Board of Trustees
Chair: Carl Spikner
Carl’s background includes leading a consumer product business unit for a Fortune 100 company and development and financial management for not-for-profit organizations. Carl currently works for the National Development Council providing advisory services to drive capital investment in affordable housing and supporting community development initiatives. Carl’s first exposure to CFI was as Head of School for an Inclusive Montessori school in the Salt Lake Valley, providing his students the opportunity to engage in CFI programming.
Secretary: Emily Cox
Emily, originally from Washington DC and now a resident of Moab, is a lifelong educator, outdoor enthusiast and professional musician. She began her career as a high school French teacher in the Baltimore Public Schools and then, after several years of teaching, eventually went on to become a public school principal at the Mather Elementary School in Boston, Massachusetts. There she prioritized experiential education and partnerships with organizations such as the Farm for City Kids and Outward Bound. Prior to moving to Moab in 2021, Emily was the Head of School at the Willow Creek Academy Charter School in Sausalito, California.
Jonathan Brogaard
Jonathan Brogaard is the Kendall D. Garff Chaired Professor of Finance at the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business. He is passionate about finance, education, and the outdoors. Jonathan enjoys using data to help students and practitioners address complex financial problems. Outside of work, he is an avid skier, climber, and runner who finds inspiration and balance in the mountains and outdoors.
Dee Gulledge
Born and raised in Ft. Worth, Texas, Dee found her way to Moab at the end of 2004. As an avid
mountain biker, hiker, and backpacker, she was astounded she could now access her passions
daily without having to take time off from work. There was no looking back!
In 2023, she retired after more than 40 years in nursing and health care. In Moab, she had the
privilege of working at Allen Memorial Hospital and helping to open the new Canyonlands Care
Center in 2011. The last ten years of her nursing career, she had the distinct pleasure to serve
our veterans at the Moab VA Primary Care Clinic.
After devoting much of her community service to the Moab Regional Hospital Board, Dee is
excited to support the mission of CFI and have the opportunity to expose so many to the
nurturing, healing, and inspiring omnipotence of nature.
In the heat of the summer, you will find Dee cooling off in the higher altitude of the beloved San Juan Mountains.
Diane Hanson
Diane's earliest interaction with CFI was participating on the very first or second women’s trip in 1985 which was called “Wild by Nature.” It changed her life and inspired her thinking. Robin and Karla were amazing leaders and educators, followed by so many others over the years. She has participated in CFI's adult programs almost every year for 35 years, and has new life lessons every time! She has been on the Canyonlands Field Institute board multiple times throughout the last 25 years, and is an ongoing supporter. She is a retired sales and marketing executive.
Deena Whitman
Deena Whitman is originally from Israel and attended American Military University, where she earned an undergraduate degree in Business Administration and later pursued a graduate degree in Management.
She is an experienced accountant and frequently volunteers her time and expertise in support of local causes. Deena is the owner of Savvy Ledgers in Moab, Utah and has over 10 years of experience as an accountant. Deena's professional path has been diverse and enriching, as she has worked with clients spanning a wide array of industries. Beyond her technical expertise, Deena's true passion lies in forging strong relationships. She was recently honored as the 2026 Southern Utah Entrepreneur of the Year.
Ex Officio: Michele Jordan Johnson
A West-side Detroit Street that ended with a cul de sac and a 20 acre park provided endless exploration for Michele while growing up, and led to abundant questions, thoughts, and theories about flora and fauna. Spending her summers in Battle Creek Michigan with a gardening and fishing grandmother, taking Sunday family drives across the border to Windsor, Canada to adventure in the outdoors, endless hours captivated by the Diego Rivera series of frescoes at the Detroit Institute of Arts, and camping trips just below the Upper Peninsula all led to Michele’s passion in scientific discovery and public health advocacy. From Detroit to Ann Arbor to Honolulu to Salt Lake City to the ultimate journey to Moab, Michele has experienced a diverse landscape of people, flora, fauna, and Joy. Prior to settling here in Moab, she was Director and Biosafety Specialist at the University of Utah in occupational and environmental health and safety as well as emergency management. Her professional career began as a specialist at the University of Hawaii in laboratory and agricultural health and safety. Michele received her BS in Botany from the University of Michigan and Masters in Public Health from the University of Hawaii. Always an advocate for making a difference in the lives of our planet’s youth, she has followed the philosophy of “Each one Reach one” and spent many years mentoring the young people in her life. CFI's mission to guide youth and adults to an emotional connection to the landscape and self in wild places fulfills Michele's purpose for being and becoming in Moab.