THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
MANAGEMENT & STAFF

The Washoe-Storey Conservation District is governed by a seven member Board of Supervisors. The board is a combination of elected and appointed citizens who make District policy and oversee the decisions and activities of the District. Current District Supervisors include:

ANDI KEMMERER ~ CONSERVATION ADMINSTRATOR - bio forthcoming

ERNIE NIELSEN, ESQUIRE ~ CHAIRMAN: Ernie Nielsen grew up in Lake County Illinois (northwest of

Chicago in the chain-o-lakes region). He spent his childhood fishing, exploring the surrounding rural terrain and learning that preservation of natural resources was a good thing from his father. Schooling included Lake villa grade School, Grayslake High School, Northwestern University, University of Illinois Law School and Sangamon State University (Now University of Illinois at Springfield) where Nielsen was working on his masters in Biology until his move to Nevada in 1986. In Reno Nevada he was the Executive Director of Washoe Legal Services, a public interest law firm providing free legal services for lower income Nevadans, and since 1995 has worked for Washoe County's Senior Law Project-again a public interest law firm providing free legal service to lower income elderly Nevadans. In such work he focuses on such issues as affordable housing, affordable energy, and consumer and elder rights. Nielsen has been a District Supervisor since around 1996 with a short hiatus in 2005 and 2006. Nielsen retains a strong interest in environmental justice, preservation and improvement of natural resources as well as ensuring the public's access to such natural resources. He believes the District can foster these interests in many ways. He believes that the District's value includes its capacity to facilitate productive relationships between government and private enterprise.

BRET TYLER ~VICE-CHAIRMAN: Bret Tyler was Born and raised in Reno, Nevada, and is also an active member in his community. Bret is a founder and former Board member the Lockwood Community Corporation and is currently on the Storey County Planning Commission, and in 2006, Bret was elected to the Canyon General Improvement District. In Bret’s spare time he enjoys playing softball, skiing, swimming, watching football, walking his three dogs as well as geocaching with his wife.

JIM SHAFFER ~SECRETARY: California State University Fresno 1974 B.S. Environmental Science California State University Chico 1990 Graduate Work Public Administration, Butte County Mosquito & Vector Control 1997-2002 Regional Supervisor, Washoe County District Health Department Environmentalist II.

BECKY MAHOLLAND ~ TREASURER: Becky began her duties and role as WSCD Treasurer in July 2008 and now focuses on the county's GIS and Mapping needs in Storey County. Becky has been a resident of Storey County for two years and lived in the Reno-Tahoe area for over 15 years. She attended the University of Nevada, Reno where she received an undergraduate degree in Geologic Sciences and a Master's in Hydrology, with a focus on fluvial and process geomorphology, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications and watershed assessments. She has previously worked with a Reno-based GIS firm, the Desert Research Institute (DRI), and the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board. She is currently employed as a Hydrologist and GIS Specialist with Foothills Associates, a local environmental consulting firm.

AUSTIN OSBORNE ~ SUPERVISOR:  Austin Osborne was born in Carson City and grew up in Dayton, Nevada. After a recent career change from teaching high school History and Government, he now works with Storey County as their land use planner. He also served the citizens of Storey County as a planning commissioner for approximately four years. Austin has a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master's in Education Business Administration; both degrees are from the University of Nevada, Reno. During his free time, Austin travels across the Nevada desert for weeks in search of historic ghost towns, mining sites, and natural wonders.

CITIES APPOINTED BOARD SUPERVISOR -Position open until filled.