“The Bridger-Teton National Forest staff are so passionate about their jobs and the public land that they are charged with stewarding for a diversity of uses. They have so many needs that I wanted to get involved to support it,” says FBT Board member Marshall Durston. “The people with their boots on the ground in the forest—I am just so impressed with the caliber of them,and, of course, the Bridger-Teton National Forest itself is just so spectacular.”
A resident of Wilson, Marshall says he and his wife Robin love hiking and biking on the BTNF trails around nearby Teton Pass, which is part of the BTNF’s Jackson District. But he understands that the BTNF is both vast and diverse. “I look forward to exploring and talking to people in and around all of the different districts,” he says. “I understand that each district and its neighboring communities have different needs and struggles, which I see as both challenges and opportunities.”
While Marshall has retired from a long career in real estate and as a chief investment officer, his professional background is a good fit for Friends of Bridger-Teton at this time in the organization’s history. “Friends of the Bridger-Teton and its mission is at its infancy stage right now. It has already done some phenomenal work, but it is also still growing. Looking at my professional career, I was more of a builder than an operator. I enjoy helping organizations grow strategically to realize their potential.”
Marshall was also drawn to joining FBT’s Board because of how the organization prioritizes getting work done over accolades. “What we care about is meeting the needs of the BTNF staff and of the BTNF; if we can partner with groups to execute something that benefits the forest—great. We don’t care about the recognition, we are all about addressing needs,” he says.