Our Staff

Please support the Cougar Fund by visiting our Donate page, or by shopping in our Store. Thank you.

Lisa Rullman, Development Director

A cat-lover since she was two years old, Lisa became a staff member for The Cougar Fund in April 2011 after more than six years as the Development Director for The Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance. While on staff at the Alliance, she initiated their planned giving program and endowment fund. Before that, she served on the Alliance board of directors for two years and was chair of the development committee.

Originally from Aurora, Indiana, Lisa obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Eastern Kentucky University. Many of her 16 years working as a nurse were spent as a traveling nurse. Her travels brought her to Jackson, Wyoming in 1988.

Her other past non-profit involvement includes four years as a staff member at St. John's Episcopal church, three years on their vestry and three years on the board of their fundraising thrift store. Currently she is the regional volunteer coordinator for Heifer International, member of the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Teton Area and serves on the Run Committee for The Community Foundation of Jackson Hole's largest fundraising event.

In her spare time she enjoys hiking, floating the rivers of Jackson Hole, cross-country and skate skiing, and otherwise experiencing the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Lisa looks forward to putting her Certificate in Fund Raising Management, earned from The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, to good use for the Americas' Greatest Cat.

Heather Mathews, Office Assistant

The reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone and memories of a childhood vacation to Jackson Hole inspired Heather Mathews, originally from Cleveland, Ohio, to move to the area in 1997.

Mathews has worn many hats in the valley, including baker, restaurant manager, program director, bookkeeper and office manager. She has small business and non-profit experience.

With a desire to protect the valley and its wildlife, she has been involved at the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance during most of her time in Jackson, first as a volunteer and member; the last four years as a part of the staff.

Heather bikes, hikes, skis and snowshoes as much as she can, spending as much time as possible outdoors with her husband and dogs near their home in the Hoback Canyon.

She has seen only one cougar in the wild, although a couple have spent time in her neighborhood. “I could not be more honored to join The Cougar Fund team to help protect these amazing animals that are such an important piece of the ecosystem."

Contact