During Friends of the Forest’s Annual Meeting in November, milestones were shared and volunteers celebrated. Between October 1, 2024 and September 30, 2025, FOF volunteers provided the U.S. Forest Service’s Red Rock Ranger District with a record 37,669 volunteer hours. This equates to more than 18 full-time employees, and an annual salary savings of over $1.3 million.
Volunteer leaders across the organization submitted candidates for numerous “Rock Awards” and committee-related certificates. Each Rock Award has guidelines, and the recipients are chosen by an Awards Nominating Committee.
Here are the awards categories and recipients for 2025:
Special Project Awards
Bob Haizmann and Wade Winningham for the time and attention given to the Technology Systems Team. Bob and Wade committed countless hours to creating new tools and revamping existing tools to enhance FOF’s technology infrastructure, increase productivity, and improve the overall user experience. Bob continues to serve on the Board and Wade is one of FOF’s webmasters.
New Volunteer of the Year
Nick Kollios for diving right in, making an immediate impact across multiple committees. Nick joined FOF halfway through 2025 and volunteered over 185 hours. He gave his time to Trail Ambassadors, Graffiti Removal, Preventative Search and Rescue, and the Visitor Center at the Ranger Station. He also was elected to the Board and is the new Co-Chair of the Visitor Information Services Committee.
Volunteers of the Year
Cheryl and Jim McCann for giving their time and talents across multiple committees, and their willingness to jump in when needed. They joined FOF a little over a year ago, and each volunteered more than 250 hours last year.
Jim volunteers with Graffiti Removal, Trail Ambassadors, Trail Maintenance & Construction, Trailhead Beautification, and Special Projects teams. He has helped install trail signs and paint blazes and also offered to drive his Jeep on Schnebly and Dry Creek roads to make it easier to reach Cow Pies and Vultee Arch trailheads for sign installations.
Cheryl has spent time with the same teams as Jim, in addition to working at the Visitor Center. She too has helped install new signs, paint blazes, and also volunteered for the Doe Mountain Trail closure. Cheryl is a newly elected member of the Board and when the need for a new Secretary was communicated, she answered the call.
Heart of the Friends Award
Diane Greathouse for always embracing FOF’s mission and putting her heart into everything she does. Diane has been a reliable and dedicated volunteer since joining FOF in 2007. She received the New Volunteer of the Year Award in 2008 and hasn’t slowed down. With an ever-present positive attitude and smile, Diane honors FOF’s history while making improvements for the future, which can be seen in the changes she’s made as the editor of Branching Out, the organization’s newsletter.
Distinguished Award
Pat Quinn for serving as a valued volunteer across almost every committee and always being ready to lend a hand, regardless of who asks or if it’s a last minute request. Since joining FOF five years ago, Pat has provided over 1500 hours of his time to numerous committees, including serving as Co-Chair of Trail Maintenance & Construction. Pat always has a smile, is quick to provide laughs, and has served on the Board since 2022
President’s Award
Glenn Kingsbury for his exemplary leadership and willingness to take on whatever is needed. For the past several years, Glenn has served on the Board, been the organization’s Auditor, Co-Chair for the Trail Maintenance & Construction Committee, and volunteers for numerous other committees, including Graffiti Removal, Visitor Information Services, and Trail Ambassadors. In late spring, he graciously agreed to take on the role of leading the seasonal Preventative Search and Rescue Committee. In a nutshell, Glenn has made the President’s job easier and is a huge asset to the organization.
In addition to the above main awards, committee-specific recognitions were also given, with the following volunteers receiving certificates:
Air Monitoring and Water Sampling: Christi Jacquay, Steve Jacquay, Sherry MacDonald, Michelle Swahla, and John Zieran
Cultural Resources: MunYee Aldrink, Doug Key, Brian Painchaud, Jon Petrescu, Mary Jane Stell, Todd Stell, and Mike Turner
Preventative Search and Rescue: Annie Glickstein, Mike Ober, Sam Serrill, and David Terrell
Trail Ambassadors: John Crowley, Martin Feder, Les Gerloff, Bob Haizmann, Michael Harris, Barb Heffner, Christine Nunez, Janet Walters, and Jerry Walters
Trail Maintenance & Construction: Rod Cashin, Ernie DiMillo, Jim McCann, Sam Serrill, and Kurt Starbuck
Visitor Information Services: Bart Bartlett, Bea Logan, and Judith Romero
For more information on the incredible work done by Friends of the Forest volunteers and to learn how you can join, go to: https://www.friendsoftheforestsedona.org.
Author, Melissa Pontikes
Serving Sedona, written his week by Melissa Pontikes, volunteer with Friends of the Forest, appears Wednesday in the Sedona Red Rock News.