About
The desert is more than a landscape. It’s an intricate, living ecosystem. At Conserve Southwest Utah (CSU), we believe it is our responsibility to protect and live in harmony with the natural world around us.
Since 2006, we have been steadfast advocates for the land, water, and cultural resources that define our region. Our efforts have made lasting impacts like holding off the ill-conceived Lake Powell Pipeline and Northern Corridor Highway. We promote smart growth strategies that balance development with conservation to preserve a high quality of life in Washington County.
We are also passionate about bringing people together. Our events and volunteer opportunities foster community and collective action — empowering individuals to take an active role in protecting our ecosystem for present and future generations.
OUR MISSION is to advocate conservation and stewardship of our area’s natural and cultural resources and advocate implementation of the Smart Growth policies that enable conservation for the benefit of present and future generations.
OUR VISION is that Southwest Utah grows in a manner that enables conservation and restoration of its natural and cultural resources.
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PUBLIC LANDS – Conserve our public lands, habitats, and cultural remnants; engage in land use policies; and advocate to keep public lands in public hands.
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WATER – Promote efficient use of our existing local water and advocate “conservation first” policies and alternatives.
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LIVABILITY – Support all Southwest Utah communities in building a comprehensive quality of life that fosters environmental conservation by advocating for sustainable community development.
CSU Staff
Stacey Wittek
Executive Director
Like all modern types living in a complex world Stacey has had a hand in a bit of everything—Professor, Writer, Photographer, Executive Director, Programs Manager, Workforce and Community Developer, Financial Coach and Consultant. Stacey excels at uniting people for common goals and creating impactful plans. Inspired by desert landscapes and quirky towns, she’s an avid mountain biker, skier, and outdoor enthusiast. When not exploring, Stacey enjoys reading, writing, researching, and savoring great food.
Ashley Bigbie
Communications Manager
Ashley brings a fresh perspective shaped by her background in digital marketing, film production, and theatrical stage management. She has a deep appreciation for the local arts and Southern Utah’s natural landscapes, often exploring the Warner Valley area in her free time. Ashley is passionate about protecting public lands and promoting responsible stewardship, and is excited to share Conserve Southwest Utah’s mission and connect the community to the conservation work that protects the land we all cherish.
Judith Rognli
Desert Livability Program Manager
Judith is a social scientist whose career bridges social and environmental issues, from researching renewable energy cooperatives in Northern Germany to advocating for active transportation in Southern Utah. Since moving to Saint George in 2016, she has worked with the Bicycle Collective and Red Rock Bicycle as an Active Transportation Specialist. When she's not biking or backpacking, she enjoys making music with her band. Judith holds a B.A. in Cultural and Social Sciences and an M.A. in International Migration and Intercultural Relations from universities in Germany.
Brendan Botosan
Public Lands Program Manager
Brendan is a long-time Utah resident and recent graduate of Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy. His work focuses on protecting public lands through community-based conservation, practical policy, and partner collaboration. While at Duke, he developed a conservation strategy for Utah’s Great Salt Lake linking habitat restoration with economic and community outcomes. Brendan believes conservation, economics, and equity must advance together and is committed to applying that approach in Southern Utah.
Fred Armstrong
Stewardship Program Manager
Fred’s passion for conservation began with childhood trips to the iconic national parks of the West, leading him to earn a B.S. in Natural Resources Management from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a 30-year career with the National Park Service. His work included species recovery, habitat restoration, and collaborations with native tribes on stewardship of sacred landscapes. Since 2017, Fred has brought his expertise to Conserve Southwest Utah while enjoying travel, photography, and exploring public lands.
CSU Board
Ed Andrechak
Board President
Ed’s passion for water conservation drives his work on the CSU Board. Trained as a chemical engineer, Ed pivoted early in his career to environmental remediation, spending nearly 35 years leading teams of engineers and scientists to tackle complex environmental challenges across North America and beyond. His notable projects include the remediation of a former refinery in Casper, Wyoming, the restoration of 40 miles of the Hudson River, and the cleanup of a mercury-impacted lake in Syracuse, NY—each requiring innovative solutions and stakeholder collaboration over a decade of work. Now living in Ivins, Utah, with his wife Susan and their two Weimaraners, Pax and Ellie, Ed continues to bring his expertise to environmental advocacy. He holds an engineering degree from Virginia Tech and a master’s degree in business from UCLA.
Karen Goodfellow
Board Vice President & Water Program Manager
Karen’s lifelong love for the natural world began in Miami Beach, Florida, where she explored the ocean’s wonders and was inspired to earn an M.S. in Marine Geology. After moving west to St. George, Utah, she brought her passion for science to Utah Tech University, where she revived an oceanography course, taught environmental science, and led field studies on Catalina Island. With over 20 years of experience as a fundraising consultant and a deep commitment to conserving Earth’s resources, Karen now serves as a CSU Water Team Member and Board Member. She holds a B.S. in Biology and Geology from the University of Arizona and an M.S. in Marine Geology from the University of Miami.
Kathleen Gueymard
Board Treasurer
Kathleen brings a wealth of experience in community building, program analysis, and nonprofit management to the CSU Board. Her career includes leadership roles such as Executive Director of the Colorado Association of Transportation Agencies and the Affordable Housing Management Association, supporting vulnerable populations with housing solutions. Since moving to St. George in 2018, Kathleen has been active in the community, serving on local boards and committees. She is currently working on water conservation initiatives within her HOA, including rain sensor installation for a large residential community and golf course. Kathleen earned a B.A. from St. Mary’s College in Indiana and attended the University of Georgia’s Master of Social Work program.
Kerry Kastler Burt
Board Secretary
Kerry, a native Utahan, fell in love with Southern Utah’s breathtaking landscapes as a child and is passionate about protecting the region’s environment for future generations. Her extensive local network stems from roles as Chair of the St. George Chamber of Commerce, the St. George Planning Commission, and strategic planning facilitator for many nonprofits, including CSU, which inspired her to join the board in 2020. With over 30 years as Chief Development Officer for Intermountain Healthcare’s Southwest Region, Kerry directed advancement for three hospitals, including St. George Regional Hospital. She now applies her expertise to CSU, creating more effective ways to engage supporters. Kerry holds degrees from the University of Utah and Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis.
Hans Glasmann
Board Member
Hans’ passion for storytelling and conservation is rooted in his upbringing in the red rock country of Southern Utah. As a filmmaker, he spent years bringing attention to the Mojave desert tortoise and the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area through his 2022 documentary, The Good, The Bad, The Slow. This heartfelt and compelling film has inspired audiences nationwide to join efforts in protecting these fragile ecosystems. Hans is an assistant professor in the Utah Tech University film program and serves as a the Production & Scheduling Coordinator for the DOCUTAH International Documentary Film Festival, where he continues to champion stories that connect people to the natural world. Hans hold an M.F.A. in Science and Natural History Filmmaking from Montana State University
Pam Gardiol
Board Member
Pam is a native Utahn from Salt Lake, but has come to Washington County all her life to visit family who have been here since 1861. Pam believes we are caretakers of this place, not its owners. She ascribes to the native people’s belief that we must live on the land to protect it for seven generations from now. Pam owns an organizational management consulting firm and has been a senior consultant at a Seattle-based firm. She has taught organizational management at three universities, including the University of Utah. She currently serves on the Ivins City Planning Commission. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and Psychology, and a master’s degree in organizational management.
Susan Ann Stauffer
Board Member
Susan Ann is a native Utahn and lived in Salt Lake City for the first 50 years of her life. In 2004 she moved to Hawaii with her husband thinking the islands would be where she spent the rest of her life. However, the red rock desert landscape of Southwest Utah kept calling her home so in 2009 she moved to Ivins, Utah. Susan Ann is a lover of beauty who desires to protect, preserve, and steward this exquisite landscape for future generations. Having earned a PHD in Gerontological Social Work from the University of Utah, she has worked in long-term care, home health, hospice and a Specialty Alzheimer's Center. She taught in the U of U's College of Health for 17 years and the College of Social work for 6 years. She served as a Clinical Trauma Therapist at the Dove Center for 6 years. Presently, she teaches in the ICL Program at Utah Tech. Susan Ann calls beautiful St. George her "home beside the Red Rocks."
Kevin J. Fife
Board Member
From the deserts of Southern Utah and Northern Arizona to the mountains and remote valleys of Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana, Kevin has spent his entire life searching for the next great wild and remote place. His interests in fly fishing, rafting, camping, and backpacking led to a great appreciation of our increasingly rare wild rivers and landscapes. Kevin is passionate about protecting our remaining open spaces and limited resources for the enjoyment of current and future generations. Yet, he also appreciates an area's historic uses and the need for reasonable development where appropriate. Kevin was educated at the University of Utah, receiving an undergraduate degree in 1985 and a Juris Doctorate Degree in 1990. His practice focused upon civil law in Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming, most recently as a partner with Olson & Hoggan, in Logan, Utah. With his extensive experience in mediation, Kevin is skilled at helping individuals and corporations with disparate positions find mutually acceptable resolutions. Kevin has a particular interest in water law and the sizable challenges facing the arid west, based solely on historic use and appropriations.