Team

Joanna Wheelton

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

EXPERIENCE
Fisheries and Wildlife Biology, BS
Utah State University
Juris Doctorate, Syracuse University College of Law

With over twenty years’ experience as an attorney and executive, Joanna melds her love of the outdoors with her administration experience as the passionate and dedicated Executive Director of the Cottonwood Canyons Foundation.

PASSION
Jo started skiing New Year’s Day, 1978, at Snowbird, and still dreams about skiing 365 days a year. Working in the canyons allows her to follow her second dream as an avid nature lover and biologist.

FOR FUN
Jo shares her passion of the Canyons with her husband who hails from the base of Mont Blanc. She loves to garden at their mountain-side home in Utah, and fish and hike with their teenage children. The whole family enjoys helping out with CCF. They also enjoy spending time on their desert hideaway off of the Colorado River and at their home in Europe.

Ella Abelli-Amen

PLANTS STEWARDSHIP DIRECTOR

EXPERIENCE
B.S. Biology, California Polytechnic State University, SLO
M.S. Biology, California Polytechnic State University, SLO

Originally from Petaluma, California, Ella spent six years studying plant ecology at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Her experience ranges from greenhouse management and alpine plant surveys to teaching botany labs for undergraduates while her research focused on plant and animal interaction ecology and GIS. Now, she collaborates with community partners to manage invasive plants, restore native species through planting and monitoring of rare plants, and engages with the community through education and stewardship to build ecological resilience across the Tri-canyons.

PASSION
Ella is passionate about preserving the biodiversity of the canyons, spreading the delight of learning to identify plants, and connecting the community with the natural world through recreation.

FOR FUN
You can find Ella trad climbing, skiing, or trail running in the Tri-canyons. She also loves yoga, gardening, and birdwatching.

Liz Anderson

EDUCATION DIRECTOR

EXPERIENCE
A.O.S. Culinary Arts Johnson & Wales College
Providence, RI

As the daughter of a park ranger, Liz grew up living in our National Parks, which ignited her commitment to the great outdoors. Working over 31 years in the hotel hospitality field allowed her to continue her love of travel and learning. She has worn many hats in the food and beverage field, where she honed her strength in developing teams and management skills.

PASSION
Liz has always had a love for volunteering and environmental stewardship. Whether a citizen scientist, volunteering over a decade with the Cottonwood Canyons Foundation (alongside her family), a State Park volunteer, a Boy Scout leader, or through community involvement, she commits to her passions with total energy and enthusiasm.

FOR FUN
Liz lives by: if it’s not fun and you are not learning, it’s not worth doing. Traveling the country and dining with her family, crafting, reading, foraging, creating, cooking, camping, gardening, hiking, birding, exploring new local places. She loves any excuse to be outside.

Grace Goodwin-Boyd

STEWARDSHIP EDUCATION DIRECTOR

EXPERIENCE
B.A. in Psychological Science and Hispanic Studies, Vassar College, NY

Grace has honed her trail and leadership skills in a variety of locations, from the woods of Massachusetts to a 14er in Colorado. Most recently, she led outdoor education field trips for Wasatch Mountain Institute near Salt Lake and spent the summer of 2024 leading CCF’s trail crew. In her current role, Grace continues to lead the trail crew while also assisting with education programs and coordinating the Trail Steward Program.

PASSION
Grace is passionate about fostering connections between humans and the environment for the mutual benefit of all. She also really loves sustainable trails.

FOR FUN
Grace loves to spend time outdoors hiking, skiing, biking, camping, and playing sports. She is also an avid reader and a budding baker.