Nominations for Chapter and Group Ex Coms 2026
Grand Canyon Chapter Executive Committee
Vote for no more than 4
Kristen Brady (#52663172)
I’ve admired and been passionate about Sierra Club’s work for many years. To me, Sierra Club is a trusted authority on conservation matters, leading the way for those of us who believe that if we don't take care of the planet, nothing else matters.
I would be honored to serve on the Grand Canyon Chapter's Executive Committee to help ensure that Sierra Club's critical Arizona work continues. I'm amazed every year at the dedication of Arizona staff and volunteers and how much they accomplish -- and I would love to contribute my own time and advocacy, communication, fundraising, and collaboration skills to these efforts. Thank you for your consideration.
Jasmin Loaiza (#55932874)
My commitment to environmental justice comes from my own experiences building a connection with the land. One experience that deeply shaped me was camping at the Grand Canyon. Experiencing its beauty firsthand, made protecting it feel personal. When I learned about the mining threats facing the area, I understood that protecting public lands is not just an environmental issue; it is about protecting the lands that hold meaning and ensuring others can experience that same connection.
That experience strengthened my belief that when families have opportunities to explore, learn from, and build relationships with the land, they become more invested in protecting it. I want to create those opportunities for families and young people through local parks, rivers, trails, and natural spaces, while they learn about the ecosystems, history, and Indigenous communities who have cared for these lands for generations.
By connecting people to the land, we can strengthen communities, and inspire action.
Michelle Lund (#42360312)
My name is Michelle Lund. The Sierra Club has been a part of my life since I was a kid. My dad took us on a rafting trip down the Yampa and Green Rivers through Dinosaur National Monument in 1985. I started volunteering at the Grand Canyon Chapter office in 2014. Since then, I’ve helped with various tasks, like tabling events and supporting Environmental Day at the Capitol and the People’s Climate March. Three years ago, I became the Chapter Treasurer. It’s been an honor to be a part of this organization and work with Sandy and so many amazing volunteers. I’m currently attending all the Chapter Executive Committee meetings as Treasurer and have a good understanding of their process. Thank you for the opportunity.
Horst Schmidt (#55347264)
Came from the Upper Peninsula in Michigan about three years ago dealing with similar issues as here in Arizona. Since joining, I've focused on testifying at ACC hearings and doing tabling where I enjoy educating the public about the SC and the state's environmental issues. I'm active on the Palo Verde section of the Chapter, the lead on the Climate and Energy Action Team. We need to continue educating and warning the public about the dangers of air pollution, water depletion, mining and our flora fauna.
Nopales Group
Nick Arnold (#50709617)
Southern Arizona is facing many important questions about our environmental policy and political future, and I am grateful to be part of the small team working to keep up the Nopales Group's presence. These big questions have complicated answers and we need more volunteer leadership to help develop these answers.
William R. Soland (#42623334)
As a lifelong Arizonan I've always felt a drive to protect the Sonoran Desert. I grew up in Phoenix but spent weekends hiking with my father and my brother outside of New River before Anthem was built. I heard stories from my father and his siblings about their childhoods spent playing in undeveloped desert around Tucson. I want to be able to share these experiences with my own kids, but the cities are growing, the water is disappearing, and the environmental safeguards I believed in my whole life are under attack. I believe that local organizing, mutual aid, and direct action are the best ways to ensure that the special landscape of southern Arizona continues to survive and thrive.
Palo Verde Group
Greg Clark (#55082849)
Greg works to relocate Burrowing Owls at risk from land development and to enhance arid grassland by creating micro habitats that benefit wildlife. Greg's work has been featured in National Geographic Magazine, Audubon Magazine, and Arizona Horizons PBS. Greg supports Sierra Club events such as Environment Day.
Saguaro Group
Sally Howland (#46901049)
Yavapai Group
Stan Bindell (#47066215)
Stan Bindell is a longtime Sierra Club member and has served on the Yavapai Group for several years. He creates videos for Preserving Az Wildness about the beauty and recreation in these areas. He is also an environmental reporter. I also have a background working with Native Americans on environmental issues such as uranium mining. I am also the author of an environmental adventure novel Falling Into Congo.
Zach Czuprynski
I seek to serve with the Yavapai Group ExComm as an at-large member. I am a new member of the Sierra Club, though I have been involved in similar discussions and adjacent work for a few years as a Sustainability Coordinator in higher education. The continuity of conservation efforts by younger generations is essential to the Sierra Club's long-term work. One of my goals is to increase the involvement of younger folks from diverse backgrounds in environmental conservation, while fostering joy and connection to the outdoors that help younger generations overcome climate despair and fears of ecocide. Other general interests include public education of the natural world, using creative outlets like poetry and photography to spark emotional connections to nature, and working to ensure trails are accessible to all.
Flagstaff/Northern AZ
(Under reorganization)