Board of Directors

President Curtis L. (Curt) Sauer
curtsauer1@gmail.com
Curt Sauer came to the Morongo Basin in 2002 on temporary assignment to Joshua Tree National Park.  Shortly thereafter, he was appointed Superintendent and served in that capacity until his retirement from the Park Service in September 2010 after 38 years of service.  As Superintendent, he forged community and stakeholder partnerships, was active in the congressionally created Desert Managers Group for seven years, served as chair of the Mojave Network of National Parks for two years, and launched and chaired the Morongo Basin Open Space Group for basin wide land use planning. His work in the California Desert has created an understanding and deep appreciation for Bureau of Land Management challenges concerning renewable energy development.  Curt is currently working at the Gulf Coast as the Department of Interior Trustee addressing the impacts to the National Fish and Wildlife Refuges and National Parks from the April 2010 MC-252 oil spill.  He oversees recovery activities to ensure that federal responsibilities are met for the protection of wildlife and habitat in the area.  He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Park Management from Colorado State University.

Vice President Bonnie Kopp
bonnie@trueworldgallery.com
Bonnie Kopp is a city planner with experience in land acquisition, zoning, community and government relations, grant-writing, and park management.  She began her career in New York City after receiving a Masters in Urban Planning from New York University, and soon relocated to Los Angeles.  She was the Deputy Director of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, which acquires and preserves land, and develops parks and interpretive centers.  She also worked in the private sector as a land use consultant, and in the public sector as a Planning Deputy for two Los Angeles City council members, including the late Marvin Braude, who is credited with preserving 50,000 acres of parkland in the Santa Monica Mountains.  Bonnie moved to Joshua Tree in 2007 and opened the True World Gallery, a leading venue for emerging artists.  Since its closure in 2011 she remains active in many civic and arts issues.

Treasurer Jane Grunt Smith
jane@29palmsinn.com
Jane Grunt Smith grew up in Twentynine Palms, California.  She is the owner of the 29 Palms Inn, which has been in her family since 1928.  In addition to running a most successful inn in the California Desert, Jane is a founding board member of the Mojave Desert Land Trust and serves as a Director of the Copper Mountain College Foundation.  Jane has been involved in a number of conservation initiatives in the Morongo Basin and is a supporter of several organizations, including the Joshua Tree National Park Association, National Park Conservation Association, Twentynine Palms Historical Society, Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council, Morongo Basin Conservation Association, and Sky’s the Limit Observatory and Nature Center.

Secretary John Simpson
johnmsimpson@mac.com
John Simpson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from UCLA and began his career in commercial real estate.  His experience includes market research and reporting, valuation, consulting and sales.  He has worked for Cushman & Wakefield, CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) and First Interstate Bank.  John is presently a real estate agent in Joshua Tree, while developing the eco-friendly Joshua Tree Recreational Campground.  John is a founding board member of Mojave Desert Land Trust.

Director Mindy Kaufman
mindela@earthlink.net
Mindy Kaufman has lived and worked in Joshua Tree since 2000.  She owns and runs Spin and Margies Desert Hideaway, a small boutique inn in town.  She recently completed her term as President of Mojave Desert Land Trust and is a former President of the Joshua Tree Chamber of Commerce and the Joshua Tree Municipal Advisory Council serving San Bernardino County.  Prior to living in Joshua Tree, Mindy and her husband, photographer Drew Reese, resided in San Francisco where she owned a successful home accessories design firm.  Mindy holds a BFA from Parsons School of Design in NYC.  

Director Buford Crites
desertbuford@verizon.net
Mr. Crites is a Board member of Friends of the Desert Mountains and is on the Colorado River Regional Water Quality Control Board (Imperial, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego counties). He is a former mayor of Palm Desert, a dedicated citizen, volunteer, professor, and a member of the Palm Desert city council since 1986.  Born in Owensville, MO, he moved to the desert in 1976. He attended Southwest Missouri State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1970.  The following year Mr. Crites earned a Master of Science degree in information sciences from Illinois State University.  Mr. Crites is an Emeriti Professor of Communication at College of the Desert, having recently retired.  He has served on a number of commissions and councils, and has received many prestigious awards for his work and service. 

Director Owen Gillick
ogillick@roadrunner.com
Upon retiring after 23 years of service with the U.S. Marine Corps in 1975, Colonel Gillick and his wife settled in Twentynine Palms where he began working in various capacities with the predecessor organization of Copper Mountain College (CMC). He also served as the Executive Director of Friends of Copper Mountain College, the fundraising arm of CMC. He was active with the Morongo Basin United Way in the 1980s, serving as its president for two years. Owen chaired the committee for the incorporation (cityhood) of Twentynine Palms in 1987 and was president of the Twentynine Palms Water District Board of Directors for four years starting in 1989. He was on the Desert Community College Board of Trustees from 1997 until 1999 when CMC formed its own district. Owen returned to CMC in 2001 as Executive Director of the Copper Mountain College Foundation (formerly Friends of Copper Mountain College). He was a founding member of both the Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council and Action Council for 29 Palms and has also served as president of the Joshua Tree National Park Association. Owen is currently Vice President of the Basin Wide Foundation and serves on the Board of Trustees of Copper Mountain College.

Painting © Diane Best