GCC Announces Board Leadership Continuity and New Directors
Grand Canyon Conservancy (GCC), the official nonprofit partner of Grand Canyon National Park, announced the results of its recent Board of Directors election, underscoring stability in leadership and the addition of four accomplished new board members who began their terms on January 1, 2026.
2026 Board Leadership Continuity
Randy Brown continues to serve as Board Chair, and Stan Sutherland continues as Secretary, ensuring continuity and experienced governance during a pivotal time for the park. Pamela Kerr has been elected Vice Chair, bringing deep experience as a nonprofit leader and a strong background in organizational strategy, stewardship, and board leadership.
“These leadership decisions reflect confidence, continuity, and readiness,” said GCC CEO Elizabeth Silkes. “At a time when Grand Canyon National Park has faced significant challenges and uncertainties, this board is prepared to support GCC with unity, creativity, and resolve.”
Board Chair, Randy Brown
Brown brings 35+ years of legal expertise to GCC. He is a partner at Haynes Boone, an international corporate law firm, and served as chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group for 15 years. His dedication to volunteer efforts includes serving as the Dallas Opera’s audit committee chair. A passionate advocate for the canyon, Brown has completed nine backpacking trips and four river trips since his first visit in 2003. He has served on the board since 2020 and continues to champion projects to improve Indigenous affairs within the park as well as the restoration of trails and park facilities to preserve this indescribable and stunning natural Wonder of the World.
Vice Chair, Pamela Kerr
With a degree from Manhattanville University and an M.B.A. from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, Kerr designed, implemented, and marketed the Health/Environment Management System (HEMS) for Amoco Corporation and Amoco Computer Services. She served on the Association of Junior Leagues’ International Board of Directors and Chaired the Nominating Committee. Kerr was District Governor of District 6440 (70 Rotary Clubs in Northeastern Illinois) for Rotary International in 2008–2009. In her district, Kerr chaired and co-chaired the HealthRays Rotary Project, bringing digital X-ray capability to public health clinics in Guatemala. She is a Life Member of the Illinois St. Andrew Society. Kerr is passionate about broadening the message of the Indigenous cultures and histories at Grand Canyon and making the messages accessible to all who come to Grand Canyon from around the world. Now retired, she and her husband, Andy, share a love of Grand Canyon and its geology and enjoy discovering the art and history of those who have called the canyon home.
Secretary, Stan Sutherland
Sutherland spent four years as a high school physics teacher before going to law school. He then became an attorney in the Solicitor’s Office at the U.S. Department of the Interior, followed by a position in the law department of S.C. Johnson & Son, where he retired as Deputy General Counsel in 2004. Stan has served on several nonprofit boards in Flagstaff, including Theatrikos Theatre Company, where he has also acted and directed. He holds a B.S. in physics from the University of Illinois and M.S. in physics from Purdue University and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. Sutherland has backpacked rim-to-rim and to Clear Creek, and he and his artist wife Dawn have completed two 10-day river trips through the canyon.
New Board Members as of January 1, 2026
Joining the board in 2026 is a new class of four directors whose collective expertise spans finance, law, tribal governance, public service, corporate leadership, and philanthropy. Together, they strengthen GCC’s ability to support innovative programming, deepen partnerships, and sustain the park’s natural and cultural resources for generations to come.
This transition comes amid record numbers of new members, donors, and partners, reflecting broad public support for Grand Canyon and confidence in GCC’s mission and leadership.
David Gonzales
David Gonzales recently retired as the longest-serving United States Marshal in the history of the U.S. Marshals Service, having been appointed across four presidential administrations. He is now a law enforcement/corrections consultant for national organizations. Prior to his federal service, he served as a Deputy Sheriff with the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, and then spent 25 years with the Arizona Department of Public Safety, rising through the ranks to senior leadership roles overseeing statewide criminal investigations and criminal justice coordination with Arizona’s 22 recognized sovereign tribal nations. A Flagstaff native with a lifelong love of Grand Canyon, Gonzales is a graduate of the University of Arizona, Harvard University/Kennedy School of Government, and the University of Southern California’s Executive Program in State and Local Government.
Dennis A. Johnson, CFA
Dennis Johnson is a seasoned global finance and investment executive with more than 40 years of experience across nonprofit, public, and private sector boards. He currently serves on the Voya Funds Board of Directors, where he chairs the Compliance Committee, and has held leadership roles with organizations including the Dallas Symphony Foundation, High Museum of Art, Detroit PBS, and the Virginia Military Institute Foundation. Johnson holds a master’s degree in finance and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), bringing deep financial oversight, governance expertise, and philanthropic leadership to the GCC board.
Richard Monette
Richard Monette is an attorney, law professor, and respected leader in federal Indian law, water law, and constitutional law. A past president of the Native American Bar Association, Monette has worked for decades on tribal governance, environmental justice, and water rights, including extensive work with Hopi, Havasupai, and Hualapai communities. A citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, he brings lived experience, cultural knowledge, and nationally recognized expertise in Colorado River law and tribal governance. His longstanding relationship with the Grand Canyon includes more than three dozen visits and extensive work supporting tribal interests connected to the canyon.
Stephanie Quincy
Stephanie Quincy is a nationally recognized employment attorney and shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, where she leads high-profile labor and employment litigation and counseling. Consistently ranked among Arizona’s top attorneys, Quincy brings deep expertise in governance, compliance, risk management, and organizational leadership. She serves on the board of the Herberger Theater Center and is actively engaged in philanthropic and volunteer work across Arizona. An avid hiker with strong ties to Northern Arizona, Quincy brings both professional rigor and personal passion for the Grand Canyon to her board service.
About Grand Canyon Conservancy
Grand Canyon Conservancy is the official nonprofit partner of Grand Canyon National Park, raising private funds, operating retail shops within the park, and providing educational programs about the natural and cultural history of the region. Our members fund projects including trails and historic building preservation, educational programs for the public, and the protection of wildlife and their natural habitat. Grand Canyon Conservancy inspires generations of park champions to cherish and support the natural and cultural wonder of Grand Canyon. For more information, visit www.grandcanyon.org.