TINS Board of Directors

 Ron Hemig, Board Chair

Ron and his wife Pat came to Truckee in 1992 and became involved with community organizations including Rotary and the Truckee Donner Chamber of Commerce. Ron ultimately served two terms as Chamber President and then moved on to start his lengthy tenure with the Truckee Donner Public Utility District. In 2017, Ron’s real estate career expanded and he now offers a unique and very personal brand of real estate services in a much larger market area including Truckee, Tahoe and adjoining counties.

As the Chair for The Tahoe Institute for Natural Science, Ron’s primary focus is to ensure that the organization stays on mission, meets its financial objectives and continues to enjoy steady and stable growth in its three key programming areas – research, education and outreach. If there is any time left over, Ron can be found participating in his favorite pastime - birding - and enjoying the natural beauty of our region.

Kristine Mitchell, Vice Chair

As a 3rd generation Tahoe resident, Kristine is passionate about her community and sharing all things Lake Tahoe with others. Most recently, she served as VP Trail Use for the Tahoe Rim Trail Association and a volunteer guide on the 165-mile trail. She earned her degree in Mass Communications: Business and Marketing from the University of California, Berkeley. Previously, she served as a youth program leader in local schools, and with Marin Community Food Bank and United way of the Bay Area. Currently, Kristine specializes in Lake Tahoe-Sierra real estate, as a Nevada and California Realtor.

She enthusiastically supports the work of TINS to help connect our children and communities to nature, through field research and hands-on science education, so we can better understand the importance of preserving Lake Tahoe wildlife and natural resources for generations to come.

Markham Gross, Treasurer

Markham is excited to be part of TINS because of the research, education, and outreach efforts which help advance knowledge and conservation of the Tahoe region.Markham originally arrived in Tahoe by luck in the spring of 2000 from Central Florida when an action sports equipment business he had founded was acquired by a company then located in Truckee, CA. After responsibilities with the merger were complete, Markham decided to call Tahoe his home. He has lived along the North Shore areas of Tahoe between 2000–2006, and was grateful to return in 2013 as a full time resident, making Incline Village his home. Markham is a Futures Trader, and is Founder and Principle of an emerging Commodity Trading Advisory firm. Markham is passionate about the Tahoe region, and all it has to offer. He enjoys skiing, hiking, cycling, running, and swimming around the area

Joy Barney

Joy is inspired by everything that has to do with nature, and loves to share that passion with others, especially young people.  She majored in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology from University of California at Davis and worked for the U.S. Forest Service for 31 years in forestry, nature interpretation and finally in her dream job as a Conservation Education Program Specialist in Lake Tahoe.  Her work with the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit included managing educational programs for pre-K through high school youth, and supervising the Taylor Creek Visitor Center and the Tallac Historic Site.  She built the Generation Green program of Lake Tahoe, connecting high school youth with the outdoors and environmental careers through a summer employment program.

Health reasons caused Joy and her family to move to a lower elevation and leave her beloved Tahoe.  Now retired and living in the Sacramento area, she continues to be passionate about connecting people to the outdoors and is excited stay connected with Tahoe by supporting TINS with all of their wonderful programs!

Tim Kosier

Tim grew up in South Dakota with an emphasis on outdoor activities, which fostered his active commitment to the environment and conservation as an adult. Marrying into a Bay Area family that spent a lifetime enjoying the Tahoe region gave him annual opportunities to absorb the beauty of the Lake Tahoe basin. Those experiences inspired him and his wife Betsy to move permanently from the Midwest to Carson City in 2009, one of his best decisions ever.

During his 35+ career, Tim developed and directed services for people with developmental disabilities. He now puts his Master of Education degree to use volunteering, with a particular emphasis on children's programs. A love of science and Tahoe lead him to being a docent and advisory board member at UC Davis' Tahoe Environmental Research Center. In addition to making time for hiking, snowshoeing and kayaking, he nurtures kids' curiosity in science as a volunteer for TINS summer "Bug Camps," Sierra Watershed Education Partnerships and the US Forest Service. During the school year, Tim is a 1st grade classroom volunteer and on weekends he hangs out with his 11-year-old "Little Brother" through the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization.

Will Richardson, PhD(See Staff )

Martin Swinehart

Martin spent his past life working in the world of for-profit marketing, PR and event management. Experience includes a start-up airline in Austria, the American Chamber of Commerce, importing Australian aboriginal art, and 10 + years working in event marketing and public relations.

It is unclear exactly when he got hooked on the outdoors – it may have happened standing knee deep in the Truckee River, staring at a dry-fly and waiting for a trout to rise. Or it may have been while swimming in Marlette Lake after getting there on a mountain bike. His passion for nature pours over into helping nature-based non profits like TINS utilize and understand new and relevant approaches to outreach, marketing, and PR.

Brian Wright

Information coming soon.