MISSOULA, Mont. — The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation enters its 40th year of conservation with Fred Lekse serving a second consecutive year as RMEF Board of Directors chair, and joined by two new members.
“It takes great people to provide direction and vision for our mission, and that’s what we have with this board chair and members,” said Charlie Decker, RMEF co-founder and board member. “2023 was a tremendous year of conservation achievements and we look forward to more of the same in 2024 as we celebrate our 40th anniversary.”
Lekse is an RMEF life member, avid hunter and president of KHI Management from Collbran, Colorado. In addition to his 2023 service as chair, he served on the board from early 2015 through the end of 2020, including nearly two years as chair and another as vice chair.
Tom Robinson of Salisbury, North Carolina, will serve as 2024 vice chair while Marc Pierce and Tom Ray join the board as new members, succeeding Kent Johnson of Big Lake, Minnesota, and Martin Vavra of La Grande, Oregon, whose terms expired.
“We welcome Marc and Tom to the board and thank Kent and Marty for their dedicated service,” said Lekse. “As a board, we are excited and well-positioned to advance RMEF’s strategic objectives and mission priorities.”
New board member bios:
Marc Pierce – Manhattan, Montana
- RMEF Life Member
- Co-owner of Warm Springs Productions
Tom Ray – Whitefish, Montana
- RMEF Life Member
- Senior Executive in Forest Products Industry
The board of directors consists of 15 members from nine states who volunteer their time.
About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Founded in 1984 and fueled by hunters, RMEF has conserved more than 8.9 million acres for elk and other wildlife. RMEF also works to open and improve public access, fund and advocate for science-based resource management, and ensure the future of America’s hunting heritage. Discover why “Hunting Is Conservation™” at rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.