21st Annual NASC
Sportsman-Legislator Summit
West Breakout Session
Speakers
Cyrus Baird - Manager of Government Relations, Safari Club International
Cyrus Hunter Baird is a passionate sportsman and talented natural resources professional combining a degree in wildlife & fisheries biology from Clemson University, with a background in public policy, government relations and grassroots campaigns to advocate for conservation and sportsmen and women around the country.
He is currently the Manager of Government Relations for Safari Club International fighting for hunters and conservation in all 50 states. Prior to his current role, he’s held positions with the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Ducks Unlimited and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
He lives in Richmond, Virginia with his wife, Megan, their daughter Charlotte, and their golden retriever, Caroline.
Representative Regina Cobb - Arizona State Legislature
Representative Regina Cobb was elected into office in 2015 and has served on the Ag Water and Land Commission her first two years in office. She has chaired the sub appropriation committee on Health and u s currently in her second term as Appropriation Chair in the House. She was also Vice Chair of Health for four years. As a State Representative, Dentist, and Business owner in rural Arizona, Dr. Cobb has been instrumental in forming and increasing membership in the rural caucus. She has also been an active member of the Arizona Legislators for Wildlife and has been instrumental in increasing membership since taking on a leadership role in 2017. As an avid archery hunter and angler, she has worked with game and fish to create policies to assist hunters and anglers. She has worked with private land owners to maintain hunting privileges and well as working with game and fish on fair chase policies.
Regina is a life member of the NRA and owned a sporting goods store in Northern Arizona for many years. She is dedicated to the sportsmen and women across the country and our outdoor way of life.
Morgan Mason - Armed Forces Initiative Coordinator, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers
Hot on the heels of pointing dogs, Morgan cut his teeth on life and hunting in the milo stubble and CRP fields in northeastern Kansas. He spent his adolescence and teen years hunting, fishing, and working on the family's quarter-section cattle farm.
At 17 years of age, he joined the Army Reserves as an intelligence analyst. As he developed his junior skillsets in the military, the planes hit the towers- effectively changing the landscape. Two years later, he joined the invasion force crossing the berm into Iraq.
Post-deployment, his azimuth pointed towards Colorado for decompression after the 14-month deployment. The snow-fed rivers filled with whitewater and forests leading up to many 14'ers in the state were prime for exploring. This appreciation for wild, public lands began here as Morgan began to heal through wilderness experiences.
The next 12 years were spent in Colorado working in the outdoor industry building regional grassroots campaigns launching products and brands in the Rocky Mountains. The drive to serve his community was a catalyst to Morgan becoming a firefighter/EMT and serving with Fairmount Fire Protection District in structural, wildland firefighter, and EMT.
Morgan soon felt the draw for a place a little wilder. Montana became the target. He served in editorial roles for many publications from Bozeman, including GearJunkie.com and MeatEater, Inc. He calls Missoula home now, as he launches the Armed Forces Initiative campaign for Backcountry Hunters & Anglers across our nation and Canada.
Lori McCullough - Founder, The Great Outdoors Fund
Lori McCullough has 25+ years' experience advocating conservation ethics and delivering innovative, cost-effective solutions to some of the nation’s most contentious issues surrounding outdoor recreation and natural resource management. As a graduate of Duke University’s Executive Leadership and Nonprofit Management program, Lori has spent her career working with leaders of Fortune 500 companies, natural resource agencies, non-government organizations and special interest groups to build hundreds of lasting partnerships to enhance recreation access and opportunities around the world.
Lori has a proven track record as a successful fundraiser and executing public-private partnership projects to enhance recreation infrastructure and improve access to the great outdoors Her passion for promoting an outdoor lifestyle of responsible recreation and commitment to helping keep the great outdoors open for the benefit and enjoyment of all people played an integral part in her decision to establish The Great Outdoors Fund.
Representative Bill Rehm - New Mexico House of Representatives
Representative William “Bill” Rehm has been a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives since 2006. In 2009, Representative Rehm served as Co-Chair of the New Mexico Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus. In 2015 Representative Rehm was appointed Chairman of the House Safety and Civil Affairs Committee.
Chairman Rehm is a seventh generation New Mexican, whose family began ranching in Magdalena, New Mexico in the 1840’s. His grandparents told him stories of range wars, gun fights in the streets of Magdalena, meeting Chief Geronimo, and the infamous Sheriff Elfego Baca who is well-known for the “Frisco Shootout.” As a child, his grandparents took him hunting, fishing and taught him to respect and protect the environment. Because of their influence and a childhood filled with outdoor activities, Chairman Rehm became an avid hunter and angler, with a great desire to protect New Mexico’s sportsmen’s heritage.
Chairman Rehm is a life-long member of the NRA and the New Mexico Shooting Sports Association, a member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Mule Deer Foundation.
In 1998, Chairman Rehm became a member of the New Mexico Game and Fish Habitat Stamp Central Committee – a joint committee consisting of sportsmen and women and the agencies that manage the lands they hunt, fish, and trap on. The committee oversees funds raised through the sale of New Mexico Habitat Stamps, and the revenue raised is dedicated to funding of pro-active habitat improvement projects across the state. In 2001, Chairman Rehm was named Chairman of the committee.
Chairman Rehm works closely with the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish, R.O.T.C. and other local groups to enhance shooting sports and preserve outdoor sportsmen’s activities. Chairman Rehm continues to be a champion of pro-sportsmen’s legislation, fighting to protect New Mexico’s hunting and angling heritage.
Andy Treharne - Senior Director of the Western States and Federal Policy, Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation
Andy Treharne joined the CSF team as a State Program Manager for the Western United States in October of 2011. In this role, Andy oversees and interacts with the state legislative sportsmen’s caucuses and members of the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus throughout the region. As a native Coloradan, hunter and angler, Andy has a vested interest in advancing, protecting and promoting sportsmen’s issues in the West.
With past experience working with western legislators, government officials, stakeholders and local communities, Andy brings a unique and valuable perspective to his position with CSF. Prior to joining CSF, he served as the Policy Director for the House Republicans in the Colorado General Assembly where he supported a 33 member caucus through agenda development, policy and budget analysis, and regulatory monitoring. Additionally, he has worked as a Legislative Aide in the Colorado House of Representatives and as a staff member for U.S. Senator Wayne Allard (CO) in both Grand Junction, Colorado and Washington, DC.
Andy has a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a master’s degree in public administration with a concentration in environmental policy, management and law from the University of Colorado at Denver. Currently, he serves as Chair of the Federal Lands Hunting, Fishing, and Shooting Sports Roundtable, as a member of the American Wildlife Conservation Partners Steering Committee, as a subject matter expert for the Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation Council’s Recreational Shooting and Hunting Committees, and represents CSF on the Council to Advance Hunting and Shooting Sports Board of Directors.
Representative Brad Witt - Oregon State Legislature
Brad Witt represents Oregon's House District 31, including all of Columbia County and northern parts of Washington and Multnomah Counties.
Brad was first appointed to the State House in 2005, where he has spent the last decade advancing policies to help the middle class and working poor, and creating jobs that generate revenue necessary to fund vital services in our communities—education, public safety, and healthcare. A pragmatic populist at his core, Brad believes economic development, strong employment standards, and environmental stewardship can and should go hand in hand. This belief has guided his efforts to strike the right balance between utilizing our state's vast renewable natural resources while protecting the natural beauty that is a hallmark of our great state.
Brad is committed to protecting Oregon as a beautiful place to live. Prior to entering the State Legislature he served on the State Boards of Forestry, Watershed Enhancement and the Forest Resources Institute. His deep respect for nature also led to co-chairing the bi-state Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership. Brad believes in, and works for sustainable use of our resources.
Brad's career and personal commitments support Oregon families through sustainable development, job creation, protection of natural resources and responsible government. In his free time Brad still enjoys the outdoors and the natural wonder of Oregon.