Dave Johnson is a Conservationist and retired Pachyderm Zookeeper in Denver, Colorado.  He has a degree in Wildlife Biology and in 2014 co-founded the Katie Adamson Conservation Fund, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, to help endangered animal species throughout the world through education and community engagement.

Dave’s passion for animals is a perfect fit for like-minded individuals and organizations.  Throughout his long 25-year animal career, he has managed to unite people and create something unique and very special in the world of conservation, all of which culminated in the formation of the KACF.

He has authored four conservation picture books that are used throughout the USA and world to introduce and educate kids of all ages about endangered species.  His hallmark book, Zoodiac Kids, replaces the zodiac signs with ZOOdiac signs – one endangered animal representing each month of the year.  His latest and fourth book is in four languages – English, Spanish, Swahili and Nepalese.

As of 2023, he has traveled twelve times to Nepal with zookeepers and members of the community from throughout the USA to spread education and passion.  Tanzania, South Africa and  Costa Rica are receiving the same treatment.

While growth and new directions are inevitable, Dave’s involvement on the KACF Board of Directors helps to ensure that the fund remains aligned to his original vision.

 

Ray Lucero is a seasoned professional with a background in the semiconductor industry, specializing in microchip fabrication and statistical process control.  His technical expertise has been instrumental in optimizing manufacturing processes at scale.

An early passion for graphic design, motion graphics, and video production inspired Ray to establish a digital signage company.  This venture provided innovative remote graphics and presentation solutions to businesses, enhancing their ability to communicate effectively with customers.

In 2014, Ray’s commitment to ecological justice and human equity led him to co-found the Katie Adamson Conservation Fund (KACF) alongside Dave Johnson.  This 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization is dedicated to protecting endangered species worldwide through education, community engagement, and conservation initiatives.

Ray’s diverse professional background in semiconductors, graphics, and technology has been a cornerstone in managing the technical and operational logistics of KACF.  His artistic talents also bring the organization’s mission to life through children’s books, which serve as engaging educational tools.  These stories are designed to inspire children of all ages.  The latest and fourth in the series is available in four languages: English, Spanish, Swahili, and Nepalese.

As an advocate for hands-on learning, Ray has traveled extensively with KACF to locations such as Nepal, South Africa, Borneo, Sumatra, and Costa Rica.  These trips have allowed him to witness conservation efforts firsthand and engage directly with local communities to assess their needs. Upcoming travels to Tanzania, Spain, Brazil, and Ecuador will further reinforce his and the KACF’s commitment to global conservation.

Ray’s continued service on the KACF Board of Directors ensures the organization stays true to its founding vision, fostering impactful change for endangered species and their habitats worldwide.
 

John Conklin is an experienced attorney based in Denver, Colorado, who has been defending medical doctors sued for malpractice for 29 years. In 2010, his oldest son developed a strong interest in elephants and the Conklin family started volunteering at the zoo in Denver, which was in the process of creating a new Asian elephant exhibit. Through their involvement at the zoo, they developed a close relationship with Dave Johnson, co-founder of the KACF, and became increasingly engaged in conservation efforts.

Their initial involvement with the KACF was through attending and donating to the annual Katie's Night event, which eventually led to their participation in various projects and elephant fence repair in Nepal in 2015. Despite obstacles such as John's trial schedule and the Covid-19 pandemic, the Conklin family has remained committed to the KACF, donating, attending local events, and participating in fundraising efforts such as the Zulu Nyala safari package, which they purchased two of and plan to use soon.

John is proud to be a supporter of the KACF and is eager to deepen his involvement by joining its Board of Directors.

Shelley Lowery Manos is a Sales Manager and part-owner of Continental Chemicals, LLC, one of the largest privately held Native American businesses in the United States. She resides in Greenville, SC, where she lives with her teenage children and their dog Bernedoodle, a lively presence that keeps her both happy and busy.

Shelley first met Dave Johnson in the late eighties at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). His love for animals was both undeniable and infectious. Nearly 40 years later, Shelley's family serendipitously attended one of his presentations at the Denver Zoo, rekindling their friendship. This re-connection eventually led her to an enriching trip to South Africa with KACF in 2023 and sparked her interest in joining the KACF team.

As a proud member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, Shelley actively participates in tribal and cultural awareness events within her community. She cherishes opportunities to share her heritage and promote diversity to elementary, middle, and high school students.

In her leisure time, Shelley enjoys gardening, playing the piano and guitar, watching her children play baseball and softball, and traveling. With visits to 15 countries under her belt, she hopes her love for nature, people, culture, and conservation will lead to even more adventures.

Nancy Sommer grew up in northern Minnesota, where a childhood filled with camping, fishing, blueberry picking, and exploring the outdoors helped shape her lifelong love of nature and community. Her family made it a point to visit every state west of the Mississippi by the time she graduated from high school in Biwabik, Minnesota, a small town that fostered a deep appreciation for the outdoors and close-knit community life.

She graduated with honors from the University of Minnesota in 1974 with a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Science. Nancy began her teaching career in Pine City, Minnesota, where she taught sixth grade with a strong focus on science education. During this time, she met her husband, Mick Sommer, who served as the first naturalist and maintenance director at the Audubon Center of the Northwoods in Sandstone, Minnesota. Together, they fostered a passion for outdoor learning, with Nancy’s students spending countless hours participating in environmental education programs, trail development, and outdoor adventures at the Audubon Center.

Nancy and Mick married in 1977 and soon moved to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, where she continued teaching elementary school from 1977 to 1986. The couple later relocated to Colorado’s Front Range, where Nancy pursued a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from the University of Colorado Denver, completing the program in 1989.

After teaching for several years in Minnesota and Colorado, Nancy transitioned into school leadership with Jefferson County Public Schools. She served as principal of Allendale Elementary School in Arvada from 1991 to 1996 and later as principal of South Lakewood Elementary School from 1996 to 2006. Following her retirement from full-time administration, she continued contributing to the education community by mentoring new principals, teaching professional development courses for educators, and stepping in as an interim administrator when needed. She officially concluded her career with Jefferson County Schools in 2012.

Nancy and Mick became involved with the Katie Adamson Conservation Fund (KACF) through mutual friends and quickly connected with the organization’s mission and community. Over the years, they have traveled with KACF to Costa Rica, Nepal, South Africa, Yellowstone, and Colorado’s Western Slope, experiences that deepened their appreciation for wildlife conservation and global cultural connections.

Committed supporters of KACF, Nancy and Mick annually donate a wild game dinner experience to the Katie’s Night silent auction, an event that has helped them build lasting friendships within the KACF community. Their shared love of travel, wildlife, and conservation continues to inspire their involvement in the organization.

Nancy looks forward to continuing her support of KACF’s mission and contributing to initiatives that connect communities, conservation, and education for years to come.

Deb Stiver is a Lecturer Emerita in the Department of Economics at the University of Nevada, Reno, where she served for 34 years as a lecturer, statistics curriculum coordinator, and student advisor in the College of Business before retiring in 2019. Throughout her academic career, she was deeply committed to mentoring students, developing innovative curriculum, and collaborating on multidisciplinary research projects.

Originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, Deb developed a lifelong appreciation for wildlife and the outdoors during childhood fishing trips across northern Minnesota with her family, guided by her father, a veterinarian. She later moved west to Montana to study wildlife biology, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1974. After graduation, she relocated to Nevada, where she eventually pursued graduate studies at the University of Nevada, Reno. While working with a faculty mentor in the Department of Economics, she became a teaching assistant and conducted research on the economic valuation of non-market activities, including hunting, fishing, camping, and other outdoor recreation. She earned her MBA from UNR in 1989 and remained with the department for the remainder of her career.

In retirement, Deb continues to devote significant time to community service and nonprofit leadership across Northern Nevada. She serves as Treasurer and Senior Board Member of International Development Missions (IDM), sits on the Executive Board of the Nevada Chapter of the American Statistical Association, and volunteers with local programs addressing food insecurity through essential nutrient support initiatives.

Deb joined International Development Missions in 2001, when the organization was a newly formed nonprofit focused on supporting rural communities in developing regions. IDM operates on the principle of long-term partnership and sustainability, with most of its international work centered in Kenya. Through IDM, projects have included the construction of a community medical clinic (now self-sustaining), malaria mitigation efforts, mobile health clinics, multiple clean water initiatives, and educational support for primary and secondary schools.

She also administers the IDM Endowment in Public Health at the University of Nevada, Reno, which provides scholarships for students pursuing careers in global health research and practice. In addition, Deb helped support and mentor the Student Association for International Water Issues (SAIWI), sponsoring mission trips that allowed students to apply engineering and environmental science knowledge in the field by building wells, water catchment systems, and other infrastructure projects in rural East Africa.

Deb’s connection with KACF (Katie Adamson Conservation Fund) began through her daughter, a wildlife biologist with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and the Adamson family. After hearing about KACF’s conservation-focused initiatives for several years, Deb joined the December 2024 KACF conservation trip to Costa Rica, an experience that inspired a growing partnership between IDM and KACF. IDM looks forward to highlighting this collaboration at the revival of its African Dinner fundraising event in February 2026.

Deb is passionate about opportunities that bring together community sustainability, environmental stewardship, and wildlife conservation. She remains eager to collaborate on projects that help protect wildlife while supporting the communities that share their landscapes.

When not volunteering or traveling, Deb enjoys visiting her two daughters, sons-in-law, and three grandsons in Colorado. She also loves exploring new cultures and sharing what she learns through gatherings with friends and family—often expressed through meals inspired by the places she visits. And her lifelong love of fishing, first learned on Minnesota lakes as a child, remains close to her heart.