Senior Director of Operations
Reno anchors the global vision, strategy, and daily impact of Polar Bears International. Since stepping into leadership, he has applied a lifetime of operational expertise to ensure the organization's conservation mission and values thrive on a global scale.
Reno’s deep-seated commitment to the natural world began long before his time at PBI. After earning his B.S. in Environmental Science, he traded Wisconsin for Montana, drawn by a lifelong need to be surrounded by abundant public lands and healthy, wild ecosystems. Prior to PBI, Reno spent more than 25 years in the adventure travel and international conference industries—creating, selling, and guiding multi-sport expeditions and global events across the world. This unique blend of high-stakes logistics and environmental passion makes him uniquely suited to guide PBI’s international footprint.
Place is a priority. After making Bozeman his home base, he met his wife on the summit of Saddle Peak and later proposed from a raft on the Smith River. Today, they are raising two great kids who share their love for the outdoors. When he isn’t steering the organization’s next strategic operational milestone, you’ll find Reno gliding through the mountains, casting for trout, or descending a wild river—usually with his family right alongside him.