Scott Cutler / Board President

A founding member of The Frontera Land Alliance, Scott Cutler is a retired Curator of Collections and Exhibits at the University of Texas-El Paso’s Centennial Museum. He has degrees in Wildlife Management and Biology. A resident of El Paso for more than 25 years, he has been active in numerous local conservation organizations involved with preserving open space. (Photo Credit by: Fred Eiland)

Jon Rezendes/VP

Jon Rezendes is a former US Army infantry combat veteran, Ranger Instructor, and graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. Since leaving service, Jon works for a decarbonization-focused software company and dedicates his life to the preservation of wilderness through writing and advocacy. Jon is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Texas Lobo Coalition. Learn more at jonrezendes.com

Emmanuel Rodriguez “Manny/Treasurer

Emmanuel Rodriguez “Manny” is originally from El Paso, TX. He loves mountain biking and spending time outdoors. Upon graduating from Franklin High School, Manny went to Durango Colorado to do some collegiate cycling for Fort Lewis College. He has then had a strong passion for mountain biking and outdoors. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at El Paso and a Master of Business Administration from New Mexico State University. His professional background is in Commercial Banking and is a Commercial Lender for First National Bank Texas. He has been in banking and finance for over 10 years, however, tries to spend as much time outdoors and involved in El Paso’s community by protecting our beautiful desert and mountains.

Harrison Plourde / Secretary

Harrison is a certified professional urban planner currently working as the assistant director of the El Paso Metropolitan Planning Organization. He has ten years of professional experience in municipal planning, focusing on form-based code and comprehensive plan implementation, code writing, and transportation planning. While working for the City of El Paso, he served as a staff assistant to the Open Space Advisory Board and is an avid hiker and advocate of conservation practices. A native of upstate New York, Harrison earned his Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from Ball State University and has lived in El Paso since 2012.

Cynthia Hoffmann / Board of Directors

Cynthia “Cindy” Peak Hoffmann, CFRE, has been a professional fundraiser and philanthropic advisor for over 30 years and has successfully led annual, major gift, endowment, and capital campaigns and achieved record-breaking results. Cindy holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). Currently a realtor for Keller Williams Realty, Cindy is a partner in the Smart Living Team, your source for green homes, healthier living, and smart real estate investments. Cindy is involved in many local organizations and currently serves as the President of the Board of the Southern NM State Planning Committee. (Photo Credit by: Fred Eiland)

Kylie Rezendes / Board of Directors

Originally, I am from Vermont, but life as a military spouse brought me all over the US. The Army brought us to the El Paso community when my husband was stationed at Fort Bliss. Surprisingly, this unfamiliar desert habitat quickly felt like home. For three years, I dedicated my time as a volunteer group leader, fundraiser, and coordinator for the Army at Fort Bliss before starting my academic journey.

In school I earned a degree in Wildlife and Conservation Science with a concentration on endangered species and mammals at the University of Rhode Island. Currently, I am pursuing a Ph.D. in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology program at UTEP. My research focuses on camera trapping the mammals of the Franklin Mountains and the habitat use of Jaguars in Sonora, Mexico.

In every aspect of my life, from volunteering for the Army to delving into the intricacies of wildlife research, I find fulfillment in making a positive impact and connecting with the community to help foster love of our beautiful desert. As I navigate the dual roles of a dedicated scholar and a loving parent, I am excited about the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, continuing to build connections and contribute meaningfully to the world around me. I look forward to participating as a board member for the Frontera Land Alliance and I think there is the making of a really great team here!”

Sonia Rangel / Board of Directors

Sonia Rangel enjoys spending time outdoors in El Paso. She reconnected with nature while working with colleagues and in community in Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Puerto Rico. Rangel has worked as an external affairs manager for the State of California, in multiple nonprofits that empower communities and progressive strategic communications firms, and as a congressional fellow for the House Democratic Caucus.

Her vision is to create space for others to flourish into their authentic selves, and she believes it can be done by integrating with our natural environment. Rangel is honored to serve as a board member for Frontera Land Alliance. She is committed to Frontera's vision of protecting and preserving our natural open spaces for future generations through education, community outreach, collaborative partnerships, and resource management.  

Rangel also serves as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee member for the Partnership of the National Trail System and as a board member of the nonprofit, Defensores de la Cuenca. She earned two Master's degrees in Public Administration and International Relations and a Certificate of Advanced Study in the Program for Latin America and the Caribbean at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. She earned a bachelor's degree in History with a concentration in Latin America and a minor in Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin.

Stephanie Chavez / Board of Directors

Stephanie Chavez was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. Stephanie is a senior zookeeper for the El Paso Zoo. She went to school in San Antonio and received her degree in Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology. She is currently working on her Masters in Wildlife Conservation and Management. Stephanie also serves on the Board of Director’s for the Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition. She recently started volunteering at the Juvenile Detention Center where she is able to educate kids on how they can put their time and effort into saving our planet. Stephanie states “The Chihuahuan desert has always been my home and conserving it’s water and land is one of my biggest goals.”

Marshall Carter-Tripp / Board of Directors

Marshall Carter-Tripp’s career spanned 25 years in the U.S. Foreign Service, and eleven years as a political science professor (including a year as a visiting professor at UTEP!), and after her retirement she served as director of the Centennial Museum at UTEP for five years. She had several tours as an Environment Science and Technology Counselor in different countries, which gave her some insight into environmental issues and practices elsewhere. In Argentina she had the pleasure and honor of working with the Mapuche Indians on a GLOBE education project. She has published four co-authored books and numerous magazine and newspaper articles.

Carter-Tripp grew up in Newport News, Virginia and went to Beloit College and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, concluding with a Ph.D in political science and law.

Dr. Gilbert Moreno / Board of Directors

Dr. Gilberto Moreno, Jr. As the Lead Strategist and Consultant for Prestige Consulting Services, Dr. Moreno has primary responsibilities for assisting clients in effectively managing organizational change. Dr. Moreno has extensive experience in delivering effective and practical solutions including strategic thinking/planning, reinventing organizations, technology transfer, leadership development, continuous process improvement, project management, and human capital development. Dr. Moreno has made keynote presentations on topics ranging from “high-performance” organizations, the 21st Century worker, implementing “balanced scorecards”, international trade, structured marketing and building competency teams. Creator of the Creating Functional Value-Driven Strategic Planning Series© and of the “i 6 Functional Value Profile© ” linear thinking methodology, Dr. Moreno also served as a clinical professor in leadership development at the Univ. of Texas at El Paso and contributes to STEM educational research & curriculum.

In addition, Dr. Moreno has held enterprise marketing, systems, and executive management positions with IBM, Exxon/USA, and Viva Environmental. Dr. Moreno is a registered systems engineering professional in the State of Texas (#77907). Dr. Moreno graduated WITH HONORS from the University of Texas at El Paso with a degree in mechanical engineering (industrial option). He was twice selected to Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities and selected as a UTEP TOP TEN SENIOR for academic, leadership, and service achievements. Graduating with TOP HONORS, Dr. Moreno received a master's degree in Operations Research from the University of Notre Dame. He received his doctorate from UTEP in education leadership with a concentration in STEM educational reform and community outreach.

With an active interest in educational, health, social, and developmental programs for the youth and the elderly, Gilberto is engaged in numerous community organizations and has received numerous regional and national awards for his service to the community. In October 2011, Dr. Moreno was recognized with a Luminary Award by the Great Minds in STEM National Convention in Orlando for his promotion of STEM and entrepreneurship to the youth in multiple communities. In September 2018, Gilberto was named the McDonalds Hispanos Triunfadores Award recipient for Science. Gilberto enjoys family activities with his wife Teresa, his six children and eight grandchildren.

Christina Lamour/Board of Directors

Mother of two and retired military spouse, Christina is a native of Maryland, but has found a home in El Paso. Over the last 15 years, Christina has established a career in social service, and specifically, non-profit development and leadership. In 2022, Christina established Hills to Climb, a small non-profit providing outdoor adventure and summer camp experiences to urban youth in Baltimore, MD. Her passion for exploring the outdoors and sharing this joy with others brought her to the doors of the Frontera Land Alliance.