Orion Hatch
Executive Director
Orion Hatch joined the Snake River Fund team in 2020. As Program Director, he channeled his love of the river and enthusiasm as a naturalist into thoughtful community engagement culminating in 2022 with Jackson Hole’s inaugural Snake River Fest.
As Executive Director, Hatch works to foster partnerships, cultivate support, influence policy, and engage the public all in the name of stewardship of and public access to the Snake River and its headwater tributaries.
Hatch has a degree in Hydrogeology from the University of Massachusetts and takes a keen interest in the geologic and fluvial forces that have helped shape the landscape. His science-based stewardship, love of recreation, and his attachment to the global river community continue to serve him well in his position as Executive Director. You can catch him running his Shredder down the Gros Ventre, dropping a line in the Greys, or swimming after his surfboard in Lunch Counter.
Jennifer Houston-Hovland
Development Director
Jennifer has 25 yrs. experience across nonprofits, philanthropy, and academia. For the last 7+ years she has worked as an independent consultant serving organizations across the nation principally in fundraising development, leadership coaching and DEI initiatives Her professional career has focused on uplifting marginalized communities to create a more equitable and just world, having held leadership roles at various nonprofits and foundations.
She also spent over 2 yrs. working overseas with the Volunteer Missionary Movement teaching post-secondary education and training women’s cooperatives in post-civil war El Salvador and spent a year in an AmeriCorps Jesuit organization at Boys Hope Girls Hope in New York City. Her love of the outdoors and nature began when she attended YMCA Camp St. Croix as a camper, and where she worked during summers as a counselor and Trail Director throughout college leading canoe trips down the St. Croix, Namekogen and Chippewa rivers.
She has held various Board roles at MN Asian American Health Coalition, Our Justice, PFund Foundation, and presently at TaikoArts Midwest.
She received her BA in psychology and women’s studies from the University of Minnesota, twin cities and her MPA in nonprofit management at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Jennifer lives with her spouse in Grand Teton National Park where they enjoy recreating in the beautiful outdoors. She has a daughter and two cats. She volunteers at the local Teton Raptor Center and enjoys seeing these beautiful birds get rehabilitated and released back into the wild.
Joe Smith
Associate Director
Joe Smith is a naturalist, educator, and river guide who has lived in Jackson Hole since 2011. A professional whitewater guide since 2009, Joe brings a depth of on-water experience combined with extensive outdoor education, youth mentoring, and environmental interpretation skills to his work.
Raised along the banks of a historically polluted river in Central Massachusetts, Joe holds a profound appreciation for the health and accessibility of public waters. He carries a strong sense of responsibility to steward and advocate for the preservation of public lands and resources. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Studies from the University of Massachusetts, focusing his studies on watershed science and management.
Beyond the river, Joe is a strong advocate for the well-being of the outdoor guiding community. He remains committed to the idea that experiences in the outdoor world awaken our awareness to the potential within and around us.
Boots Allen
Advocacy and Outreach Coordinator
Boots is a third generation guide on numerous waters in the Greater Yellowstone Area including Wyoming’s Snake and Green rivers and Idaho’s South Fork. His 30-plus years of experience in the fly fishing industry go beyond rowing a drift boat. Boots is also a well-established writer and speaker with four books, scores of articles, and dozens of presentations to his name. Much of his work revolves around issues of climate change, invasive species, congestion, and multi-use access that most western rivers face today. Boots is excited to bring his passion for stewardship and access to the Snake River Fund.
Naomi Orchard
Programs and Events Coordinator
Naomi is an experienced place-based educator with a lifelong passion for rivers. Coming from a family of river guides, educators, and hydrologists, Naomi’s love for natural science and river running began at an early age. While completing her bachelor’s degree in Management and Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems at Utah State University, Naomi spent her summers working as a whitewater river guide on the Colorado, Green, and Snake Rivers.
A desire to grow as an educator brought Naomi Teton Science Schools. As a Field Instructor and Lead Instructor, she used Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks as classrooms to teach students of all ages about the natural and cultural history of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. In her work at TSS, Naomi was known for her commitment to inclusivity, passion for continued learning, and her geology-themed dad jokes.
Naomi is passionate about hydrology, conservation, geology, and fostering connections to the natural world. You can often find her and her dog, Wren playing in the river or hiking in the mountains. As the Programs and Events Coordinator at the Snake River Fund, Naomi is excited to share her passion for rivers and the joy of learning with others.
Board of Directors
Officers
Brian Schmidt
President
Jenn Sparks
Co-Vice President
Brenden Cronin
Co-Vice President
Jason “JB” Balogh
Treasurer
Adam Heigel
Secretary
Members
Richard Stout
Bobby Griffith
Colin Ah
Keely Kelleher
M.E. Sorci
Emeritus Members
Paul Bruun
Frank Ewing
Scott Garland
Rod Moorhead
Reynolds Pomeroy
Aaron Pruzan
Mike Rheam
Lexey Wauters
Andrew Byron