political science. Throughout his career he held many different positions within the NPS, including chief of communications, superintendent, chief of interpretation and education, and director of communications and partnerships for Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Levitt also serves on different boards and volunteers for multiple organizations, including Environmental Traveling Companions, We Players theater company, and the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition.
Rachel Ligtenberg studied biology at Humboldt State University and went on to hold many different leadership positions within REI, including director of visual merchandising, regional vice president, and vice president of retail operations. Within these roles she earned many awards and accolades, including the Outdoor Industry Women’s Coalition (now Camber Outdoors) Pioneer Award and the REI Leadership Award. Ligtenberg has also served on several nonprofit boards and committees, including Camber Outdoors, Lake Washington Girls Middle School, and Passages Northwest.