Team

Katmai Conservancy's dedicated Staff and volunteer Board of Directors work together to conserve, protect, and support Katmai National Park and Preserve.

Board of Directors

Diane Chung
President

Diane Chung served as the Superintendent at Katmai National Park and Preserve from 2013-2016. The Katmai Conservancy was created during her tenure at Katmai, with Diane playing a significant role in promoting the need for a non-profit park partner.  She is currently maintaining her connection to the park as a board member of the Conservancy in order to assist in the growth of this organization.

Mike Fitz
Vice President

Mike began his career working with public lands in 2000 as an intern with the Bureau of Land Management at the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry (now part of Jurassic National Monument). Since then, he’s worked as National Park Service ranger at nine parks, most extensively at Katmai where he interacted with thousands of people who visited to watch bears, fish for trout, and explore the surrounding wild lands. From 2013 – 2016, he was Katmai National Park’s media ranger. Mike is the author of The Bears of Brooks Falls: Wildlife and Survival on Alaska’s Brooks River, blogs at FitzNaturalist.com, and continues to share his love of Katmai’s bears and nature everywhere as the resident naturalist with explore.org.

Andria Agli
Secretary

Bio Coming Soon

James Correa
Member

Bio Coming Soon

Ed MacKerrow
Treasurer

Ed is a professional nature photographer and scientist. His deep connection with nature is especially evident in his photography and writings of nature and science. Ed has explored and photographed Katmai National Park & Preserve in Alaska for over ten years.

With a Ph.D. in Physics, Ed's research journey has uniquely shaped his approach to conservation. He specializes in the study of complex adaptive social systems. His research spans various subjects, from human behavior in corporations to the root causes of political violence, to the economics of outdoor recreation in rural communities, consumer behavior, and supply chains. Ed served as a scientific advisor to the US Government and continues to provide scientific expertise on forest ecology, rural economics, watershed protection, and wildlife conservation.

Ed's commitment to environmental conservation is evident through his roles in various organizations. He served as the Vice President of the Friends of the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. He is the founder and current president of the Friends of the Nambe Badlands, working to protect a fragile desert ecosystem. Ed is dedicated to ethical practices in nature photography and serves on the North American Nature Photography Association ethics committee. Ed maintains a blog (In Light of Nature) exploring themes of wildlife, conservation, nature photography, and light. His writing offers insights and inspiration, merging his diverse interests and expertise.

Staff

Guy Runco
Executive Director

A lifelong beneficiary of and advocate for wild places and their natural and cultural ecosystems, Guy is extremely passionate about Katmai National Park and Preserve. First and foremost, as a visitor and guest, Guy recognizes that the Park and Preserve is located on Indigenous lands. He aims to instill gratitude for past and present Indigenous stewardship of these lands in all the work that Katmai Conservancy does. He previously served as Executive Director of the Bird Treatment & Learning Center in Anchorage and has also worked for the Colorado Division of Wildlife and Colorado State Parks. He has extensive experience in non-profit business management, marketing, design, and information technology. He is also an avid wildlife photographer. He works alongside community partners, Park staff, the public, and the Board to realize the organization’s vision, mission, and goals, which all focus on preserving this unique and sacred place, its wildlife and ecosystems, scenic character, and unparalleled natural and cultural resources.

Michael Bay
Director of Operations

Michael was raised in Alaska and has been fortunate enough to travel a large portion of the state. He has spent well over a decade appreciating and photographing the abundant wildlife and National parks the state offers. Bears have always held a place near and dear to his heart and, naturally, Katmai National Park as well. He uses his expertise in digital media, graphic design, and e-commerce to help the Katmai Conservancy work toward its mission.

Former Board Members

David Cary
Barbara Muhlbeier
Dr. Ellis Bacon
Carl Chapman
Sheila Ring
David Pike
Stephen Herting