Having lived in the West all her life, Jo hails from Ketchum, Idaho, where she has served numerous boards of directors, the Blaine County Planning and Zoning Commission, and is active with numerous environmental groups. An artist by trade, Jo was elected to Vital Ground’s board of trustees in October. She says Vital Ground’s mission and vision are important to her because the organization’s work is vital to creating wildlife pathways, genetic diversity, and is crucial to the health and welfare of multiple species. “If conserving healthy ecosystems that provide genetic diversity is one way to stave off the worst effects of climate change,” she says, “then the work of Vital Ground is not just about the future of the grizzly bear, but about the future health of many species, including our own.” Jo has a horse, has ridden all her life, and loves skiing, hiking and biking.