Dave Johnson is a Conservationist and retired Pachyderm Zookeeper in Denver, Colorado.  He has a degree in Wildlife Biology and in 2014 co-founded the Katie Adamson Conservation Fund, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, to help endangered animal species throughout the world through education and community engagement.

Dave’s passion for animals is a perfect fit for like-minded individuals and organizations.  Throughout his long 25-year animal career, he has managed to unite people and create something unique and very special in the world of conservation, all of which culminated in the formation of the KACF.

He has authored three conservation picture books that are used throughout the USA and world to introduce and educate kids of all ages about endangered species.  His hallmark book, Zoodiac Kids, replaces the zodiac signs with ZOOdiac signs – one endangered animal representing each month of the year.  His next book is currently underway and scheduled for release by the end of 2023 in four languages – English, Spanish, Nepali and Swahili.

As of 2023, he has traveled twelve times to Nepal with zookeepers and members of the community from throughout the USA to spread education and passion.  Tanzania, South Africa and  Costa Rica are receiving the same treatment.

While growth and new directions are inevitable, Dave’s involvement on the KACF Board of Directors helps to ensure that the fund remains aligned to his original vision.

 

Ray Lucero BIO coming soon.

 

Shelley Lowery Manos is a Sales Manager and part-owner of Continental Chemicals, LLC, one of the largest privately held Native American businesses in the United States. She resides in Greenville, SC, where she lives with her teenage children and their dog Bernedoodle, a lively presence that keeps her both happy and busy.

Shelley first met Dave Johnson in the late eighties at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). His love for animals was both undeniable and infectious. Nearly 40 years later, Shelley's family serendipitously attended one of his presentations at the Denver Zoo, rekindling their friendship. This re-connection eventually led her to an enriching trip to South Africa with KACF in 2023 and sparked her interest in joining the KACF team.

As a proud member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, Shelley actively participates in tribal and cultural awareness events within her community. She cherishes opportunities to share her heritage and promote diversity to elementary, middle, and high school students.

In her leisure time, Shelley enjoys gardening, playing the piano and guitar, watching her children play baseball and softball, and traveling. With visits to 15 countries under her belt, she hopes her love for nature, people, culture, and conservation will lead to even more adventures.

John Conklin is an experienced attorney based in Denver, Colorado, who has been defending medical doctors sued for malpractice for 29 years. In 2010, his oldest son developed a strong interest in elephants and the Conklin family started volunteering at the zoo in Denver, which was in the process of creating a new Asian elephant exhibit. Through their involvement at the zoo, they developed a close relationship with Dave Johnson, co-founder of the KACF, and became increasingly engaged in conservation efforts.

Their initial involvement with the KACF was through attending and donating to the annual Katie's Night event, which eventually led to their participation in various projects and elephant fence repair in Nepal in 2015. Despite obstacles such as John's trial schedule and the Covid-19 pandemic, the Conklin family has remained committed to the KACF, donating, attending local events, and participating in fundraising efforts such as the Zulu Nyala safari package, which they purchased two of and plan to use soon.

John is proud to be a supporter of the KACF and is eager to deepen his involvement by joining its Board of Directors.

Wesley Stagg is an IT professional and volunteer firefighter with a passion for nature and conservation. He currently resides in Denver CO with his wife and spends most of his free time enjoying everything Colorado has to offer.

Wesley attended college at the University of Memphis and studied graphic design before finding a passion for Information Technology. He has been in the IT field for over 25 years and has worked for several large companies including Citrix and Dell specializing in virtualization, security and cloud first technologies.

He has been involved with KACF for several years and has traveled with groups to Nepal and Costa Rica. These trips solidified his passion for conservation and education and led to his drive to be more involved with the organization. In his last trip to Costa Rica, he was married to his wife Heather by a very special officiant named Dave Johnson, Co-founder and Executive Director of the KACF!

Wesley brings a love of nature, conservation and education to the KACF board. His goal is to use his unique talents and skills to further the mission of KACF and be an advocate for conservation around the world.