Leadership Wyoming

Advisory Board

Rollin Abernethy, Laramie

Rollin Abernethy is an emeritus professor at the University of Wyoming.  As the university’s recently retired Associate Provost, his areas of responsibility included: administration of general education (USP) and curriculum, assessment of student learning outcomes, improvement of student academic success, faculty development programs, and is the Wyoming Community College academic liaison for UW.  Rollin was instrumental in the creation of the Wyoming P-16 Education Council and served as its President.  Prior to his Academic Affairs appointment, Rollin served as Associate Dean in the College of Agriculture.  On the faculty at UW since 1978, he has taught courses in plant and seed biology, agroecology, laboratory methods and first-year student seminars.  Rollin is a graduate of Leadership Wyoming Class of 2005.

Rex Arney, Sheridan

Rex is a partner with the law firm Brown, Drew & Massey LLP, with an emphasis on litigation, estate planning and family law.  Rex has been very active in community, professional and political affairs throughout his career. He serves on the Board of the Wyoming Retirement System, Wyoming State Bar Board of Professional Responsibility and the Board of the Northern Wyoming Mental Health Center.  He served in the Wyoming Legislature for 16 years, was co-chairman of Wyoming Healthcare Commission, and was chairman of the Governor's Select Committee on State Lands.  Rex is on the board of Wyoming Blue Cross Blue Shield and the Wyoming Retirement System Board. He serves on the Wyoming Business Alliance/ Wyoming Heritage Foundation Steering Committee.

Fred Bronnenberg, Cody

Fred is the President of Groathouse Construction, one of Wyoming’s largest non-highway construction businesses. He is a graduate of Leadership Wyoming Class 2009. A graduate of the University of Wyoming, in Civil Engineering. Fred served as President of Associated Builders of Wyoming and was Chair of the Park County School District #16 School Board. He serves on the Steering Committee and Management Committee of the Wyoming Business Alliance/Wyoming Heritage Foundation. He is active in youth activities- - 4-H, Park County Fair and a coach for Little League Baseball and Pee-Wee Football.

Bobbi Brown Barrasso, Casper

Bobbi has been active in many areas of Wyoming since the mid 1980’s. She was President of the Wyoming Symphony for several terms and served as State Director for U.S. Senator Craig Thomas for 16 years. As the wife of U.S. Senator John Barrasso, she represents the Senator at many state and local functions. Bobbi serves on the University of Wyoming’s Art Museum Board, Raising Readers in Wyoming Committee, CASA of Natrona County Board, and is active in Susan G. Komen’s Race for the Cure activities. Bobbi is a graduate of Leadership Wyoming Class of 2002.

Mike Ceballos, Cheyenne

Mike Ceballos was President of Qwest-Wyoming for over ten years, retiring in 2011. He has been active in many local and state organizations – including Chair of the Wyoming Business Alliance/Wyoming Heritage Foundation and President of the Wyoming’s Taxpayers Association. Mike is the current Chair of the P-16 Council, a collaboration effort aimed at advising education in Wyoming. He additionally has been a board member of Cheyenne LEADS. Mike has a MBA from the University of Colorado. He is a graduate of Leadership Wyoming Class 2001, the first Leadership Wyoming class. Mike is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in education at the University of Wyoming.

Joan Evans, Cheyenne

Joan Evans has been the Director of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services since 2007. The Department of Workforce Services is dedicated to developing a demand-driven workforce, responsive to private-sector worker and employer needs. Prior to her state service, Joan was with the Carbon County Higher Education Center in Rawlins for 16 years, including serving as the Director from 2004 to 2007. Joan has spent much of her career working with adult students who were seeking training for career advancement and developing training programs to meeting Wyoming’s economy. Evans holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s degree in adult education from the University of Wyoming. In 2011, she was selected for the prestigious Toll Fellowship Program by the Council of State Governments.

Frank Galey, Vice Chair, Laramie

Frank Galey is currently the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Wyoming.  The college mission is to be a leader in cultivating healthy, sustainable systems for Wyoming’s agriculture, environment and natural resources, and rural communities.  This is done through the application of the land grant principles of teaching, research, and extension.  Before becoming dean of the college, Frank was the Director of the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory.  Prior to that, he served as a faculty member doing teaching, research, and service at the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis.  A Wyoming native, Frank is a graduate of Leadership Wyoming Class of 2006. 

Linda Lindsey, Lander

Linda Lindsey is the Human Resources and Diversity Director for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). NOLS is a nonprofit international school dedicated to teaching wilderness skills, leadership, environmental studies, and wilderness first aid, with operations in twelve countries and 25 states. Linda is responsible for directing and administering the school’s human resources and diversity programs. NOLS is one of the largest employers in Lander, Wyoming. Past service to other organizations includes serving on the board for the Lander Chamber of Commerce and the Wilderness Medical Society. Linda is a graduate of Leadership Wyoming 2009.

Gary Negich, Treasurer, Laramie

Gary Negich is currently the President of First Interstate Bank in Laramie.  In addition to his duties at First Interstate, Gary has been appointed by the Governor to the Wyoming Business Council and is on the Board of Leadership Wyoming, Cowboy Joe Club and the University of Wyoming Art Museum.  He has served as Chair of the United Way of Laramie and Laramie Jubilee Days and past board member of Ivinson Memorial Hospital and Laramie Economic Development Committee.  He is active in the Laramie Rotary Club.  He is a graduate of Penn State and is a member of the Leadership Wyoming Class of 2002. 

Stephan Pappas, Chair, Cheyenne

Stephan Pappas is the President of Pappas & Pappas Architects, P. C., a Cheyenne based architectural firm providing commercial, residential, and space-planning design services, focusing on commercial, educational, and medical project types since 1982.  Stephan was a former Assistant Adjutant General for the Wyoming Air National Guard, retiring as a Brigadier General in 2009.  Other community service includes leadership positions in the Wyoming State Board of Architects and Landscape Architects, American Institute of Architects, National Architectural Accrediting Board, Nation Council of Architectural Registration Boards, Cheyenne Young Men’s Literary Club, Air Force Association, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, and the Wyoming School Facilities Commission. Stephan is a member of Leadership Wyoming Class 2008.

Bill Schilling, Secretary, Casper

Bill Schilling is the President of the Wyoming Business Alliance/Wyoming Heritage Foundation and has held this position since 1986.  In 1999 he began organizing Leadership Wyoming and became its first Executive Director in 2000 in addition to his Wyoming Business Alliance/ Wyoming Heritage Foundation responsibilities.  Bill has a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and two Master’s Degrees – one in Public Affairs and Economics and the other in American History. A native of Cincinnati, Schilling has lived in Wyoming since 1983.  He has served as President of the Casper Symphony, Vice President of the Nicolaysen Art Museum, Vice President of Boy Scouts of America, and President of the Casper Rotary.  He was instrumental in the creation of the Wyoming Business Council and Hathaway Plan.

Tom Thorson, Casper

Tom Thorson has been employed with Black Hills Bentonite Company since 1960 and has served as Managing Partner since 1979.  He became President of Wyoming Heritage Society/Wyoming Heritage Foundation in 1992.  He served as a director of the Casper Chamber of Commerce for three years and served as its president for one year.  He was President of the Wyoming Mining Association in 1980-81.  He was President of the Casper Rotary Club in 1991-92, and led the Rotary Club in a unique and nationally acclaimed international service program in Mexico.  He has been a member of the Leadership Wyoming Advisory Board since inception and is a major endowment contributor to the program.  He has a bachelor’s degree in Geology from the University of Wyoming.

Tammy Valdez, Rock Springs

Tammy Valdez has been employed with CH2M Hill, Inc. since 1993 and is currently Office Manager for the Wyoming Office and Senior Accountant for the USA Region.   She is past chair and current Secretary for the State Board of the Wyoming Red Cross as well as past board member for the Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce.  She also serves on the boards for the Southwest Wyoming Industrial Association and Rock Springs Little League Baseball and is an officer for the PTO’s for her sons’ schools.  She is a graduate from the University of Wyoming with a bachelor's degree in Accounting and an MBA.  She is a graduate of Leadership Wyoming's Class of 2003.

Frances VanHouten, Alumni Representative, Jackson

Frances (Fran) VanHouten has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s in organizational development.  Prior to moving to Wyoming in 1999, she spent a decade in manufacturing involved in sales and marketing to product development. As Principal of RainMaker Coaching, in the capacity of a facilitator and business coach, her clients include community collaborations, state and local non-profit organizations, and dozens of small businesses and government agencies. Fran’s work is characterized by a direct and energetic style that keeps people on their toes.  She is a graduate of the 2009 Class of Leadership Wyoming. 

Nolene Wright, Wright

Nolene Wright is a fourth generation Wyoming native, growing up on a ranch in Campbell County. Nolene was fortunate to spend seven years with Peabody’s Powder River Coal Company. In 2000 she left the mining business to spend more time on the family ranch. She also started doing more volunteer work, spending three years on the Gillette Abuse Refuge Foundation board and becoming involved in the American Cancer Society’s Daffodil Days. She also serves on the Casper College Alumni Board of Directors, is a member of the Campbell County League of Women Voters, and Pearls of the Prairie, a local group that promotes all arts in the Powder River Basin.  Nolene served as Wright Area Chamber of Commerce President and Chair of Wright Days.  She is Chair of the 2009 Leadership Wyoming Challenge Institute and is on the Leadership Wyoming Tenth Year Celebration Committee. Nolene has also been appointed to the Campbell County Joint Powers Lodging Tax Board. In 2003 she joined Mary Kay Inc.  Nolene is a member of Leadership Wyoming Class 2007.

Mark Zaback, Casper

Mark is the President of Jonah Bank of Wyoming. A graduate of the University of Nebraska, Mark and his wife Karen moved to Wyoming in 1982. Over the years, Mark has been very involved in both the Casper and Cheyenne communities having spent 20 years in Cheyenne before moving back to Casper to be involved in the startup of Jonah Bank. Mark is currently on the board of the Casper College Foundation, Natrona County Library Foundation, Child Development Center Foundation, 2-1-1 Board, State of Wyoming Banking Board and the Federal Reserve Board of Denver.