FFI Board of Directors' Election Underway
Polls now open until August 15
Thank you for being a member of Fly Fishers International. As a member, you have the opportunity to elect individuals to serve on the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is the governing body of the organization that oversees policies, sets the direction of the organization, and approves the annual budget. Serving on the Board is an important responsibility requiring a significant commitment to advancing FFI’s mission and goals.
The Nominations, Elections, and Board Development Committee, chaired by Marnee Banks, is responsible for presenting a slate of nominees each year. The general membership elects those members chosen to serve.
This year we have eight (8) nominees who are being presented to you as a slate to consider. We distributed an electronic ballot on July 7 to those members who had an email address on file. For those members that we don't have a valid email address, the paper documents will be mailed around July 14.
We thank you for your participation in this important election. If you have any questions or didn't get your e-ballot, please contact Rhonda Sellers, Executive Director, at operations@flyfishersinternational.org.
Most Sincerely,
Tilda Evans Sam Matalone
Chair of the Board Secretary of the Board
2025 Nominees for the Board of Directors
Marneé Banks – Washington, D.C.
Marneé Banks is a current FFI Board Member running for reelection for her third term. She serves as Chair of the Nominations, Elections, and Board Development Committee and as a member of the Finance Committee. During her time on the board, she helped develop the FFI strategic plan and navigate a leadership transition.
Marneé works as senior vice president of communications for Global Strategy Group, where she consults for Fortune 50 companies and global non-profits. Her work focuses on public affairs, crisis communications, coalition building, and media relations.
Before joining GSG, Marneé was the chief communications and operating officer for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, running communications, finance, and operations for the national non-profit.
Previously, she served as communications director for former U.S. Senator Jon Tester helping pass the Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act, a bill to stop a gold mine from coming online at the headwaters of the Yellowstone River.
Marneé is also a recovering broadcast television journalist and lifelong angler who grew up in Montana. Marneé resides in Washington D.C. and spends her free time adventuring with her rescue pup Evie.
Bryant Dunn – Ketchum, Idaho
Bryant Dunn has worn many hats since he moved to Ketchum, Idaho more than 30 years ago from his hometown of Bellevue, WA. He has worked as a ski instructor, ski patroller, flyfishing and big game hunting guide and outfitter, tv morning show host, weatherman, journalist, and creative writer.
Currently, Bryant spends most of his time - when not chasing his kids down the ski slopes of Sun Valley’s Bald Mountain or along the banks of some remote Idaho river - operating Dunn Outfitting International which offers flyfishing and big game hunting services in the Himalayas, Oceania, and the American Rocky Mountains.
Bryant is the International Director of Himalayan Flyfishing Adventures headquartered in Himalayan Bhutan, owns Bhutan’s first-ever fly shop and is currently in the finishing stages of constructing the kingdom’s first flyfishing-specific lodge. He is also a partner in and Director of Guest Services for Christmas Island Lodge, located on the world’s largest coral atoll in the central Polynesian Republic of Kiribati. Additionally, Bryant serves as Head Honcho of Idaho Wilderness Outfitters.
Bryant’s award-winning writing and photography have appeared in many publications including the Wall Street Journal, Sports Afield Magazine, Sun Valley Magazine, Ski Patrol Magazine, Territory Magazine, the Wood River Journal, Eastman’s Hunting Journal, Trophy Hunter Magazine and Bowhunter Magazine among others.
Finally, Bryant serves on the Board of Directors of Fisheries Conservation Foundation, is the Board Chair of Himalayan Rivers United, represents Fly Fishers International as International Programs Committee Chairman, FFI Ambassador in Bhutan and as the FFI International Ambassador Coordinator, achieved his FFI Casting Instructor certification in 2009 and has served the Royal Government of Bhutan as Master Trainer of Fishing Guides.
Much more importantly, Bryant is the father of four amazing children who are just as passionate about the outdoors as he is.
Tilda Evans – Collbran, Colorado
A lifelong angler with a deep passion for conservation and education, Tilda Evans has been actively involved in FFI for over 15 years. Tilda is currently serving as Chair of the Board, appointed to that position in 2024 and formerly elected by her fellow board members in 2025. She has also served as FFI Board Secretary and a member of the Executive Committee.
Her leadership has been pivotal in expanding fly fishing opportunities, promoting conservation initiatives, and educating new anglers. Recognized for her outstanding contributions, she has received multiple honors, including the FFI Distinction for Leadership and Service award, Fly Fisher of the Year, and the Women’s Community Development award.
Keith Groty – Cedarville, Michigan
Keith has been involved with Fly Fishers International at some level for over 50 years. FFI’s past, present and future have become a large and important part of his life. He has served many years on the Board of the Great Lakes Council.
As the organization moves to a stronger role in protecting and advancing the fly fishing sport and the natural resources upon which we all depend, he wants to continue working with the supporters, leaders, partners and staff to reach greater levels of accomplishments. He believes his experience and history provide insight and skills, which has and will continue, to serve the organization, Board of Director, its officers and staff.
Keith is committed to advancing the changes he has been involved in bringing to the organization. He is especially interested in the continued development of financial support necessary to protecting our sport and natural resources.
Keith retired from a major university where he served as a faculty member, and administrator with responsibility for the management of the university’s Human Resources.
Dale Ray – Belding, Michigan
Dale Ray is fly fisherman, emergency physician, educator, hunting dog trainer, and traveler. He gained a passion for fly fishing in southern Minnesota as he sought a much-needed reprieve from the rigors of medical school.
Since then, his fly rod has been an excuse to travel to over a dozen countries and catch 70 different species. He enjoys fishing for tarpon, bonefish, Dolly Varden, and bright silver salmon. For Dale, fly fishing has been the vehicle to meet fascinating people, see spectacular scenery, and interact with diverse cultures.
Professionally, he spent nearly 30 years serving as an emergency physician at a level-one trauma center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In addition to direct patient care, his focus was on physician education, patient safety, and operational problem-solving. The apex of his career was dedicated to enhancing resident physician education and patient safety on a national level.
He holds an undergraduate degree from Drake University, a Medical Doctor degree from the University of Minnesota, and a Master of Medical Management from Carnegie Mellon University.
He and his wife Lisa travel together on destination fly fishing and snorkeling trips. Their daughter Ellen is an attorney in Dubai, where they have caught queenfish, milkfish, and africanus permit.
As a potential board member, Dale says his first role will be to listen to and enhance the FFI community.
Richard Ross – Hancock, New York
Richard has supported Fly Fishers International and its goals for over 25 years. His career as a floor trader and floor official and as a board and committee member of a U.S. Securities Exchange, along with his service in the executive leadership of multiple U.S. Exchanges has made him uniquely qualified to help guide FFI toward its financial and strategic objectives.
Richard serves on FFI's Board of Directors, Nominations, Elections and Board Development Committee, Executive Committee, and Finance Committee. This experience has given him valuable insight into the needs and function of a resource-based conservation and educational organization. In these roles, Richard has contributed to the development of a long-term strategic plan for FFI, including succession planning and leadership development efforts.
George Sylvestre – Brewster, Massachuetts
George Sylvestre is a retired Army Veteran, a former biotech and pharmaceutical manager, and a current owner of a fly fishing company.
George served in the U.S. Army as a Combat Platoon Leader, Company Commander, and Battalion Logistics Officer. Following his military service, he spent 27 years in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry.
George has served many local and national non-profit organizations including in the role of Treasurer/Acting CFO on two national nonprofit boards. He currently leads the Cape Cod chapter of Project Healing Waters. George currently serves as FFI Education Committee Chair and Northeast Council Co-President.
George owns and operates Sylvestre Outdoors, LLC which provides fresh and saltwater guided fly fishing trips, fly casting instruction, and fly fishing seminars. He is also the co-owner / co-founder of the Cape Cod School of Saltwater Fly Fishing and holds an Inland Master Captain license.
George completed a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1991 at the University of Maine and an Executive MBA from Duke University in 2003.
When not on the water, George spends as much time as he can with his grandson Jaxson, training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and bowhunting. His wife Andrea and son Greg are fortunate to live on Cape Cod in Brewster, MA. Their two grown children Jacob and Ryan are both married to their high school sweethearts and reside in Stonington, Connecticut, where George grew up.
Robert Uselton - Simpsonville, SC
Robert Uselton, 58, is an entrepreneur and Chief Operating Officer who owns an engineering consulting firm in Greenville SC. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, but reared in Arkansas where he fished the White and Norfork Rivers. He moved back to Tennessee, near his home waters—the upper Cumberland River—where he spends ten days a month fishing.
Robert says it was there—edging up stream at five am in search of trout in the tailwaters—where his lifelong passion for pursuing trout was born. It continues today as he explores the rivers and streams of North and South Carolina. He enjoys fishing internationally and traveling to explore different cultures.
As a current board member of Fly Fishers International and Chair of the Development Committee, he is running for his second term and looks forward working to ensure that the same opportunities are available for future generations to enjoy fishing and conservation for all fish and all waters. Robert is proud to support and serve with a community of conservation-minded anglers who are stewards of our waters.
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