Our Team

Kurt Zeilenga, President and Executive Director

Kurt serves as Executive Director of Trout Adventures. He brings significant executive and director-level experience from both for-profit and nonprofit sectors. A retired research and development engineer specializing in computer networking and security technologies, Kurt provides organizational leadership and strategic direction for our programs.

An avid fly fisher, Kurt is passionate about native trout conservation and outdoor education. In addition to contributing articles for Trout Adventures, he publishes extensively at zTrout.org.

Jimmy Gaver, Secretary

Jimmy serves as Secretary of Trout Adventures. A retired service operations manager, he continues to work part time at a local fly shop and brings practical experience and community connections to the organization.

Jimmy enjoys motorcycling and spending time outdoors.

Jeff Evans, Treasurer and Science Advisor

Jeff serves as Treasurer and Science Advisor. With more than thirty years of leadership and operational experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Jeff provides financial oversight and scientific guidance to the organization. He holds a Ph.D. in organic chemistry and currently serves as Senior Vice President of Operations at Serán BioScience.

Jeff is also an avid fly fisher and former fly fishing guide. He also shares insights on fly fishing and western waters through his blog.

Beth Hansen, Teaching Advisor

Beth is a 4th-grade teacher with the Douglas County School District and has participated in the Trout in the Classroom program in her own classroom for many years. Her direct experience implementing the program provides valuable insight into effective classroom instruction and student engagement.

Beth collaborates with Trout Adventures in the development and refinement of K–12 educational programming. She holds a master’s degree in teaching and a bachelor’s degree in speech communication.

Jan Nemec, Wildlife Education Advisor and NDOW Liaison

Jan serves as the Western Region Angler Education Coordinator for the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW). He manages the Trout in the Classroom program in western Nevada, serving more than 1,500 students annually.

Jan advises Trout Adventures on wildlife education initiatives and serves as a liaison between the organization and NDOW. He also assists in the development of grant proposals and educational programming.

Jan is the author of Flyfisher’s Guide to Nevada and is an accomplished professional fly tier and small business owner. Through decades of studying and replicating aquatic insects and trout forage species, he has developed a deep understanding of aquatic life cycles and habitat relationships, knowledge that directly informs both classroom and field-based education programs.

Tailar Purciel, Conservation Education Advisor

Tailar is the Education and Outreach Coordinator for the Walker Basin Conservancy. She is passionate about getting students outdoors and actively seeks to create opportunities for youth to experience hands-on learning and discovery within the nature of their own backyard.

Tailar advises Trout Adventures on conservation education initiatives, bringing experience in place-based education and community engagement.