ALC is a true non profit! Our officers are among the top volunteers and donors to ALC.
Now that's leading by example!
JENNIFER FIELDER, MT - Chief Executive Officer (Acting/Volunteer)
Jennifer resides in scenic Northwest Montana with her husband Paul, a retired wildlife biologist. They are avid outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy hunting, fire-wooding, gardening, and tending their land for optimal forest health and wildlife habitat. Jennifer's professional background includes stints in public utilities, public works, ski instruction & coaching, and parks & recreation administration. She spent most of her career operating a planning, design, and construction firm that specialized in outdoor recreation facilities and multi-faceted landscapes. In 2012 she was elected to the Montana State Senate where she served until 2020. She was then elected to the Montana Public Service Commission where she presently works full time.
What led her to ALC? As a freshman Senator in 2013 Fielder recognized the critical need for better management of federally controlled public lands to reduce wildfire risks and open up balanced recreation and economic opportunities. She introduced SJ-15 which created an intensive state study of federal lands. This is when she became one of America's leading advocates for the transfer of federal lands to willing states. Fielder knows that restoring balance, reducing federal bureaucracy, and strengthening the local voice in public land management is the key to better outcomes for environmental quality, economic productivity, and recreational opportunities for all. She also knows it is the constitutional right of each state to govern the lands and resources within their own borders. Her advocacy in both respects earned her Montana Agricultural Women's "Keeper of the Tenth Award" -- for outstanding defense of the rights of the States and the People in accordance with the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
As a legislator, Fielder chaired the Senate Fish and Game Committee, Vice Chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired the Legislative Council on River Governance (a 4 state council covering Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana); and was a member of the Senate Natural Resources Committee, Legislative Environmental Quality Council, Water Policy Interim Committee, State Tribal Relations Committee, and Legislative Consumer Committee. She holds a Bachelors of Science Degree in Parks & Recreation with a coaching minor from Western State College of Colorado, and an Associate in Applied Sciences in ski instruction and coaching as well as an Associate in Arts and Sciences from Wenatchee Valley College in Washington State.
ALAN GARDNER, UT - Chairman of the Board
Alan D. Gardner, grew up in SW Utah, where he remains active as part of the 4th generation on the family ranch. He married Kathryn Dawkins of Buckeye, Arizona, in 1971 and they have made Southern Utah their home. They are the parents of five children and have fourteen grandchildren.
Alan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from Brigham Young University. He has served as president of the Washington County Cattlemen’s Association, the Dixie Jr. Livestock Show and the Washington County Diabetes Association. He is also active in his church, serving in leadership roles.
Alan honorably served for 20 years as a Washington County, Utah Commissioner before retiring in 2017. During this time he was active in the Utah Association of Counties (UAC), and chosen as one of the outstanding elected officials in Utah. Alan also served on the National Association of Counties (NACo) Public Land Steering Committee and Chaired the Public Lands Management Sub Committee for eight years.
Alan is past President of the Western Interstate Region (WIR) which is comprised of the Western fifteen states in NACo, and received its Dale Soward’s Award for his service to public lands. Alan is dedicated to more responsible management of public lands through the transfer of public lands to state control, and continues to work hard on this important issue.
MARTI HALVERSON, WY - Immediate Past Chairman of the Board
Marti retired from the medical durable goods industry and ran for a seat in the Wyoming State House of Representatives in 2012. Known for integrity, enthusiasm, hard work, and straight-forwardness Marti served honorably until 2019 and then moved on to work full time within Wyoming's liberty movement.
She has been active in civic service most of her adult life, and remains active in the Star Valley Medical Auxiliary, American Legion Auxiliary, Star Valley Chamber of Commerce, and Wyoming Girls State Committee.
Marti was a key member of the Wyoming House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee for 5 years, and has served on the House Judiciary Committee as well as the National Council of State Legislators Law & Criminal Justice Committees, and Interstate Compact for Juveniles.
In 2015 she was named Legislator of the Year by the American Legislative Exchange Council, a national non profit, non-partisan organization that promotes the principles of free markets, limited government, federalism and individual liberty.
DOUG HEATON, UT - Vice President of Finance, Secretary, Treasury
Doug was born in Panguitch, Utah to Vard and Florence Heaton of Alton, Utah and spent his early years in a happy, hard working family supported by a livestock operation. He worked on the family ranch when he wasn't in school until he was 19 years old, when he was called to serve a mission in Canada for the LDS Church. He returned in 1970 and went to Brigham Young University where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1973. While at BYU he met his sweetheart Coleen Christensen and they were married in August of that year.
Doug and Coleen moved to Florida where they became partners in a logging business. In 1978 they returned to Utah, and Doug went to work for Kiabab Industries as a timber faller until 1992 when Kiabab closed. Next Doug started up a successful General Contracting business which he owned and operated for twenty years. In 2008 he filed for political office, running for the Kane County Commission and won. He was a highly regarded county commissioner but retired in 2016 when he and Colleen were called to serve a church mission in southern California.
Along the way Doug and Coleen became parents of fourteen children, thirteen of whom are still living. Doug loves flying and studying America's Founding Fathers. Among his goals is a quest to implement the Founding Fathers’ political principles of liberty, self reliance, and justice in County and State Government.
