Staff and Volunteers
Kenny Haack-Damon, Director of Education and Field Studies
Kenny grew up in New Hampshire where he fostered a love for the outdoors through exploring the nearby White Mountain National Forest. After graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a B.S. in Wildlife Management, Kenny joined the Peace Corps and served two years as a volunteer in Malawi, Africa. There he became very interested and passionate about using experiential principles to educate youth about the environment. After returning to the U.S., Kenny worked as an assistant director of an outdoor education center before pursuing a Master of Science in Experiential Education. When not working, Kenny can be found outdoors – hiking, kayaking, growing food, or generally enjoying nature with his wife, Becca, daughter Margo and dog Chaz.
Kenny grew up in New Hampshire where he fostered a love for the outdoors through exploring the nearby White Mountain National Forest. After graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a B.S. in Wildlife Management, Kenny joined the Peace Corps and served two years as a volunteer in Malawi, Africa. There he became very interested and passionate about using experiential principles to educate youth about the environment. After returning to the U.S., Kenny worked as an assistant director of an outdoor education center before pursuing a Master of Science in Experiential Education. When not working, Kenny can be found outdoors – hiking, kayaking, growing food, or generally enjoying nature with his wife, Becca, daughter Margo and dog Chaz.
Laura Azzarello, Visitor Center Coordinator
Laura was raised in the Northern suburbs of Chicago and received her bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois where she studied Natural Resources and Environmental Science. Throughout her studies she completed multiple internships around the world including in Hawaii and the Bahamas. Through these experiences, she learned the power of connecting people to nature and just how much she enjoyed doing so. In her new role as the Visitor Center Coordinator, Laura hopes to continue her journey as an environmental educator and activist. With her free time, Laura likes to do yoga, play with her cat Nina, paint, cook, and spend as much time outside as she can. Next time you're at the Visitor Center, don't be afraid to say hello and welcome Laura to the team!
Laura was raised in the Northern suburbs of Chicago and received her bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois where she studied Natural Resources and Environmental Science. Throughout her studies she completed multiple internships around the world including in Hawaii and the Bahamas. Through these experiences, she learned the power of connecting people to nature and just how much she enjoyed doing so. In her new role as the Visitor Center Coordinator, Laura hopes to continue her journey as an environmental educator and activist. With her free time, Laura likes to do yoga, play with her cat Nina, paint, cook, and spend as much time outside as she can. Next time you're at the Visitor Center, don't be afraid to say hello and welcome Laura to the team!
Ed DeCarlo puts his 30-year Forest Service career to good use with the Great Basin Naturalists at Galena school field study program. He has a BS in Forest Management Science and a Secondary Teaching Certificate. Ed is passionate about the environment, is an avid skier, hiker, and paddle boarder. His expertise is in forestry, lands and water, wildlife habitat and winter recreation, and he enjoys living in Carson with his wife.
John Farley is a native of the Midwest. He spent his career at Lockheed Martin Space Systems in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he worked on many projects including the Hubble Space Telescope. Upon retiring in 2011, he moved to Washoe Valley. John enjoys spending time with his daughter, son-in-law, and three grandchildren, hiking with his dog, home remodeling, and winter sports. John manages the weekly guided hikes, either leading the hikes himself and sharing his extensive knowledge of the local area, or scheduling guest leaders with expertise in local history, animals or plants.
Jack Marsh hails from a small farming town in Southeastern Ohio. He graduated in 1958 from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as an electrical engineer and immediately went on active duty in the Navy. After a few years stationed on the East Coast, he returned to RPI and obtained a Masters and a PhD in physics working in magnetic resonance. The US Government employed him for roughly nine years primarily as a project manager for R&D. In 1975 he moved to Silicon Valley and founded a small electronics company specializing in equipment for the oil and gas industry where he served as president until his retirement in 1997. He and his wife, Becky, moved to Reno in 1999 where both are strong volunteers in our community.
Mary McDonald approaches every project with great enthusiasm: coordinating volunteers, maintaining the visitor center, and greeting visitors. Mary retired as a Police Major from the St. Petersburg Police Department in Florida and is currently Head of Security for Montreux. Her Nevada law enforcement experience includes two sessions as a Nevada Legislative Council Bureau Police Officer. She loves living in Reno with her husband, Bob and their two dogs. You'll find her hiking, kayaking, biking and cooking when she's not working or volunteering.
Emma Wynn is a native of the United Kingdom. She lived in Indiana and Japan before moving to Reno with her husband in 2016. Emma has a BSc in Botany and a postgraduate teaching certificate; she has been involved in science and environmental education at a variety of levels and in a variety of roles during her adult life. She is excited to learn about this area and is thrilled to be able to share her passion for nature and the environment via volunteering at the Visitor Center.
