RMGA's Team

The activities of the RMGA are guided by the board of directors.

The RMGA board is comprised of volunteers spread across Canada and the United States who are passionate about mountain goats.

Though their interests in goats may vary, the work of the board is without doubt, all about the goats.

Marvin is a British Columbia bred and raised lover of all things mountains and began the goat fetish as a child when he cracked open “Big Game Animals of North America” by Jack O’Connor. Five decades later Marvin still dreams, thinks and pursues goats more than all other animals combined with a focus on sharing gnarly goat habitat and close encounter goat experiences with those who do not have these tenacious and majestic creatures in their backyards. As an avid hunter Marvin believes that we are entrusted to ensure the well being of healthy mountain goat populations in a world that is rapidly changing. While increased access into the backcountry and development may have its benefits, the long-term effects can displace goats from their prime habitat to a lesser quality habitat and needs to be highly considered. Through ongoing education and real life experiences in mountain goat sex identification, hunters can greatly assist in maintaining healthy populations for the next generation.

While Marvin spent most of his life in Northern BC, he currently resides in the southern part of the province with his wife and three children. By day (including some evenings) he works as a civil engineer and leads a team of 70 in the areas of land development, engineering and sustainability. His desire is to be a support and mentor to others both in the office and in the mountains.

Marvin is excited to be part of the RMGA Team that has a diverse skill set with a shared vision towards mountain goats. He has been a long-time member with the Wild Sheep Society of BC as well as the Wildlife Records Club of BC.

Marvin Kwiatkowski

Chair - British Columbia

marvin@goatalliance.org

Mike has an Environmental Science degree with a major in land reclamation that has him employed as an environmental consultant in the oil and gas industry.

Mountain Goats have always held a special place in his heart and epitomize toughness and mountain hunting. Mike is from Alberta and with the lack of tags in the province, he has seen that programs like goat ID help educate hunters in making judgment decisions and helping to educate about why we do not want to kill a nanny. Mike has a passionate thirst for conservation, research and habitat work for wildlife which has him starting to work towards gaining my conservation biology degree.

Mike Keeley

Vice-chair - Alberta

mike@goatalliance.org

Adam currently lives in Skagway, Alaska where he is am raising his two sons with his wife, Kaylie. He is also a regional rep for RMGA representing SE Alaska. Adam has been heavily involved with conservation
minded local mountain goat regulation changes and he is an active member on the local state fish and game advisory board. He also volunteer as a Hunter Education and Bowhunter
Education Instructor for the State of Alaska. Adam enjoys passing on his
passion for conservation and hunting to the next generation. Adam works
for the local municipality as a water and waste water operator. He's a self-proclaimed blue-collar dad with a love for all things related to mountain hunting; mountain goats just so happen to be at the forefront of that list for him!

Adam Smith

Director - Alaska

adam@goatalliance.org

Paul is a lifelong Alaskan and an avid bowhunter, backcountry skier and general mountain lover for his entire life. In the winter he guides backcountry skiing. He has worked on multiple personal conservation projects and education efforts through the Alaska Chapter of Backcountry Hunter's and Anglers and the National Wildlife Federation and continue to be in contact regularly with local Alaska Department of Fish and Game Biologists. Paul has actively worked hard to educate himself on all issues affecting local sheep and goat populations.

His other job is a physician (MD) up at the hospital in Kotzebue, Alaska in the northwest arctic. Paul has been involved in multiple research projects and understands how to research and read scientific literature.

Paul has also been involved with the RMGA as a Regional Representative and tried to be as active as possible.

Paul Forward

Director - Alaska

paul@goatalliance.org

Carrie is a lifelong Alaskan and avid hunter and outdoors person. She has a
passion and motivation to explore the alpine and everything in it, her favorite
being the Rocky Mountain Goat. Carrie is fortunate to live in a region of Alaska
where goats are thriving and to watch them in their natural environment is
only a thirty-minute drive from home.Carrie has written articles for the California Wild Sheep Foundation and Bear Hunting Magazine, and have written letters to both hunting organizations and USA government agencies in search of clarification,
guidance and support for all hunters.

Carrie Kegler

Director - Alaska

carrie@goatalliance.org

Mountain ungulate species capture the essence of endurance, adventure, and mystic.

When Darryn is not working at his regular job as an Inspector in the Oil Industry, his soul is drawn to wild places. He is particularly captivated by the alpine, in awe of the inhabitants of such harsh environments. Darryn’s initial connection to the Goat Alliance was to provide photographic images of goats, from his love for photography, which could be used to further the mission of this valued conservation organization. As RMGA life member #2, his roots have been growing steadily since near the time of its inception.

Darryn makes his home in central Alberta, Canada within a stone’s throw of many of our most prolific goat country.

Darryn is a member of the Conservation and Communication Committees and loves to be able to integrate his passions with the many wildlife professionals on our teams. He excited to be able to impact and share the drive to ensure this most unique species is given the best opportunity to continue to thrive in its many locations in North America.

A heart for impacting the conservation of mountain species specifically has Darryn prioritizing his efforts in many other conservation organizations as well, most notably the Wild Sheep Foundation and its many affiliates and chapters.

Darryn Epp

Director - Alberta

epp@goatalliance.org

Mike Surbey

Director - British Columbia

surbey@goatalliance.org

With both parents working as teachers Greg spent summers carrying camera equipment for his dad and gaining an appreciation for wild things and wild places. That appreciation has continued to grow through his own adventures and travels. Greg has always loved the high elevations and the unique wildlife that lives there. Greg volunteered on his first survey in 2017 and discovered that the RMGA had a unique way to involving the public. This involvement has led to him loving being a member and part of the Board
Greg lives in Eastern South Dakota with his family who loves the outdoors just as much has he does. In their spare time Greg and his family are living out their camper overlooking the bluffs of the Missouri River or trying to keep with Greg as he checking in on the Eastern most Mountain Goat herd in the Black Hills.

Greg Van Den Berg

Director - South Dakota

greg@goatalliance.org

Justin was introduced to mountain hunting years ago in the Hell’s Canyon portion of Northeast Oregon and has been addicted to the challenge and adventure that comes from each scouting trip, hunting trip or backpacking trip to this day. He first encountered reintroduced Rocky Mountain Goats while elk hunting and his fascination for the animal and terrain they call home began. “I love the outdoors and mountain hunting, and the opportunity to support the work of RMGA and its mission is truly humbling”.

Justin lives in southern Oregon with his son and his daughter. You’ll find him playing with his kids, plotting and planning the next adventure, working or on the golf course. He owns a payment processing company that specializes in conservation programs and organizations. Justin is a member of the 2% for Conservation effort, Summit Life Member of the Wild Sheep Foundation and Life Member of the Mule Deer Foundation.

Justin Wise

Treasurer - Oregon

wise@goatalliance.org

Regional Representatives

RMGA engages regional representatives who volunteer to connect with local parties interested in mountain goat management and conservation. They bring forward regional issues to the science and conservation committee for review and consideration before engaging the board of directors.

If you are interested in volunteering as a regional representative, please contact us.

Filter by Country

All

Canada

Adam Smith

Alaska

adam@goatalliance.org

Paul Forward

Alaska

paul@goatalliance.org

Mike Keeley

Alberta

mike@goatalliance.org

Danny Coyne

British Columbia - Okanagan

danny@goatalliance.org

Matt Jones

British Columbia - Skeena/North

matt@goatalliance.org

Jeff Agostinho

British Columbia - South coast

jeffagostinho@gmail.com

Cole Birdsey

Colorado - South

cole@goatalliance.org

Chuck Middleton

Idaho

chuck@goatalliance.org

Wendy Dodd

Montana

whimburg@hotmail.com

Hunter Johnstone

NW Montana/N Idaho

hjohn44@gmail.com

Mandy Ensrud

South Dakota

mandy@goatalliance.org

Woody Smith

Utah

tsmit301@gmail.com

Braydon Nichols

Washington

braydon@goatalliance.org

Jaden Bales

Wyoming

jaden@huntwest.net

Administrative Director

Carla Rhyant, MA

admin@goatalliance.org

Operations Coordinator

Stacy Berry, BSc

operations@goatalliance.org

Fundraising Coordinator

Kendrick Chittock

sponsorship@goatalliance.org

Science & Conservation Committee

The Science and Conservation Committee is comprised of a variety of subject matter experts that specialize in mountain goat management and research. They all volunteer their time to contribute to the mission of the RMGA.

Rich Harris

Washington/Montana

Committee Member

Julie Cunningham

Montana

Committee member

Darryn Epp

Alberta

Board Representative

Daria Martchenko

Quebec

Committee member

Bill Jex

British Columbia

Committee member

Kevin White

Alaska

Co-chair

Hollie Miyasaki

Idaho

Committee member

Kevin Hurley

Idaho

Committee member

Steve Gordon

British Columbia

Co-chair

RMGA's Team

Marvin Kwiatkowski

Mike Keeley

Adam Smith

Paul Forward

Carrie Kegler

Darryn Epp

Mike Surbey

Greg Van Den Berg

Justin Wise

Regional Representatives

Adam Smith

Paul Forward

Mike Keeley

Danny Coyne

Matt Jones

Jeff Agostinho

Cole Birdsey

Chuck Middleton

Wendy Dodd

Hunter Johnstone

Mandy Ensrud

Woody Smith

Braydon Nichols

Jaden Bales

Administrative Director

Operations Coordinator

Fundraising Coordinator

Science & Conservation Committee

Rich Harris

Julie Cunningham

Darryn Epp

Daria Martchenko

Bill Jex

Kevin White

Hollie Miyasaki

Kevin Hurley

Steve Gordon

info@goatalliance.org

General inquiries:

Sponsorship opportunities:

sponsorship@goatalliance.org