Our Board of Directors


Our nine-member board of directors are all volunteers, comprising a cross-section of recreational interests in the Kodiak community.  We meet approximately once per month in 90-minute "working lunch" meetings.  Our board serves the organization in the following ways:

  • Make an annual meaningful financial contribution to ITN
  • Participate in formulation and oversight of ITN policies & procedures
  • Determine and evaluate the organization's mission & strategic goals
  • Identify & recruit new members, board members, partners & funders
  • Participate in reviewing & approving budget annually
  • Provide input and leadership on fundraising decisions
  • Serve on at least one ITN committee annually 
  • Read minutes & stay informed on ITN matters
  • Help ITN meet legal and ethical requirements
  • Perform other responsibilities designated by the board
  • Provide leadership on planning ITN events & meetings
  • Are members of ITN

Meet Our Board:
Ian Hurst
President

Ian is a recent transplant to Kodiak but has appreciated mountains, rivers, oceans, forests, wind, rain, snow and tough, individualistic people and animals his whole life. He believes that wild places are an essential part of our world that deserve special attention and that we all have a right to access and duty to protect them, which are both key endeavors of Island Trails Network. When he’s not flying helicopters for the Coast Guard, he tries to be hiking/backpacking, telemark skiing, surfing or kayaking. He and his wife Stephanie have three other family members who also love Kodiak: two small twins and one large German shepherd. 

Term Expires 12/31/2020

Dan Urban
Vice President

Dan works for the National Marine Fisheries service as a fisheries biologist, after a career with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. He holds a BS from the University of Wisconsin and a MS from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. Dan has lived in Kodiak for 20 years and really enjoys the opportunities it provides for kayaking, biking, and hiking. Dan and his wife Kim have one dog and four chickens. Term Expires 12/31/2020

Lisa Fox
Secretary

Lisa grew up in Kodiak and recently returned home with her husband Jason, daughter Isla, and dog Shumagin.  She works for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game as the Assistant Area Management Biologist for the Alaska Peninsula and Aleutian Islands and holds a BS in Biology from UAF and a MS in Fisheries from the University of Washington.  She spends her summers in Cold Bay and winters in Kodiak.  Lisa enjoys hiking, running, hunting, fishing, boating, scuba diving, four-wheeling, skiing, and kayaking and is currently learning how to do all these things with a toddler on her back (except scuba diving).  She loves travelling around remote places in Alaska as well as the rest of the US and world, but Kodiak is her favorite place to be.

Term Expires 12/31/2019




Eric Linscheid

Eric is a type 1 diabetic of 43 years. He attributes his excellent health to being physically active on a daily basis. Much of that activity is on Kodiak trails either biking or hiking. He and his wife, Mary, moved to Kodiak after graduating from the University of Minnesota-Duluth with an MS in Geology. They built their home and raised two sons in Kodiak. Eric retired from Kodiak High School where he was a science and health teacher. He also spent numerous summers commercial salmon fishing with family and friends around the island. Recently, he joined the KIB Parks and Recreation board. He is looking forward to improving, maintaining, and building trails with ITN.

Term Expires 12/31/21
Darron Scott

Darron and his wife Carol arrived in Kodiak in 2000.  Shortly after that they had their first child Cole and then followed a couple of years later by their daughter Sara.  Darron has a BSME from Texas A&M University and is the President and CEO of Kodiak Electric Association.  Darron enjoys many of the aspects of what our amazing island of Kodiak has to offer including, hiking, trail running and kayaking.  Through life and through work, Darron wants to continue to support the natural beauty of Kodiak.
 
Term Expires 12/31/21
Patrick Saltonstall 
Founding director

Patrick is curator of the Alutiiq museum in Kodiak and a registered professional archaeologist.  He holds a BA from Harvard University and a MA from the University of Wisconsin.  He serves on the borough Parks & Recreation committee and recently completed service on the Alaska State Parks advisory board where he advocated for land use easements and trail creation.  Patrick is an accomplished cross-country and downhill skier, boasting a ski ascent of Mt. Shishaldin, several first descents on Kodiak and skiing 209 days one year. Patrick and his wife Zoya have a 9-year old daughter Nora, 8-year old son Stuart, and 2 dogs.  Term Expires 12/31/19
Ben Millstein

Ben arrived on the ferry in 1994 with his then-girlfriend Karen. Within a little while they were married with kids and a house and no desire to live anywhere else. He enjoys mountain biking, trail running, hiking, kayaking, and skiing. Ben and Karen raised two kids and a brewery here and don't have any plans to leave.  Ben believes trail use has increased with the change in demographics over time. Kodiak is a tough place to get to, and to get around. That helps keep it wild and wonderful, but still not immune to the impact of increased back country use.  Ben hopes to increase recreation opportunities as well as minimize degradation through planning, design and maintenance.

Term Expires 12/31/2019
Howard Valley

Howard was born and raised in Kodiak is an avid hiker and trail runner.  He has assisted ITN with aerial interpretation of trail conditions using his drone.  Howard is a shareholder and employee of Afognak Native Corporation.

Term Expires 12/31/2020
Erin Welty
Founding Director

Erin grew up in Alaska and is an avid hiker, motorized user and lover of all things outdoors.  She returned to Kodiak and ITN in 2019 after leaving nine years earlier to be near aging parents in Wyoming.  Erin holds a BS in Abused Land Rehabilitation and is the Community Development Director at the Kodiak Island Borough.  She believes that community partnership and grass roots efforts are the keys to successful trail systems and recreation areas, particularly in small communities like Kodiak.  Erin and her husband, Kevin, have three grown children who are off on their own adventures.  When not outdoors on one of Kodiak's trails or beaches with their three dogs, they are indulging in their newfound love of travel.


Term Expires 12/31/2021