EVANSTON — Former Herald publisher Mark Tesoro never expected that a grassroots effort to support local trail riding would lead him to a key leadership role in state government. But, in January, Tesoro began his new position as manager for the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation — a division of Wyoming State Parks & Cultural Resources — bringing a passion for community-driven projects and a commitment to statewide growth in outdoor recreation.

Based in Evanston, Tesoro is responsible for managing programs that reach every corner of Wyoming. His work continues to build on the success of the Southwest Wyoming Offroad Trails (SWOT) initiative he helped found — an effort that quickly gained momentum and now serves as a model across the state.

“I had no idea it would take off to something that is statewide now,” he said.

He’s not doing it alone. Tesoro works closely with Chris Floyd, deputy director of State Parks and Cultural Resources and fellow Evanston resident who helped him launch SWOT.

“He was so instrumental in helping launch my project,” Tesoro said of Floyd.

Floyd’s own responsibilities span multiple divisions.

“As deputy director of State Parks and Cultural Resources, I supervise the Office of Outdoor Recreation, the State Trails Program, the Planning Section, Recreational Grants, and the Communications and Marketing Office,” Floyd said.

Despite the breadth of his role, Floyd said his base in southwest Wyoming works just fine.

“My responsibilities are statewide, so I am not required to be in Cheyenne, although I travel there from time to time as needed, especially during the legislative session.”

Tesoro appreciates having a strong ally and mentor nearby.

“It is a real plus to have this much influence for state parks based here in Evanston,” he said, pointing to the rare opportunity for two agency leaders from the same town to work closely on major initiatives.

Floyd echoed the benefits.

“An additional benefit of having staff in places like Evanston is that it keeps our agency better engaged with the needs of citizens and communities statewide,” Floyd said. “There is not necessarily a need for everyone not working at a state park to be in Cheyenne.”

Both men are deeply rooted in southwest Wyoming.

“We love living in southwest Wyoming, with its beautiful scenery, historical sites, and outdoor recreation opportunities,” said Floyd. “My family and I moved to Mountain View in 2016, when I became superintendent of Fort Bridger State Historic Site. We have also lived in Rock Springs and Cheyenne.”

Floyd praised Tesoro’s leadership and background.

“Mark has been an excellent addition to our agency,” he said. “He has a proven track record of developing stakeholder relationships and building community engagement. It is noteworthy that two state directors of outdoor recreation, in Wyoming and Utah, are graduates of Evanston High School,” he said referring to Tesoro and Jason Curry, who is Tesoro’s counterpart for the state of Utah.

For Tesoro, the work that began with SWOT continues to evolve. He still serves as president of the organization and uses his new platform to spread its message.

“Working with the outdoor rec office has given me opportunities to keep spreading the word on that project,” he said.

A major focus of his role now includes managing the newly-formed Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Trust Fund, where he serves as secretary. “It’s a brand-new fund that the legislature set up in the last couple of sessions,” he said.

The fund is overseen by a nine-member trust fund board appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate, with representatives from each judicial district and a broad spectrum of outdoor interests — ranging from wildlife and recreation to private land ownership.

The fund currently has a corpus of $13.4 million, with $6 million more to be added at the beginning of each biennium, $2 million of which can be spent immediately, along with any accrued interest.

The funding comes through the state’s lodging tax, funneled via the Office of Tourism.

“They plan to put in money each year to fund outdoor rec projects,” Tesoro said.

The board is working to finalize rules, which will then go to the attorney general’s office for approval. The goal is to begin accepting grant applications by January 2026, and Tesoro said they hope to “have $2 million to put on the ground each year.”

The trust fund was formally created on July 1, 2023, in order to support infrastructure, planning, and access for outdoor recreation. Wyoming now joins other states in recognizing the importance of outdoor recreation as an economic engine.

“The outdoor recreation economy in Wyoming is a $2.2 billion economic driver,” Tesoro said, adding it supports about 35,000 jobs. “It’s the second biggest economic impact in the state,” he said, trailing only the mineral extraction industry, with agriculture in third.

Tesoro oversees a team of six employees statewide and regularly travels for meetings, grant coordination, and legislative advocacy.

“It’s a great opportunity to meet people in the outdoor recreation industry,” he said. “Outdoor rec is a big topic throughout the state, and this is a great opportunity to move the needle in a positive direction for outdoor rec in the state.”

Floyd’s own schedule mirrors the travel demands of his deputy director role.

“My job requires me to be on the road in Wyoming about a third of the time, and the rest can be done locally or remotely,” he said.

Despite their busy schedules, both men remain committed to their home region. “Southwest Wyoming has a tremendous amount of opportunity on the horizon for recreation projects,” Tesoro said.

And, while his background is rooted in SWOT, he’s looking ahead.

“That really is going to be a large part of my job,” he said, referring to the work involved in building and managing the trust fund.

“I’m excited. I think it is amazing to have a funding source for outdoor rec projects throughout the state,” Tesoro said. “It is something very unique for Wyoming.”