Governor's Office
State Capitol, 200 West 24th Street
Cheyenne, WY 82002-0010
307.777.7434 (phone)
307.632.3909 (fax)
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Chris Boswell
Chief of Staff
Prior to becoming Governor Freudenthal’s Chief of Staff in 2003, Chris represented Sweetwater County in the Wyoming Legislature for eleven years. From 1994 to 2000, he was minority caucus chairman and, from 2000 to 2003, served as minority floor leader in the Wyoming House of Representatives. Chris owned the Embassy Tavern in Green River from 1984 until 2003. Prior to going into business, he was news director for Green River's KUGR radio from 1981 to 1983, and served as assistant press secretary to Senator Malcolm Wallop (R-WY) from 1980-1981. The Wind River Mountains and the National Outdoor Leadership School drew Chris to Wyoming at age 14, in 1972. He moved here three years later, and earned a bachelor's degree in broadcasting from the University of Wyoming in 1980, followed by a master's degree in journalism in 1989. Chris is married to Kathryn Boswell.
cboswe@state.wy.us
Ryan Lance
Deputy Chief of Staff
After graduating from the University of Wyoming (B.S. 1998, J.D. 2001), Ryan started his career in a small law firm in his hometown of Thermopolis, Wyoming. Following his time in Thermopolis, Ryan joined the Wyoming Attorney General's Office, where he served as the Tobacco Settlement Attorney for the state. In 2003, he joined the Governor's Office and worked as the state's Endangered Species Act Policy Coordinator. He was later appointed to serve as the Governor's Deputy Chief of Staff until he was asked to work as the Campaign Coordinator for the Governor's 2006 re-election campaign. After the campaign, Ryan re-joined the Governor's Office and re-assumed his duties as Deputy Chief of Staff, where he currently oversees the State Planning Office and works primarily on natural resource policy issues. Ryan's wife, Beth, also an attorney, works in the Wyoming Attorney General's Office. Ryan and Beth recently welcomed a new addition to their family with the birth of their son, Andrew. As diehard University of Wyoming fans, Ryan and Beth (and now Andrew) very much enjoy Cowboy and Cowgirl athletics. Ryan also likes to fish, hunt and experience Wyoming's great outdoors.
rlance@state.wy.us
Christopher A. “Kip” Crofts
Counsel to the Governor
Kip was born and raised in Lander. He received a B.A. from UW in 1965, and an ROTC commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Army. He served over four years as an Army officer, with service in Viet Nam and the Dominican Republic, and was discharged as a Captain in 1969. He taught English/Social Studies in Laramie Jr. High School for two years, and then attended law school at UW on the GI Bill, receiving his Juris Doctorate in 1974. He practiced law, and was a Justice of the Peace in Fremont County for four years, then began employment with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), becoming Director in 1981, and serving there until 1990 when he resigned to accept an appointment as Assistant United States Attorney in Casper. He served there until 1995, when U.S. Attorney Dave Freudenthal asked him to open and staff a branch office in Lander to better serve the Wind River Indian Reservation. He served in Lander until late in 2005, when he accepted an assignment from the U.S. Justice Department to work as a legal advisor on a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Iraq. He served in both Baghdad, and Basra. Upon his return from Iraq, he retired from the Justice Department, and accepted his current position as Legal Counsel to Governor Freudenthal. Kip is married to Susan Metzger, and has a son, Shane, a Major in the Wyoming National Guard, and a daughter, Jeannie, a television reporter in Indianapolis.
ccroft@state.wy.us
Cara Eastwood
Press Secretary
Cara began her writing and photography career in Wyoming as a newspaper intern for the Casper Star-Tribune in 2000. After spending a year in Tennessee as a staff photographer at the Jackson Sun, she returned to the state to work for the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle as a reporter and photographer, and later as editor of the Outdoors section. In this position, she wrote and photographed stories about Wyoming's outdoor recreational sports, wildlife and environmental issues while traveling extensively in the state. She has won top honors for her writing and photography from the Wyoming Press Association, the Outdoor Writers Association of America and the Inland Press Association. Cara earned degrees in journalism and anthropology from the University of Colorado at Boulder where she graduated magna cum laude. In addition to serving as the spokesperson for the governor's office and writing press releases, she also teaches photography at Laramie County Community College. Cara spends her free time outside, hiking, biking and fishing in Wyoming's great outdoors.
ceastw@state.wy.us
307.777.7437
Barbara Warburton
Administrative Director and Scheduler
Before joining Governor Freudenthal’s Office in October 2003, Barb worked for the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office, beginning in 1995. She took over duties as the Executive Assistant/Office Manager for former Attorney General Gay Woodhouse in 1999 and continued in that position for Attorney General Pat Crank until Governor Freudenthal asked her to join his staff. Barb is married to Tony, and they have two sons, Brandon, 20, and Clinton, 17. When she is not working on behalf of the State of Wyoming, she enjoys spending time with her family and taking advantage of Wyoming’s many outdoor activities.
bwarbu@state.wy.us
scheduler@state.wy.us
Patti Burns
Executive Assistant
Patti was raised in Cheyenne. A long-time state employee, she worked previously at the Department of Environmental Quality before joining the Governor’s staff in 2003. One of Patti’s primary duties is to assist the Governor in finding citizens interested in serving the state on the various boards and commissions. She also assists the Chief of Staff, works on special projects, and maintains a number of databases in the office. Her hobbies include travel, photography and creating stained glass windows. Patti and her husband, Ken, have a small arts studio in Harriman, Wyoming.
pburns@state.wy.us
Judy Mitchell
Executive Assistant
Born and raised in Sidney, Nebraska, Judy began working for the Governor in 2003 and immediately established tracking and central filing systems for all incoming calls, letters, emails, and faxes from constituents. She now assists with scheduling, reservations and correspondence. In addition to having a background in business as an administrator and part-owner of a child care center, Judy has legal, banking and educational work experience. She has two children, four grandchildren, and enjoys horseback riding, yard work and taking walks with her three Corgis.
jmitch4@state.wy.us
JuDean Young
Executive Assistant
JuDean worked in the private sector for years before volunteering for Governor Freudenthal’s first campaign. She graduated from high school in Aberdeen, Idaho and attended Idaho State University Vo-tech. Judean made two great choices in 1981 – getting married and moving to Wyoming. She has four kids and loves the outdoors, especially camping and fishing with her family.
jyoung@state.wy.us
Melissa Hayes
Executive Assistant
Melissa most recently served as coordinator for the Governor’s CBM Task Force and is working toward completion of a nursing degree at LCCC. Prior to joining the policy office, she worked as an Office Manager for three AM radio stations based in Colorado and as a legal assistant for a Fort Collins attorney. She enjoys wakeboarding, fishing, hiking, hunting waterfowl and has recently taken up big game bow hunting. Though born and raised in Colorado, Melissa moved to Wyoming in 2006 and now considers the state her true and permanent home. She lives in Cheyenne with her husband, Matt, and two golden retrievers.
MHayes2@state.wy.us
Marsha Geist
Executive Assistant
Marsha was born and raised in Michigan and attended the University of Michigan. She lived in both Texas and Georgia and for several years was employed as a Sr. Administrative Assistant in the College of Education at the University of Georgia. After deciding to move back to Michigan, she was employed as an Executive Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Development at the University of Michigan. In January 2004, she moved to Wyoming to marry her husband, Jerry, and worked on a temporary assignment in the Governor's office during the legislative session of 2004. After working in administration at Ivinson Memorial Hospital, Marsha accepted a position as a legal assistant to the First Lady at Davis & Cannon Law Firm until returning to the Governor's office in September 2007.
mgeist@state.wy.us