DRI Foundation
About the DRI Foundation
The DRI Foundation was formed in 1982 and is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. The Foundation board members raise funds to strengthen and promote the DRI scientific research and services to Nevada and beyond. Private philanthropy is an integral part of supporting DRI’s continued research and educational outreach.
Why We Support DRI
Tina Quigley
Former Chair of the DRI Foundation
We tend to support organization that have tangible effects on large groups of people. DRI is a perfect example of this. It is an organization that quietly, without much fanfare, focuses on challenges we have as people on this planet in connection to the environment. Ranked 17th in the nation for effective environmental research, the results of their efforts have positively touched people on every continent on earth…. and that is what we call ‘having an impact!
Mike & Cindy Benjamin
Chair and Trustee Emeritus of DRI Foundation
Tom & Mary Kay Gallagher
Joe and Jann Guild
Nazir and Mary Ansari
Bob and Del Noland
Fred Gibson
The Sulo and Aileen Maki Estate
Innovation Research Program
A Special Initiative of the DRI Foundation
Donor-powered research solving critical environmental problems
The DRI Foundation created the Innovation Research Program (IRP) to increase the opportunities for DRI’s faculty and technical staff to succeed in their research by financially supporting their very best ideas. This financial support enhances DRI’s reputation as a world leader in critical environmental research and attracts talented scientists to the Institute.
Annual funding of the Innovation Research Program is a fundraising objective of the Foundation Members. These funds support seed grants, early funding, and hiring post-doctoral researchers.
In 2019, those funds supported DRI scientists in exploring big environmental questions. Has microplastic pollution made its way to the famous blue waters of Lake Tahoe? What can tools used to understand groundwater tell us about how chemo reaches tumors? How is declining snowpack changing mountain environments and economies? These research projects are leading to new data, new solutions, and new funding for larger projects.
DRI Foundation Leadership
MICHAEL BENJAMIN, CHAIR
CEO, Palomino Farms LLC
NORA JAMES, VICE CHAIR
Professional Book Editor
ROBERT MCCART, TREASURER
Owner, RKM Management
Finance/Audit Committee Chair
RICHARD DITTON
Founder and EVP, Incredible Technologies, Inc.
JOHN J. ENTSMINGER
GM, Las Vegas Valley Water District & Southern Nevada Water Authority
MARK FOREE
GM, Truckee Meadows Water Authority
ROBERT GAGOSIAN, PH.D.
President Emeritus, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and Consortium for Ocean Leadership
Faculty Engagement Committee Co-Chair
LISA GALLAGHER
Chief Financial Officer and Co-Founder, Praedicat, Inc.
STEVE HILL
CEO, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
JAMES KING
Chief Financial Officer and Principal, R&R Partners
Chairman, R&R Foundation
STEPHANIE KRUSE
Founder, KPS3 Marketing
Communications and Marketing Committee Chair
STARLA LACY
Vice President, Environmental, Safety, and Land Resources, NV Energy
JANET LOWE
Marketing and M&A Consultant
President, Desert Research Corporation
KRISTIN MCMILLAN PORTER
Senior Advisor, Porter Group LLC
FAFIE MOORE
Executive Vice President, Southern Nevada ERA Brokers
TERRY SHIREY
President and CEO, Nevada State Bank
RONALD SMITH, M.D., Ph.D.
Internal Medicine, Private Practice
KAREN WAYLAND, Ph.D.
CEO, The Gridwise Alliance and Principal, kW Energy Strategies, LLC
DR. NAZIR ANSARI, Emeritus Professor of Management, UNR
JOSEPH W. BROWN, Esq., Of Counsel, Kolesar Leatham Attorneys at Law
MARK F. BRUCE, ESQ., Principal, Bruce Law Group
DR. KENNETH W. CIRIACKS, Retired, VP of Technology, Chevron
GAYLE CROWELL, Board Director, Strategic Business Advisor
DR. FAROUK EL-BAZ, Director, Center for Remote Sensing Boston University & Former NV Medalist
LOU EMMERT, Retired, VP & GM for Sprint Nevada
DR. CHARLES R. GOLDMAN, Adjunct Professor, DRI DHS & Former NV Medalist
C. JOSEPH GUILD III, Attorney
WALTER M. HIGGINS III, Retired Chairman and CEOSierra Pacific Resources (now NVEnergy)
HON. BRUCE R. JAMES, Director, United States Government Publishing Office, Ret.
BRIAN J. KENNEDY, Retired Chairman & Founder, Meridian Gold
KEITH L. LEE, Principal, The Public Affairs Group
HOWARD “HAL” LENOX Jr., Director of Gov. Affairs, Western Region, General Motors
ROBERT E. LEWISPresident, Lewis Operating Corporation
ROBERT E. LEWIS
MICHAEL LYNCH, Manager, Eco Electrical Systems, LLC
DR. D. WARNER NORTH, Pres. & Principal Scientist, NorthWorks, Inc.
TINA QUIGLEY, PAST CHAIR
Former CEO, Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Executive Committee
MICHAEL A. SALTMAN, Managing General Partner & Pres., The Vista Group, LV
THOMAS J. SCHOEMAN, Retired, Pres., JMA Architecture Studios
ROBB SMITH, CEO & Co-Founder, Integral+Life
AMY VERNETTI, Director of Leadership Recruiting, Moonshots at Google, Inc.
TROY E. WADE II, Chairman, Nevada Alliance for Defense, Energy & Business
STEVEN WEBER, Ph.D.VP & Client Service Mgr., HWH America’s Inc.
TOM WILLISON, Ph.D.Retired Chairman, McKinley Capital Management*
MISSY YOUNG, Executive VP of Colocation, SWITCH
*Denotes deceased DRI Fellow
DR. ARTHUR ANDERSON*
HAL FURMAN, CEO & President, The Furman Group
THOMAS E. GALLAGHER, Adjunct Professor – Ethics, University of Nevada Las Vegas
SANDY MILLER, Former First Lady of Nevada
ROBERT NOLAND
HOWARD WAHL
*Denotes deceased DRI Emeritus Trustee
DRI Foundation Meetings & Materials
Foundation Board of Trustees – Meeting Agendas & Materials
Board Meetings, Events & Subject Materials (2022)
Unless otherwise stated, the following links provide access to public materials.
- May 12, 2022 – Quarterly Meeting
The Nevada Open Meeting Law (OML) was enacted to ensure that the actions and deliberations of public bodies be conducted openly. In compliance with the Nevada OML, the DRI Foundation here provides the meeting agendas and subsequent supporting materials for its meetings.
For DRI Foundation meeting materials prior to 2022, or if you have questions regarding DRI Foundation meetings or materials, please contact Julie Mathews at (775) 673-7359 or julie.mathews@dri.edu.
DRI Foundation Committees – Meeting Agendas & Materials
Faculty Engagement Committee Meetings (2022)
Unless otherwise stated, the following links provide access to public materials.
- June 30, 2022
Finance Committee Meetings (2022)
Unless otherwise stated, the following links provide access to public materials.
Marketing/Communications Committee Meetings (2022)
Unless otherwise stated, the following links provide access to public materials.
- June 20, 2022
Trusteeship Committee Meetings (2022)
Unless otherwise stated, the following links provide access to public materials.
Executive Committee Meetings (2022)
Unless otherwise stated, the following links provide access to public materials.
- June 9, 2022
The DRI Foundation is a
not-for profit, 501 (c)(3)
Tax ID # 94-2879252
Your contribution is
tax-deductible to the
extent allowed by law.