The Council at JTNPA
about
Juan Rosas
Juan has over 15 years of experience as a founder and director of several nonprofits in Southern California. Moved by his deep convictions that every person should have access to housing, food, healthcare, education, and recreational spaces, he has dedicated his life’s work to bringing funding and awareness to these issues. Juan is also a motivational speaker who has had the opportunity to speak internationally at conferences, colleges, and churches. Juan studied theology, management, and leadership education at Global University. A passion for the outdoors drives him, and he has led and organized several excursions over the years, exposing a diverse group of people to America’s national parks and wildlife. Currently, he resides in San Jacinto, California, with his beautiful family.
Gabriela Moreno
Gabaccia Moreno is a first-generation Mexican-American multi-disciplinary creator, consultant, and passionate outdoor advocate #ExploringResponsibly wherever life takes her. Having grown up in Veracruz, Mexico, to a family of hunters and ranchers gave her an appreciation for the land and its wildlife at an early age. Today she serves as National Monuments Fellow for Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project, where she is involved in national campaigns, like the Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E. and the Monumental SHIFT, seeking to make the outdoors more equitable and protect our lands and waters. She is also the Executive Director of The Outdoorist Oath, an organization creating educational tools and models equipping people to ally planet, inclusion, and adventure. In 2021, Gabaccia was the resident host for the She Explores podcast and a contributor at Backpacker.com. In her free time, you’ll find her outside, probably fishing, hunting, hiking, practicing yoga, or backpacking.
Yanina Aldao Galvan
Yanina Aldao Galvan is a Naturalized American originally from Argentina, where she studied Agricultural Sciences. She has been an Outdoor Educator since 2008 and a Land Steward since childhood. She has worked for the Mojave Desert Land Trust and Joshua Tree National Park. She holds a BS in Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics from the University of California, Riverside. Her undergraduate thesis focused on the complexity of fire, invasive grasses, and biodiversity loss in Joshua tree woodlands. Her favorite topics are plant Chemistry and Conservation of Biodiversity. Her purpose in life is to heal the Earth and help others deepen their relationship with the Ecosystem they live in.
Corey Jones
Currently the Vice President of Service Solutions in Los Angeles, Corey recently served as JTNPA’s Finance Manager. Prior to joining JTNPA, Corey Jones was AVP of Bankruptcy, Payment Processing, and Payoffs at AmeriNat Community Services, and has held several leadership roles in both the entertainment and financial services industry. He received a Gold album for over 900,000 albums sold while signed with Motown Records and was also the Senior Vice President for Sony America. In 2011, he was awarded a proclamation by the state of Tennessee House of Representatives for outstanding work in the community and music industry. Additionally, Corey holds a BA in Law and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Oregon.
Monique Allen
Monique Allen is a Community Health Worker with the University of Madison – Wisconsin. She has 20 years’ experience working with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community and 10 years teaching American Sign Language at the local Community College. She also has a background with working with children with special needs for over 17 years including being a supervised visitation monitor. Within those years Monique has had major involvement with local chambers, Rotary clubs, community coalition meetings, and foster youth programs. She is an active supporter in the community and an advocate for equity and inclusion – standing up for those that feel they don’t have a voice. After learning of the lack of fitness opportunities for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community, Monique opened a gym geared to meeting their needs and created an fitness-affiliated nonprofit for that community and other underserved populations. Monique has also completed the CCHW training at Loma Linda University and was hired there as a Community Health Worker/ Peer Support Specialist. Monique plans to continue in the Community Health Worker profession and assist in furthering this career path for others.
Glen Harris
Born and raised in the suburbs of NYC into a family that loved and valued the arts, music, and theatre, Glen graduated with a bachelor’s degree from New York University. Wanting to pursue his dreams and to live a “healthier” lifestyle, he moved to Los Angeles, and his love for everything California began to flourish.
Glen was a working actor in his younger days but then worked behind the scenes in many areas in television production for over 3 decades. Glen and his husband Tom moved full-time to Joshua Tree in 2016, where they found their “Forever Home.” He is a “Cattle Baron” of the Friends of Pioneertown, is on the Citizens Advisory Council of the Joshua Basin Water District and currently sits on the Board of Directors of The Morongo Basin Humane Society No Kill Shelter in Joshua Tree, and on DRTA/The California Welcome Center located in Yucca Valley. He served as Secretary and then Chair of the Morongo Basin Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) for the Third District of San Bernardino County, and in 2021 was officially appointed by Dawn Rowe, the Third District Supervisor, as her Community Liaison of the High Desert.
Bob Grubbs
Bob was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, and moved to the United States at age one. He grew up in San Diego after which his family moved to Arizona where he finished high school and college. Bob earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry with minors in Mathematics and Physics. He also earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Entrepreneurship. Both degrees were earned from The University of Arizona in Tucson. Soon after attending college, Bob returned to Southern California and pursued a corporate life. His final position was Vice President of Konica Minolta Business Solutions in Los Angeles. While there, Bob got involved with the community through feeding the homeless at Midnight Mission in downtown Los Angeles and also coached high school students in job interview skills at Jordan High School in Long Beach.
In 2015 after Bob and his husband Louis retired, they moved from Long Beach to Yucca Valley. Soon after, Bob met the former Superintendent of Joshua Tree National Park, David Smith, at a function and asked how he could get involved to learn about and support the park. He was introduced to JTNPA’s Desert Institute where he has served as a Lead Volunteer since 2018. Bob also began volunteering at the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, as a “Kiosk Ambassador” in 2023.
Bob is an avid hiker and enjoys spending time hiking, camping, and volunteering in the park. Bob’s transition from a corporate city life is complete, but he still enjoys a great spreadsheet once in a while.