Management
Pictured, left to right: Mark Herndon, Alyssa Priest, Leigh Ann Wolfe, Jeremy Moore, and Patrick Gayner
Leigh Ann Wolfe
Leigh Ann is the daughter of Russ and Marian Wolfe, the founders of the world famous Flying W Ranch. Leigh Ann was raised on the Flying W Ranch in Colorado Springs and graduated from Colorado State University.
The Flying W Ranch in Colorado Springs was a working cattle ranch of over 1400 acres and the home to the Chuckwagon hospitality business. Over its 60 year life the Chuckwagon business of the Flying W Ranch provided food and entertainment to over six million people. On June 26, 2012, the Waldo Canyon fire destroyed 19 of the 20 buildings that comprised the Chuckwagon hospitality business, and burned over 1000 acres of Flying W Ranch land. The Waldo Canyon fire devastated the Flying W Ranch and thrust Leigh Ann into the forestry business.
As the owner of the Flying W Ranch Leigh Ann began working with Markit! Forestry Management on post-fire rehabilitation of the Flying W Ranch's land, which led her to purchase a majority interest in the company.
Leigh Ann's passions are to work through Markit! Forestry Management to restore forest lands destroyed by fire, and to help restore healthy and fire-resistant forests so that other people don't have to experience the loss of their land and property as she has.
Leigh Ann is the daughter of Russ and Marian Wolfe, the founders of the world famous Flying W Ranch. Leigh Ann was raised on the Flying W Ranch in Colorado Springs and graduated from Colorado State University.
The Flying W Ranch in Colorado Springs was a working cattle ranch of over 1400 acres and the home to the Chuckwagon hospitality business. Over its 60 year life the Chuckwagon business of the Flying W Ranch provided food and entertainment to over six million people. On June 26, 2012, the Waldo Canyon fire destroyed 19 of the 20 buildings that comprised the Chuckwagon hospitality business, and burned over 1000 acres of Flying W Ranch land. The Waldo Canyon fire devastated the Flying W Ranch and thrust Leigh Ann into the forestry business.
As the owner of the Flying W Ranch Leigh Ann began working with Markit! Forestry Management on post-fire rehabilitation of the Flying W Ranch's land, which led her to purchase a majority interest in the company.
Leigh Ann's passions are to work through Markit! Forestry Management to restore forest lands destroyed by fire, and to help restore healthy and fire-resistant forests so that other people don't have to experience the loss of their land and property as she has.
Alyssa J. Priest
Alyssa is the Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer for Markit! Forestry Management. As the Chief Administrative
Officer, Alyssa is responsible for the Finance, Accounting, Human Resources and Project Management functions of Markit! Forestry Management. Alyssa joined Markit! Forestry Management in January 2015.
Alyssa has twenty years of diverse business experience in both Fortune 500 companies and high-growth startup companies. She has a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame, with a major in Accounting. Alyssa's business experience includes auditing for Ernst & Young LLP and senior finance management positions at T-Mobile USA and EMC.
Alyssa primarily grew up in Wisconsin, and lived and worked for a number of years in Chicago and in Seattle. Alyssa and her family moved to Colorado Springs in 2014, and she welcomed the opportunity to work in a business devoted to preserving and enhancing the forests and natural resources throughout Colorado and the western United States.
Alyssa is the Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer for Markit! Forestry Management. As the Chief Administrative
Officer, Alyssa is responsible for the Finance, Accounting, Human Resources and Project Management functions of Markit! Forestry Management. Alyssa joined Markit! Forestry Management in January 2015.
Alyssa has twenty years of diverse business experience in both Fortune 500 companies and high-growth startup companies. She has a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame, with a major in Accounting. Alyssa's business experience includes auditing for Ernst & Young LLP and senior finance management positions at T-Mobile USA and EMC.
Alyssa primarily grew up in Wisconsin, and lived and worked for a number of years in Chicago and in Seattle. Alyssa and her family moved to Colorado Springs in 2014, and she welcomed the opportunity to work in a business devoted to preserving and enhancing the forests and natural resources throughout Colorado and the western United States.
Patrick C. Gayner
Patrick Gayner is a founder and co-owner of Markit! Forestry Management, and the firm's Vice President of Business Development. Pat is a National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) certified Firefighter, Fireline Sawyer, and a Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician who has been working in post-fire rehabilitation and forest management in the Front Range of Colorado since 2003.
Pat is a member of the Executive Committee of the Front Range Roundtable (FRRT), Chair of the FRRT Timber Industry Subcommittee, and a Board Member of the Intermountain Forest Association (IFA). Pat oversees Contract Administration and Quality Control for Markit!’s portfolio of stewardship contracts with the U.S. Forest Service.
Pat's professional certifications include the following:
Pat has over 15 years of experience managing forestry projects and forestry contracts
Patrick Gayner is a founder and co-owner of Markit! Forestry Management, and the firm's Vice President of Business Development. Pat is a National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) certified Firefighter, Fireline Sawyer, and a Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician who has been working in post-fire rehabilitation and forest management in the Front Range of Colorado since 2003.
Pat is a member of the Executive Committee of the Front Range Roundtable (FRRT), Chair of the FRRT Timber Industry Subcommittee, and a Board Member of the Intermountain Forest Association (IFA). Pat oversees Contract Administration and Quality Control for Markit!’s portfolio of stewardship contracts with the U.S. Forest Service.
Pat's professional certifications include the following:
- City Forester Licensee for Fire Mitigation Services City of Colorado Springs # 72308
- NWCG S-130/190 Wildland Firefighter Type 1
- NWCG S-212 Wildland Faller Class A
- NWCG S-131 Advanced Firefighter
- NREMT – Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician - Registry #: 323255
- Colorado WEMT / IV Certified, #053039 – Wilderness EMT
- Wilderness First Aid Certified Katabatic Mountain School
- NFPA Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) CEA
- Former Fire Mitigation Technician for Florissant Fire Rescue
Pat has over 15 years of experience managing forestry projects and forestry contracts
Mark D. Herndon
Mark Herndon is a founder and co-owner of Markit! Forestry Management, and the firm's Vice President of Field Operations. Mark is a National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) certified Firefighter and Fireline Sawyer who has been working in post-fire rehabilitation and forest management in Arizona and in the Front Range of Colorado since 1999.
Mark has ten years of experience working on a wide variety of forestry projects for the Coalition for the Upper South Platte (CUSP). In his ten years of work with CUSP Mark rose to the position of Director of Field Operations, where he was responsible for multiple forestry crews and multiple forestry projects. While working for CUSP Mark directed projects involving forest fuels reduction, forest health restoration and post-fire rehabilitation.
In addition to his experience at CUSP, Mark has worked as a firefighter for Florissant Fire Rescue and for the Mountain Communities Fire Department in Sedalia, Colorado.
Mark's professional certifications include the following:
Mark Herndon is a founder and co-owner of Markit! Forestry Management, and the firm's Vice President of Field Operations. Mark is a National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) certified Firefighter and Fireline Sawyer who has been working in post-fire rehabilitation and forest management in Arizona and in the Front Range of Colorado since 1999.
Mark has ten years of experience working on a wide variety of forestry projects for the Coalition for the Upper South Platte (CUSP). In his ten years of work with CUSP Mark rose to the position of Director of Field Operations, where he was responsible for multiple forestry crews and multiple forestry projects. While working for CUSP Mark directed projects involving forest fuels reduction, forest health restoration and post-fire rehabilitation.
In addition to his experience at CUSP, Mark has worked as a firefighter for Florissant Fire Rescue and for the Mountain Communities Fire Department in Sedalia, Colorado.
Mark's professional certifications include the following:
- NWCG S-130/190 Wildland Firefighter Type 1
- NWCG S -212 Wildland Faller Class B
- NWCG S-131 Advanced Firefighter
- NWCG S-133 Look Up, Look Down, Look Around
- NWCG S-134 LCES
- NWCG L-280 Followership To Leadership
- NWCG S-290-B Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior
Jeremy S. Moore
Jeremy Moore is the Vice President of Operations for Markit! Forestry Management. Jeremy came to Markit! Forestry Management from Higher Ground Forestry & Land Management, which was acquired by Markit! Forestry Management in June, 2015. Jeremy was a founder and principal of Higher Ground Forestry & Land Management.
Since 2010, Jeremy has combined his passion for business with his love of the outdoors by owning and/or helping to manage forestry companies devoted to protecting and enhancing the environment. Jeremy has extensive experience in forest health restoration, forest fuels reduction, creating defensible space, and watershed management. As the co-founder of Higher Ground Forestry, Jeremy successfully completed numerous forestry projects for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS), the Coalition For The Upper South Platte (CUSP), Colorado Springs Utilities, and many private landowners across the Pikes Peak Region.
Jeremy is a Colorado native, having been born and raised in Woodland Park. In addition to his background in forestry management, Jeremy has considerable business experience. Going back to 1998, Jeremy owned and operated a number of small businesses in the Pikes Peak Region, including PK Lath and Plastering Inc., Summit View Stucco, and Tava Mountain Sports.
Jeremy Moore is the Vice President of Operations for Markit! Forestry Management. Jeremy came to Markit! Forestry Management from Higher Ground Forestry & Land Management, which was acquired by Markit! Forestry Management in June, 2015. Jeremy was a founder and principal of Higher Ground Forestry & Land Management.
Since 2010, Jeremy has combined his passion for business with his love of the outdoors by owning and/or helping to manage forestry companies devoted to protecting and enhancing the environment. Jeremy has extensive experience in forest health restoration, forest fuels reduction, creating defensible space, and watershed management. As the co-founder of Higher Ground Forestry, Jeremy successfully completed numerous forestry projects for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS), the Coalition For The Upper South Platte (CUSP), Colorado Springs Utilities, and many private landowners across the Pikes Peak Region.
Jeremy is a Colorado native, having been born and raised in Woodland Park. In addition to his background in forestry management, Jeremy has considerable business experience. Going back to 1998, Jeremy owned and operated a number of small businesses in the Pikes Peak Region, including PK Lath and Plastering Inc., Summit View Stucco, and Tava Mountain Sports.