Ryan is a seasoned nonprofit executive with nearly two decades of experience driving revenue growth, building high-performing teams, and advancing organizational impact. Most recently Interim President and CEO at Morris Animal Foundation, Ryan has led strategic direction and operations in support of groundbreaking animal health research. He previously served as Chief Development Officer at the Foundation, increasing revenue by 70% and building innovative donor engagement programs. His earlier roles at Rocky Mountain Public Media and The Coca-Cola Company sharpened his expertise in strategy, fundraising, and marketing. At Rocky Mountain Public Media, Ryan successfully led a multi-year, $34 million capital campaign to build a new media center in downtown Denver, experience that aligns powerfully with Butterfly Pavilion’s vision to establish a future global hub for invertebrate research, conservation, and education. Ryan serves on Colorado State University’s Community Impact Committee for the Veterinary Health System and holds a journalism degree from the University of Kansas. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, fly fishing, and spending time with his wife, Courtney, their two children, and their pets.

Mary Ann grew up in south Texas where she found her love for invertebrates and received a Bachelor of Science in Bioenvironmental Sciences and Entomology in 2001 from Texas A&M University, College Station. In 2010 she received her master’s degree in Education – Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment from Regis University, Denver, CO. From 2010-2022 Mary Ann oversaw the growth of Butterfly Pavilion’s science, research, and conservation programs focused on invertebrate breeding with an emphasis on welfare and sustainable populations, as well as Butterfly Pavilion’s Pollinator Awareness through Conservation and Education (PACE) initiative, which focuses on habitat restoration, monitoring and pollination work. She oversees the Leading Environmental Action for Sustainability (LEAFS) program and is dedicated to bringing a unique perspective to sustainable business by supporting habitat and invertebrate conservation through innovative concepts like butterfly farming and beekeeping. Mary Ann has consulted on three NASA space shuttle missions, 2008-2011, for life science experiments with butterflies and spiders on the International Space Station. She led Butterfly Pavilion through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums accreditation process, awarded in 2014 and 2019; Butterfly Pavilion is the only standalone AZA-accredited invertebrate zoo in the world. She collaboratively formed the Colorado Pollinator Network in 2016 and continues to chair this state-wide network, now supporting an annual Pollinator Summit. Mary Ann spearheads the consultation, design and planning for permanent butterfly houses and exhibits nationally and internationally.  She serves as affiliate faculty and mentor to graduate students in the Department of Biology at CSU.

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Erin MacGuire has 10 years of financial executive leadership experience and over 25 years as a CPA. She has previously held positions as CFO at Big Green, a non-profit organization connecting kids to real food through a nationwide network of Learning Gardens and food literacy programs and at the YMCA of Metropolitan Denver. She has also held positions at for profit companies, including as an auditor, consultant and VP of Finance. She relocated to Colorado from New England and enjoys discovering all the outdoor activities Colorado has to offer with her husband and four children.

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Russ previously served as Director of Mountain Communications for Vail Resorts and Director of Communications for Heavenly Mountain Resort at Lake Tahoe. He also managed high-tech accounts for The Hoffman Agency, a global public relations firm in San Jose, California. Pecoraro graduated from Santa Clara University with a degree in communications. Pecoraro, his wife, Lindsay, and kids, Mia and Dominic, have been Butterfly Pavilion members since 2013.

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Rich oversees the Horticultural and Curatorial Departments, in addition to the Research and Conservation Department. According to Butterfly Pavilion President and CEO Patrick Tennyson, “Rich is a tremendous leader in conservation today. He is extremely well-versed, vastly knowledgeable, and passionate about developing the next generation of invertebrate scientists. Rich is shaping and reprioritizing the value of invertebrates in global conservation efforts, and, through his talents, magnifying their importance.” 

Rich serves as an Adjunct Professor within the Department of Biology at the University of Denver; Affiliate Faculty with the Department of Agricultural Biology at Colorado State University; and a Fellow with the University of Nebraska’s Center for Great Plains Studies. Prior to joining Butterfly Pavilion, Rich spent 19 years running the Conservation Biology program at Denver Zoological Foundation. 

Rich received a Ph.D. and three master’s degrees from Yale University in Wildlife Ecology and Human Dimensions of Wildlife and an Honorary Doctorate from the National Education University of Mongolia. In 2020, Rich was honored to receive the Order of the Polar Star, the highest honor from the Mongolian National Government for expatriates, for contributions to conservation. He has conducted or overseen projects in dozens of countries, working primarily on grassland and arid ecosystems on six continents, with a focus on the Great Plains of North America, the steppes and deserts of Mongolia, the savannahs and deserts of Botswana, and the Altiplano of Peru. Rich’s work focuses on developing pragmatic, effective, and interdisciplinary approaches to the conservation of wildlife and protected areas through research, capacity development, and working with local people and governments. Rich also serves on the board of directors or advisors for several non-profit organizations in the United States and overseas and as an associate editor for 5 scientific journals. Rich was also appointed to serve a four-year term on the Governor’s Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission. 

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With a distinguished 23-year journey in the nonprofit sector, Shartrina White embodies a deep-rooted passion for crafting educational programs that champion the protection and reverence of all life forms. Shartrina steers a dynamic team of educators, interpreters, and volunteers, orchestrating enriching experiences tailored for a diverse audience. Her pivotal role includes creating and executing curriculum and outreach initiatives in sync with Butterfly Pavilion’s unwavering mission – the conservation of invertebrates and their respective habitats.

Shartrina has managed multifaceted responsibilities throughout her career spanning strategic planning, budgeting, fundraising endeavors, marketing, communications, operations, and team development. She has spearheaded several campaigns and events, further refining her skills in marketing communications, fundraising, and advocacy. Shartrina’s dedication and strategic approach stand as a testament to her contributions in elevating mission-driven organizations to new heights.

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