Our Leadership Team
Board of Directors
Benton Collins - Interim President
Ohio, USA
Benton Collins and his family live in Northwest, Ohio near the banks of the Maumee River. Growing up hunting deer, turkey and small game, a love of the outdoors and wildlife were ingrained in him from an early age. He and his wife became co-owners of Wild Rivers Coffee Company in 2023 to help give back and support organizations that protect and fight for wildlife and their habitats. Wild Rivers Coffee Company has been certified with Fish & Wildlife Volunteers since its inception.
Benton joined the state of Ohio board of Backcountry Hunters in 2017 and served for four years. In 2024 he joined the Henry County of Ohio Parks board which helps manage old canal boat land owned by the state which has mostly been converted into trails that are a part of the state wide Buckeye Trail. He his excited to be a member of the Fish and Wildlife Volunteers board and support volunteer efforts across the country.
Ellie Darr - Treasurer & Interim VP
Montana, USA
Ellie Darr is the owner of Gastro Gnome Meals and Genuine Ice Cream, two Montana-based Fish & Wildlife Volunteers certified businesses that share a deep commitment to integrity, community, and the outdoors.
Growing up in the mountains of Colorado, Ellie developed a lifelong love for wild places and good food — a connection that continues to guide her personally and professionally. Before building her businesses, she spent years guiding in Alaska and exploring the backcountry through hunting, fishing, skiing, and backpacking — experiences that shaped her deep appreciation for the landscapes that sustain and inspire so many.
Today, Ellie leads teams that share her dedication to quality, hospitality, and giving back. She’s proud to help protect the wild places that have defined her life, ensuring they remain vibrant and accessible for generations to come.
Shaun Durkee
Montana, USA
Shaun Durkee is the owner of Angry Pika Food Co., a Fish & Wildlife Volunteers certified business based in Bozeman, Montana. Since its founding in 2019, Angry Pika Food Co. (formerly Alpen Fuel) has been committed to public land and wildlife conservation.
A fifth generation Montanan, Shaun grew up camping, backpacking, fishing, and hunting across southwest Montana. Spending as much time as possible on public lands at an early age fostered a lifelong passion and appreciation for wild places and the opportunities they offer. After a decade working in the aerospace and technology manufacturing industries, a COVID layoff enabled Shaun and his wife, Emily, to dedicate themselves to growing Angry Pika Food Co.
From the very beginning, volunteering and lending a helping hand has been a cornerstone of their business. Shaun has spent many hours volunteering with wildlife surveys and trail maintenance projects, and assisting local organizations that address food insecurity.
Chelsea Anderson
Connecticut & Montana, USA
Chelsea Anderson is the owner of CEAvet, a Fish & Wildlife Volunteers certified business providing small animal veterinary locum services to hospitals in need across the country. Her commitment to wildlife conservation runs deep, taking her most recently to Vietnam to work with pangolins and to South Africa for a rhino dehorning project.
Chelsea grew up in New England, the daughter of a hunter and fisherman, in a family that treasured time outdoors — an upbringing that shaped a lifelong love of animals and led her to pursue her dream to become a veterinarian. She minored in Wildlife Conservation in college before going on to veterinary school. When her husband, Andy, brought her out West to Montana, that passion for the outdoors only grew. She became an avid trail runner and a better skier, and has volunteered regularly on trail cleanups with the Gallatin Valley Land Trust.
When she's not busy doctoring dogs and cats, Chelsea seeks out every opportunity to travel and volunteer with conservation projects around the world. Currently based temporarily in Connecticut for a job opportunity, Chelsea, Andy, and their dog Fio are excited to bring the ethos of Fish & Wildlife Volunteers to New England — before they eventually head back West.
Andy Austin
Montana & New England, USA
Andy Austin is a professional adventure and travel photographer, author, and lover of the less-explored. Raised between the mountains and plains of Montana, his love of the outdoors started early and shaped both his career and his life. His work has taken him to more than 60 countries across all seven continents, but he always returns to the mountains and wildness of the West.
For more than a decade, Andy has built a career telling stories about the outdoors, wildlife, public lands, and the people who enjoy them. He is also the photographer and author of 'MONTANA: Photographs from the Last Best Place,' a collection celebrating the landscapes, cultures, and communities of his home state.
Andy firmly believes that protecting public lands and ensuring their enjoyment for generations to come starts with education, not gatekeeping. He's excited to bring that perspective and fresh ideas to an organization he's proudly been a business member of for years.
Pat Saunders
Massachusetts, USA
Staff
Jared Frasier - Program Director
Montana, USA
Jared Frasier joined as our first staff member in 2017, as the Executive Director of our founding organization — 2% for Conservation.
Jared grew up in Wisconsin’s wild Northwoods, heavily engaged in the outdoors and conservation volunteer work from a young age. He spent a decade working in outdoor education, and another in marketing and design for brands ranging from small businesses to international corporations.
As a lifelong volunteer, Jared has served on several wildlife and community organization boards and committees. He has a long track record of developing new volunteers and networks to support and advocate for their work. Additionally, he volunteers in his local community with his family, helping support their local library and other humanitarian causes.