AZLCV Education Fund Staff
Steven Arnquist -
Executive Director
Steve first volunteered with AZLCV in 1993, before he moved to Arizona and has been Executive Director at the League since the summer of 2009. Steve has worked for the AZLCV since the summer of 2005, initially working to reinstate the League’s canvass and membership programs. He has done just about everything at the League from door knocking and voter outreach to administrative work, legislative monitoring, campaign planning and fundraising.
Steve comes from a background of political activism and volunteered for his first local political campaign at the age of 10. Steve has worked on various campaigns in Arizona from ballot initiatives and city council races to presidential campaigns and is thrilled to work at the intersection of two of his greatest passions, conservation and politics. Steve previously was the Southern Arizona Director for the non-partisan Moving America Forward Foundation. Steve loves Tucson, where he has lived for the past decade. He loves to garden and enjoy the Arizona he works to protect as often as possible.
Melissa Ramsey -
Membership Coordinator, New Media Manager & Administrator
Melissa Ramsey is an Arizona native and grew up in the small mining community of San Manuel. She moved to Tucson in high school and quickly became interested in the various outdoor activities surrounding Tucson. After 18 years as a desert dweller, Melissa sought higher ground in Flagstaff and earned her Bachelors of Science in Forestry with an emphasis in Conservation Biology. She was also a member of the National Forestry Honor Society Xi Sigma Pi and the Society of American Foresters. She enjoys hiking and backpacking around Arizona in the lands she works to protect.
Melissa came to the League in 2008 as a canvasser. After canvassing for a year, she transitioned into a full time position with the League. Aside from her full time job with the League, she teaches adult literacy as a volunteer with the Literacy Volunteers of Tucson.
AZLCV Education Fund Board of Directors
Kevin Gaither-Banchoff -
Tucson
Board President
Kevin moved to the Southwest in late 1994 and has worked ever since to protect the biodiversity and wild nature of the southwest. Kevin currently serves as Development Director for Santa Fe based WildEarth Guardians, and previously worked as Development Director for both Native Seeds/Search and The Wildlands Project. He has also worked for a Michigan State Representative, managed a successful political campaign, as a fundraising and organizational development consultant for numerous local and regional conservation non-profits and spent four years as Executive Director for the Arizona Wilderness Coalition. Kevin enjoys sharing his vision for a healthy and vibrant western landscape with his family and friends, and the many wild critters that make this same land their home. Kevin lives in Tucson with his wife Kelli and two girls Abby and Allie, loves to camp, hike, garden and just be outdoors. Kevin has been a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals since 1996.
Katie Bolger -
Tucson
Bio Pending
Heather Macre -
Phoenix
Board Member
Heather Macre is an attorney who moved to Arizona in 2008. Since coming to Arizona, Heather has involved herself in the local political scene and in conservation efforts. Heather currently serves on the Phoenix Environmental Quality Commission and is honored to be joining the AZLCV Education Fund Board. She is most interested in promoting green building and development, land use and resource conservation, water usage and quality issues.
As an attorney, Heather has worked on land conservation matters and helped to draft green building ordinances and laws to protect old growth trees in Florida. She hopes to use these skills to help protect the native desert environment and educate citizens about the special needs of the Arizona environment. Heather lives in Phoenix with her husband, and enjoys gardening, hiking and trail running.
Mark Bolton -
Phoenix
Board Member
Mark Bolton is an attorney with Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck in Phoenix. Mark’s practice is focused in the areas of government relations and energy law. Mark’s emphasis is on representing clients on state legislative issues and assisting his clients in their interaction with Congress and federal agencies. Prior to joining Brownstein, Mark was an attorney at Fennemore Craig. Mark also previously served on staff for Congressman Tom Udall and in the Office of Governor Bill Richardson's Chief Counsel.
*Organizational affiliation is for identification purposes only.
