Advisors
Richard M. Albrecht
Richard was a writer, producer and director for on-air promotions for ABC and CBS television networks in Hollywood for 20 years. He became involved with Earthfire when he moved to Jackson Hole, WY, citing Earthfire’s uniqueness and its ability to connect the bridge between humans and wildlife. He was also drawn to Earthfire’s importance in helping people to get to know the animal kingdom in a very intimate setting. Richard lends his many talents to video-editing all productions at Earthfire as well as directing all of their galas.
Anthony Birkholz
Tony considers himself to be a “creative being, working to broadcast and contribute to a harmonious life, creative spirit and the evolution of the human psyche”. Residing in Jackson, WY, Tony is a freelance videographer. He has used his expertise in cinematography to create video shorts for Earthfire. Through love, peace, compassion and understanding of the self, Tony says he believes that humans can move from feeling separate to feeling apart of everything as one.
Katherine Ciesinski
A mezzo-soprano, Katherine has sung leading roles at the Metropolitan, Covent Garden, Paris, San Francisco, Santa Fe and Houston Grand Operas. She was a Grammy Nominee in 1992 and has recordings on the Decca, Erato, BMG, Music Masters, RCA, Columbia, Nonesuch and CRI labels. Her television appearances include four PBS Great Performances programs, as well as numerous National Public Radio World of Opera broadcasts. Katherine is Professor of Voice at the renowned Eastman School of Music. She and her sister, Kristine, both sit on the Advisory Circle board, sharing their passion for animals and contributing with their fabulous voices to video and presentations for Earthfire.
Kristine Ciesinski
Kris first came to the Teton Valley in 1978 when she performed with the Grand Teton Music Festival. She is an internationally renowned opera and concert singer who has over the last 28 years performed leading roles as dramatic soprano at many of the world’s greatest opera houses. Her love and appreciation for the Teton Mountains (she has climbed the Grand twice!) and Teton Valley and its community led her to join the Advisory Circle for Earthfire Institute. Kristine is married to Norman Bailey, world renowned Wagnerian bass-baritone and they are very well trained by their six wonderful adopted dogs.
Philbin de Got
Philbin holds a Bachelor’s degree of Fine Arts from The School of the Art Institute in Chicago. She has worked professionally in illustration, graphic design, jewelry design, portraits, still life, landscape painting and murals. She and business partner, Joe Rayman, opened the nationally recognized mural and trompe l’oeil studio, Rayman• de Got Studios, in 1985. Their work decorates public buildings and homes throughout the U.S. Philbin and her husband, Jim, moved to the Teton Valley in 2003 to be closer to their sons and their families. Philbin has always been inspired by the beauty and uniqueness of nature and its surroundings. Philbin’s art has graced two books by Earthfire, Swatworth, Josie and the Buffalo Girls, and Into the Space and Silence. She has also provided numerous illustrations for Earthfire’s website and presentations.
Joe Glorfield
Joe is a principal at TBL Capital, a patient venture capital fund that invests in entrepreneurs who are committed to building companies with strong triple bottom line returns. Joe has lead, as chief executive, three social enterprises, and most recently served as Vice President of RSF Social Finance, a leading social finance organization providing unique debt products to non-profit and for-profit social enterprises. Prior to joining RSF Social Finance, Joe led two large non-profit medical specialty, year-round camps and family centers founded by actor Paul Newman. Through successful start-up efforts, $55 million was raised to build state-of-the-art, medically safe facilities serving thousands of children suffering from serious illness annually. From 1997-2000, Glorfield co-founded and led the nation’s largest organic beer company, Wolaver’s Organic Ales. Joe has built a considerable network in the social enterprise and social finance space, chairs the Social Venture Network Board and sits on seven for-profit boards as well as Earthfire.
Richard Landry
Richard is the founder and CEO of richmedium, a strategic consulting firm serving emerging organizations in media, information technology, consumer services, and for-profit and non-profit social enterprise. A senior executive with more than twenty years of experience leading emerging organizations through periods of transformative change, Landry started his career as editor-in-chief and associate publisher of PC World Magazine. He later became Chairman and CEO of HyperMedia Communications, publisher of NewMedia Magazine and newmedia.com, one of the first advertising-supported media ventures on the Internet. As a strategy consultant, Landry works with senior executives, investors, and funders who recognize the central role of social values in reshaping global markets, and seeks to transform the enterprises they lead and support into engines of social innovation. Richard’s strategy engagements have enabled clients to successfully launch, gain scale, enter new lines of business, and develop deep organizational understanding of the forces influencing their markets and enterprise.
Linda Miller
A retired advertising and television executive, Linda moved to the Teton Valley from Los Angeles in 1998. She was introduced to Earthfire in 2000 when friends from England visited the sanctuary – seeking a “unique animal experience”. Passionate about animals and their rightful place in the world, Linda was instantly hooked on the Earthfire vision. Linda now serves as an Advisory Circle member and recently joined Earthfire’s staff as Office Manager, sharing her skills in writing, public relations and all things animal.
Sherri Pittman
Sherri is Principal of Pittman Strategic Solutions, a consultancy focused on brand positioning, marketing strategy and planning. Sherri brings 20 years of brand development experience to her clients working with them to unlock the potential of their business through well defined brand strategies. Sherri met Susan at the Social Venture Network conference in 2009 and felt an instant connection with Earthfire to develop a strategic marketing plan. She resides in Oakland, California with her son Eric, dog Bart and expert mouser, Marley the Tabby.
Nina Reznick
An attorney in the areas of entertainment and not-for-profit corporate law, Nina’s not-for-profit clients include organizations involved in alternative medicine, animal rights, environmental, artistic, human rights and Native American/indigenous people’s issues. Nina supports the vision of Earthfire and is grateful to be involved in its work on several levels.
Janet Ross
Janet brings her love for the outdoors and the natural world to the Earthfire Advisory Circle. With a B.A. in Outdoor Education and an M.S. in Experimental Education, Janet started Four Corners School in 1984 – an outgrowth of her love for the Colorado Plateau and desire to teach others about the need to understand and protect it. Prior to founding FCS, Janet worked for the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Forest Service as a backcountry ranger and wilderness specialist. She worked as a wilderness guide for over 15 years for the Colorado Outward Bound School, Prescott College and other outdoor programs.
B. Jill Runnion
Jill has been an educator, trainer, Physical Therapist Asst., and owner of a private Manual Therapy P.T practice back east in Mass. This practice was built on an unconventional approach to healing the physical called Integrative Structural Manual Therapy. She has in the past thirteen years developed her skills to work in the more “subtle systems” of the body. Most recently, Jill moved to Teton Valley, ID where she is specializing as a Nervous System Recovery Therapist. Jill’s ability to profoundly listen to the human body as the dysfunctional patterns reveal themselves, supporting and assisting them to free up, is truly her gift.
Jean Simpson
Always passionate about the natural world, Jean has been working with animals since 1971. In 1989 he founded The Wild Bunch Ranch so that he could train animals based on his unique understanding of each species, and each individual of that species. Jean brings his talents in understanding and handling wild animals to Earthfire, as well as serving as consultant on animal welfare, safety and animal home design. To see how he works with Humble Bumble, the learning-disabled grizzly bear, or Pinkerton the blind lynx, is enlightenment. The knowledge and thought he gives to designing homes and playgrounds for the animals gives Earthfire meaningful insight into their emotional and physical needs and pleasures.
Penelope Smith
For over three decades, Penelope has been a founding pioneer in the field whose name she originated, “interspecies telepathic communication”. She is the author of the popular, classic books on the subject, Animal Talk, When Animals Speak, Animals in Spirit and editor of Species Link Magazine and www.animaltalk.net Penelope consults with Earthfire and its animals frequently.
Earthfire’s Mission in Action by Pat Hager
