Jan Brown

 2019-Present

Buoyed by a Bachelor of Science degree in Resource Recreation Management from Oregon State University, Jan spent her 43-year career conserving natural resources and advancing cooperative, sustainable enterprise across the Northern Rockies. She is best known locally for her collaborative approach to problem solving and use of community-building techniques, as evidenced by formation of the Henry’s Fork Watershed Council with the Fremont-Madison Irrigation District following the 1992 Island Park Dam sediment release. Jan has deep roots here in Idaho as she has been a Fremont County property owner for more than 35 years. She was introduced to Harriman State Park in the summer of 1977 as a staff member for the park’s first Youth Conservation Corps. After serving as interpretive specialist at Harriman from 1982-84, Jan left her state park position to co-develop Lucky Dog Retreat – a backwoods fishing lodge and Nordic ski center.

Jan served nine years as the first executive director of the Henry’s Fork Foundation (from 1991-2000) during which time she grew the organization and co-facilitated the Henry’s Fork Watershed Council. During her early career in Idaho, Jan was elected to the governing boards of both the Idaho Conservation League and the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. Jan was also the environmental representative on Governor Cecil Andrus’ Irrigation Water Conservation Task Force. Jan was recruited as executive director of the Yellowstone Business Partnership (YBP) in 2003. A major outcome of her 10 years with YBP was the Greater Yellowstone Framework for Sustainable Development in the Yellowstone-Teton region. From 2014-15, Jan managed a three-year, $1.5 million HUD Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant that she helped secure for Fremont, Madison and Teton counties, Idaho, and Teton County, Wyoming. This project – ultimately sponsored by Fremont County – resulted in 20 separate research studies and publication of the Teton View Regional Plan. Prior to her retirement in September 2019, Jan spent four years forming cooperatively-owned businesses as executive director of the Montana Cooperative Development Center. She is pleased to join the FHSP board of directors as she enters retirement. She has spent summers in Island Park since 2020 and hopes to assist FHSP with fundraising and interpretive programs. Jan looks forward to working with other directors and being part of such an effective organization.