Our Board of Directors
PRESIDENT
Michael Lueders
Michael’s previous career working for government agencies has given him a strong background in land use, project management and conflict resolution skills. He now spends his time giving back to the place he loves and calls home.
BOARD MEMBER
Todd Vogel
Board member Todd Vogel first visited the Eastern Sierra in 1982 and immediately knew he’d found home. After moving over for good in 1988 with his future wife Todd settled into a long career as a mountain guide and outdoor educator. He and his wife purchased the local mountain shop Eastside Sports in 2012 – she had worked there 24 years by then.
Todd has been on the boards of several national non-profits including the American Mountain Guides Association, the Professional Climbing Instructors Association, and several other local boards including that of the local non-profit Friends of the Inyo. Vogel currently serves as the chair of the Inyo County Planning Commission, and has a lengthy history of community involvement including being a leader and recent past president of Inyo County Search and Rescue. None of it feels like work to him, but when he’s not working Vogel likes to trail run, hike with his wife and dog, explore remote areas of the Eastern Sierra in his truck camper, and generally get outdoors.
Board Member
Chris Leonard
Chris Leonard is a career history-social science educator at Mammoth High School, and part-time fly fishing guide. A former Peace Corps Volunteer (Romania, 1998 – 2000), he has a long history of volunteerism. Along with being a Valley Outdoors board member, he is also the board secretary for the Crowley Fish Foundation. He fishes a lot, and is actively involved in fishing conservation and stewardship for Eastern Sierra waters. Chris’s favorite fishery is Hot Creek, but he spends a lot of time on Crowley Lake with his two dogs. His greatest passions include fly fishing, travel, and live music. He resides in Bishop, California.
Board Member
Steve Nelson
Bio coming soon
Board Member
Matt Kingsley
Thirty five years employed as a Federal Wildland Fire Fighter. I served as Fire Staff Officer for Inyo NF and BLM Bishop Field Office. Elected to three terms as Inyo County 5th District Supervisor.
I have worked as a direct supervisor, manager, administrator and elected official, working with a diverse workforce in a variety of situations.
My background serving as Staff level management for the US Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management, as well as a local three times elected official in a county that is influenced and important to 5 National parks and Monuments, gives me a unique perspective in how public policy influences gateway communities as well as other jurisdictions.
My goal is to leverage these unique experiences, and skill sets to guide and lead Valley Outdoors in nonprofit opportunities, working closely with local public land agencies to accomplish improvements for both locals and visitors recreating in the Eastern Sierra.
