Working together for the Stewardship and Conservation of our outdoor spaces and communities.
Meet Our Board of Directors
Meet our Board of Directors. Each board member serves in a volunteer capacity and assists with different tasks as needed for the organization. Each board member is also very active for the organization and is also required to each raise at least $1,000 by the end of the 1st quarter of the year. This gives us a basic operating budget and kicks off our fund raising for the year.
We are very grateful for our Board of Directors. These men and woman demonstrate a level of integrity and stewardship we hold in high regard. They also work everyday to assist the organization towards its mission in Fostering Stewardship Together to make our public lands, outdoor spaces and communities cleaner and more inviting for everyone to enjoy responsibly.
Interesting Fact: Each board member comes from a different background and only two of them live in the same state.
Matthew “Mateo” Favero
Vice President/Board Member
Mateo is a wanderer with thousands of miles of hiking experience, dozens of countries explored, and over a decade of experience in the Outdoor Industry. Through his role as Director or Marketing at Zpacks, he has led initiatives to give back to public lands, support organizations that make the outdoors accessible for all, and design marketing campaigns that create awareness and focus on educating customers and the outdoor community on the importance of being a responsible steward.
Brian Bell
Board Member
Hey y'all, my name is Brian Bell. Bios are funny because I can list several things about myself, give you a small peak into the things that l'm passionate about, but I will always prefer to meet up outside and get to know y'all in person (that's your hint to come join us in keeping the outside clean & cozy at our next RS event). In the meantime, here is a glimpse of who I am as a person: Conservationist, Eagle Scout, former environmental engineering consultant turned field marketing rep for HOKA, avid backpacker, trail runner, coffee drinker, traveler, and I love nothing more than being on great adventures with my trail family!
I founded and run an environmental nonprofit in Virginia called Keep Virginia Cozy and since 2017 we have removed over 100,000 pounds of litter & recycling from our public lands and green spaces, all while being zero waste because we use spent grain bags from local breweries and washable gloves! It’s those efforts, and the wonderful connecting nature of the great outdoors, that led me here to Responsible Stewardship. I'm thrilled and honored to serve on the Board of Directors for a group that's working to leave places better than we find them, educate through action, and create a community of do-gooders who love the outdoors as much as I do! Now, let's get outside together because many hands make light work!
Mary Mars
President/Board Member
Mary Mars is a lifetime resident of Cumberland Gap, TN where she works as a Health and Wellness Instructor on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University. In addition, Mary is the Vice-President for Cumberland Gap's nonprofit organization known as the Guardians of the Gap, as well as a volunteer trail maintenance worker for the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park and Cumberland Scenic Trail State Park.
Mary is working closely with several trail conferences as well as the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park in an attempt to have the Great Eastern Trail completed through the Cumberland Gap area (i.e., Cumberland Trail Conference, Pine Mountain State Scenic Trail Conference, Boone Trace, Warrior's Path, and the Great Eastern Trail Conference). She is also the event coordinator for the Tri-State Outdoors Fest.