Utah Rivers Council has an active volunteer board of directors that provides passion and expertise for protecting Utah’s rivers and independent oversight and monitoring of our staff and financial resources.
Meet our Board of Directors
Claire Geddes is one of Utah’s most accomplished and passionate citizen activists with a long history of successful advocacy campaigns with utility legislation and regulation in her 30+ years of leadership. Claire is a tough, thoughtful and compassionate Utahn who advocates for people from all walks of life, particularly ratepayers who are not able to devote the time and effort required to speak out to ensure Utah has affordable utility policies. Claire has also been an outspoken leader on nuclear waste issues in Utah, working to clean up Utah’s toxic past with dedication and focus for many years. She is well-respected among all circles for her advocacy expertise, ethical leadership and clear voice of reason at the Utah Capitol.
Dave Mock is an experienced venture capitalist and owner of the very popular Boulder Mountain Lodge. Dave is serving his second term on our Board of Directors after a 5-year break working in New York and other parts of the country. Dave is the founder of a small philanthropic foundation.
Annie Payne is a lifelong activist having been raised in a strong family of citizen advocacy against nuclear testing and in advocating for homeless children. Annie graduated with honors from Utah State University in Political Science, Women’s Studies and Spanish and is an experienced outdoor guide in all manner of adventure sports, including being a seasoned river guide for 15 years running clients down the Colorado, the Green, the San Juan and the Salmon Rivers. Annie was the President of the Colorado Plateau River Guides and she also spent 15 years as the administrator for the Utah Guides and Outfitters. Annie founded a charity supporting the needs of homeless children in their scholastic careers and has enjoyed an eclectic array of travel, work and diverse hobbies.
Craig Wallentine is a former DuPont executive with a keen interest in occupational health & safety and economic sustainability. Born and raised in Utah, he graduated with honors from the University of Utah with degrees in chemical and fuels engineering. After working for Exxon Mobil and earning his MBA at the University of California Berkeley, he spent 30 years at DuPont in marketing and sales leadership, global strategy and business development roles. He is immediate past Chair of the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) in Washington, DC, the world's largest trade association for manufacturers of industrial personal protective equipment. Craig is an outdoors enthusiast who enjoys running, hiking, kayaking, biking and skiing.
Brooke Williams’ life has been one of adventure and wilderness exploration. Earlier, this meant skiing and climbing in some of the great mountains of America and wandering the cliffs and canyons of the Colorado Plateau. Lately, during long solo walks he’s become familiar with his own vast and complex inner wilderness. His writing has documented his effort to understand the importance of wildness in modern life. His conservation career spans five decades, most recently with the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance. He has an MBA in Sustainable Business from the Bainbridge Graduate Institute. He and his wife, the writer Terry Tempest Williams, and their dog, Winslow live near Moab, Utah in Castle Valley, where they raise rabbit brush and sage, watch light, wait for rain.
Caralee Woods graduated with honors in Political Science and English from the University of Texas-Austin. Most of her career was spent working for HarperCollins, calling on university professors across the U.S. and Canada. She spent 20+ years living in airports and travelling a large geographical region and ended up managing nine sales representatives. Caralee can’t remember a time she wasn’t into politics; soon after coming to Kanab she became the Kane County Democratic chair, stepping down only recently to encourage new leadership. For two years she reported for the local newspaper, which is an education in itself. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, watching the many kinds of birds—especially ravens—she attracts to her land, hiking, and cooking.
The Utah Rivers Council staff work together on issues that affect Utah’s river ecosystems. Our staff are advocates for Utah’s rivers and water conservation. We provide a range of skills and experience to achieve the Utah Rivers Council’s mission and we’re passionate about engaging the Utah public in the decisions being made about our aquatic ecosystems and our water supply.
Meet our Staff
Zachary Frankel – Executive Director
Zach Frankel received his B.S. in Biology at the University of Utah and is the Executive Director of the Utah Rivers Council, which he founded in 1994. Zach has led many exciting campaigns to protect Utah’s rivers and is an expert on water policy in Utah. Zach lives with his family and their horses in the Salt Lake Valley and enjoys writing, making short films and all manner of outdoor sports.
Nicholas Halberg — Research & Policy Analyst
Nick has returned to the Utah Rivers Council, having previously worked as an Intern and as the WaterRoots Coordinator. He received an honors B.S. in Economics with an emphasis in statistical analysis and a B.S. in Philosophy of Science from the University of Utah. Nick focuses on researching various scientific topics associated with water policy—from hydrology to economics—and translating those findings into understandable and implementable policy actions. During non-work hours, Nick can be found rafting, biking, and exploring new and wild places throughout Utah.
Alta Fairbourne — The 4,200 Project Ambassador Intern
Alta is in her final semester at the University of Utah, pursuing an Honors Bachelor of Science in Sociology with a minor in Political Science. As the 4,200 Project Ambassador Intern, she assists with advocacy work and social media campaigns to mobilize community action to protect the Great Salt Lake. Alta enjoys recreating in the Southern Utah desert, canyoneering, skiing, and cooking for her friends and family.
Michael Damman— Aquatic Conservation Manager
After several years working in federal land management Michael Damman brought his passion and knowledge of aquatic ecosystems to the nonprofit sector, joining the Utah Rivers Council as the Aquatic Conservation Manager in Fall 2024. Michael is a cinematic storyteller and is producing media products for the Utah Rivers Council while supporting grassroots organizing and advocacy work. Michael was a Las Vegas native and received his B.S. in Ecohydrology from the University of Nevada, Reno. Michael’s passions include riding motorcycles, paddling whitewater, rock climbing, and photography.
Suzanne Liese— Office Manager
Suzanne’s dedication to sustainable water management began during her time with the US Peace Corps in Jordan, where she developed a deep commitment to water resource management. This experience led her to pursue a Master’s in Integrated Water Management in Australia. After returning to the US, Suzanne has focused on human resources, talent acquisition, and educational/training roles. She is eager to leverage her administrative expertise, grassroots organizing experience, and passion for capacity building to protect aquatic ecosystems. Outside of her professional life, Suzanne is an enthusiast of black cats, black coffee, hiking, continuous learning, and the ocean.
Amy Wicks— Northern Utah Programs Manager
Amy Wicks is the Northern Utah Programs Manager for Utah Rivers Council, where she focuses on public policy affecting water conservation and the Great Salt Lake ecosystem. She has 30 years experience in the non-profit sector with expertise in research and data gathering, program management, community outreach, strategic planning, advocacy and public education campaigns. She served three, four-year terms as an elected official on the Ogden City Council. During her tenure she spearheaded numerous conservation, transparency, fiscal accountability and public engagement initiatives.