Growing up in the Midwest, JT was surrounded by farming and ranching operations. With both sets of grandparents being cattle salesmen and generational farmers in Nebraska, he developed a passion for open space and working landscapes. JT attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for his undergraduate studies where he majored in Biological Sciences and minored in both Fisheries and Wildlife and Water Science. From there, he went on to earn a M.S. in Sustainability, Planning and Management with a focus in open space and ecosystem planning from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Prior to joining the Rangeland Trust, JT worked for various non-profit, public, and private organizations in the natural resources management field, including The Nature Conservancy and Boulder County Parks & Open Space. In his free time, JT enjoys spending time in the outdoors.