Jillian Balow |
Human Services Policy Advisor |
777-8206 |
Jillian Balow has an undergraduate degree in education from the University of Wyoming and a master's degree in education from Regis University in Denver. She is a third generation Wyomingite with family roots in the Big Horn Basin. After leaving the classroom as a secondary language arts teacher, she spent five years working on education and literacy initiatives at the Wyoming Department of Education. As a member of Governor Mead's staff, she works on various policy issues including those related to children, families, and communities. In addition to having an avid interest in Wyoming state government and the legislative process, Jillian enjoys running, downhill skiing, and reading. Her husband, John, is a junior high school principal and they have two children, Paiton and Jack.
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Steve Ferrell |
Wildlife and Endangered
Species Policy Advisor |
777-8248 |
From 2008 to 2011, Steve Ferrell served as director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department where he addressed issues involving the state’s wildlife resources including wolves, grizzly bears, sage grouse conservation, wildlife diseases and invasive species. Prior to coming to Wyoming, Steve worked for 30 years with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Steve graduated from the University of Arizona with honors in 1978, became a Certified Public Manager in 1988 and graduated from the inaugural class of the National Conservation Leadership Institute in 2006. He is married to his wife of 33 years, Debbie, a retired schoolteacher. Their daughter is a psychologist in Portland, Oregon and their son, a combat veteran of the Iraqi War, is currently deployed in Afghanistan with the Army Reserves.
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Rebekah Fitzgerald |
Natural Resources Policy Analyst |
777-8204 |
Rebekah Fitzgerald is a third generation Johnson County native who grew up in Buffalo. She attended Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, OK where she graduated cum laude in May 2009 with a Bachelors of Arts degree in political science. Rebekah worked as the Outreach Coordinator for Governor Matt Mead’s 2010 campaign and also served on Governor Mead’s Transition Team. In her spare time, Rebekah enjoys spending time in the outdoors and woodworking.
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Gary Hartman |
Juvenile Justice Policy Advisor |
777-5771 |
Gary P. Hartman graduated from Basin High School and attended the University of Wyoming where he received his undergraduate and law degrees. He practiced law in the Big Horn Basin for 10 years and was later appointed to the District Court bench by Governor Ed Herschler. He served in the 5th Judicial District for 25 years before joining Governor Dave Freudenthal’s staff as an advisor on juvenile justice issues. He continues to serve Governor Matt Mead in the same capacity today. Gary and his wife Betsy enjoy traveling and riding their Honda motorcycle during the summer months. Gary is a U.S Air Force veteran and served 1 year in Vietnam.
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Mary Kay Hill |
Deputy Policy Director |
777-8239 |
Mary Kay Hill has worked on the development and implementation of education policy in Wyoming for the past 16 years. She served in leadership positions at the Wyoming Department of Education and for Governor Jim Geringer. She has advised a number of Wyoming public officials at the federal, state and local level. She is a graduate of the University of Wyoming, with a degree in journalism. She and her husband, Bill, live in Cheyenne. They are the parents of two college students, Brian and Erin.
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Elizabeth Hoy |
Health Care Policy Advisor |
777-3465 |
Prior to joining the Governor’s staff as Health Care Policy Advisor in July 2011, Elizabeth Hoy served as Vice-President of Strategic Development for Cheyenne Health Services Management. Her 30-year career includes health care management, policy and research from the perspectives of patients, providers, payers, and purchasers. From 2007 to 2010, she served as Assistant Director for Regulatory Affairs and Quality Improvement of the American College of Surgeons in Washington, DC. Elizabeth holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Florida and a Master of Health Administration degree from the University of Washington. She is married to Jeff Hoy, a native of Cheyenne. Jeff is a nuclear engineer and retired naval officer. They have two adult children. Christopher (28) is a mechanical engineer and Lauren (21) is a college senior, majoring in international relations and Chinese language studies.
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Rob Hurless |
Energy Strategy Advisor |
777-3654 |
Rob Hurless is Energy Strategy Advisor to Governor Matt Mead. He also works as the Deputy Director of the Carbon Management Institute at the School of Energy Resources at the University of Wyoming. Prior to these current assignments he served as Energy and Telecommunications Advisor to Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal. He came to this position from a tour as Chairman of the Wyoming Public Service Commission. For the bulk of his career Hurless was Publisher of the Casper Star-Tribune. He served as an officer aboard the USS Quapaw, ATF 110, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
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Kathryn (Kathy) Lind |
Policy Assistant |
777-7928 |
Kathy grew up in northern Minnesota in a region known as the Iron Range. She moved to Colorado where she met her husband, Dave, and together they raised three children. Their family includes: a son, Will, a mechanical engineer, and his wife, Crystal, who live in Colorado; a son, Jonathan, a third year medical student in Colorado; and a daughter, Samantha, a third year law student at the University of Wyoming. In 2003, after moving to Wyoming, Kathy earned an associate’s degree from Laramie County Community College. Her career path has included working for small businesses, corporations, school districts and state government.
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Colin McKee |
Energy Policy Analyst |
777-7930 |
Colin McKee was born and raised in Missouri. After receiving degrees in Finance and Economics from Drury University in 2008, Colin accepted the position of finance director for a personal security firm located in Timor-Leste. Upon his return, he took on various opportunities working as a business development consultant. In his free time, Colin enjoys watching college football, reading non-fiction books and a host of outdoor activities, especially fly fishing.
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Shawn Reese |
Policy Director |
777-8218 |
Shawn Reese worked at the Wyoming Business Council for nearly eight years where he served as the director of the Wyoming Business Council’s Investment Ready Communities division. Shawn also developed and managed the Business Ready Community program, which was created by the Wyoming Legislature in 2003. Shawn is a third generation native of Wyoming. He received his undergraduate degree in sociology from the University of Wyoming where he also completed Master’s work in urban planning. His wife, Aimee, is the director of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum. They have two children, Clara and Owen. When he’s not spending time with his family, Shawn paints portraits and scenes of Wyoming.
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Jerimiah Rieman |
Natural Resources Policy Advisor |
777-5629 |
Jerimiah L. Rieman served as administrator of the Wyoming Workforce Development Council since July 2006 before joining Governor Matt Mead’s Policy Office. During that time, he also served as Policy and Legislative Advisor to the Department of Workforce Services. Since February 2010 he has overseen American Recovery and Reinvestment Act implementation, accountability and transparency efforts within Wyoming. Jerimiah graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism in 2001. The fifth generation Wyoming native also is a 2009 graduate of Leadership Wyoming. Jerimiah enjoys skiing, mountain biking, Wyoming's great outdoors. He and his wife Kristen are the proud parents of identical twin boys Boden and Potter.
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Ellen Skinner |
Policy Analyst |
777-8922 |
| Ellen Skinner has worked in a variety of businesses and agencies, including XCEL Energy, the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, McKesson Health Solutions, Sublette County School District 1 and the Governor’s Office as a policy advisor, communications staff member, environmental remediation technician, writer, strategic planner, research manager and community relations specialist. Ellen grew up in Pinedale where her family operated a wilderness school and big game outfitting business. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in range management from the University of Wyoming and a Masters degree in communications from Colorado State University. Ellen has one grown daughter, a mechanical engineer, currently living in Colorado. She enjoys skiing, hiking, camping and reading. |