“GBI warmly welcomes Gabe Donaldson as GBI’s newest addition and first to hold the COO (Chief Of Operations) title. Gabe got under way with his first day in mid-June, diving right into strategic planning with the Senior Leadership team in downtown Reno, June 12-14, and will relocate full time his family from Fort Collins, Colorado in the not too distant future. Please join us in congratulating Gabe and orienting him to the Great Basin Institute community!” — Peter Woodruff, CEO
Originally from Fort Collins, Colorado, Gabe developed a deep connection to the outdoors while growing up in the picturesque foothills near the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest and various municipal mountain parks. His passion lies at the intersection of wildland fire, business, and conservation. Gabe is proud to have spent 17 years as a Hotshot Superintendent and Smokejumper for the Bureau of Land Management in Elko and Boise, where he gained fundamental and critical experience in risk management and leadership.
In 2016, Gabe embraced another leadership role as the Colorado and Arizona Fire Program Manager for The Nature Conservancy, furthering his commitment to conservation. Recognizing the importance of supporting underserved communities, he has gone on to establish several non-profit businesses and initiatives, aiming to create more job opportunities in the realm of conservation.
Gabe’s academic journey spans institutions such as St. John’s College in Santa Fe, the National Outdoor Leadership School in Chile, the University of Northern Colorado, Colorado State University, Truckee Meadows Community College, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he attained a licentiate degree in Biological Sciences (BS) for Wildland Fire Personnel.
Gabe joins GBI with his wife, son, and two beloved pit-bull pups, Mari and Daisy. While he currently immerses himself in the XPRIZE competition as part of his team, The Fibonacci Fire Project, Gabe remains dedicated to his other passions outside of work, which includes trail running, reading, and writing short stories.
