Christine Kenyon – Executive Director
Our Executive Director and Founder
Christine Kenyon is an international awarding winning photographer based in Utah. She was selected as one of 100 “Rising Stars” in photography by Nikon, and was recognized internationally as a Milky Way Photographer of the Year 2021 by Capture the Atlas. Christine is a speaker, writer and educator, and has shown in galleries throughout the U.S. Her work is sold internationally, and she has been featured by Adobe, Forbes, the Daily Mail, Desert News, Business Insider, and National Geographic, among others. Christine most often presents on the subject of Nightscape/astrophotography, and leads photography workshops in the U.S. west.
Through photography, Christine developed a passion for preserving the night sky, which led to a 2019 front page story in the Salt Lake Tribune marking the launch of her nonprofit Save a Star Foundation. Her 20+ year career as a Washington, D.C. public relations and media consultant, equips her with the skillset necessary to present a far reaching message that generates energy, excitement, and action.
Save a Star Foundation Board of Directors
SAS board members are high level visionary thought leaders, offering expertise and insight,
and drawing upon decades of professional experience in their respective fields.
Through an unwavering commitment to lead, SAS hopes to move companies and the culture forward,
in the belief that strategic innovation and informed execution will further our mission to preserve and reclaim dark skies in the western U.S.
Royce Bair
Royce Bair has been a professional magazine and illustrative advertising photographer for three decades. He also finds satisfaction helping other photographers achieve their vision through his writings, international lectures, and workshops.
As a former photography gallery owner and curator, Royce has helped scores of photographers showcase and sell their fine art photography. From 1984 through 2007, his Stock Solution agency aided hundreds of photographers in editing, distributing and licensing their stock photos to publishers and corporations, worldwide.
Royce believes that photographers should strive to “reinvent” themselves every few years, and find new ways to see the world through their art. He has been one the first photographers, in recent years, to focus on a new style of night photography he calls “NightScapes”: Starry night skies with a unique landscape feature. His unique astro-landscapes have received worldwide syndication through The Huffington Post, and he is the author of the book, “Milky Way NightScapes.”
Melinda Crandall
Melinda Crandall is an entrepreneur and business owner, who has owned several successful businesses. She is the survivor of a series of life changing car crashes, and thrives despite the physical limitations imposed by her injured body. Melinda is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys getting out and experiencing the joys and healing powers of nature. She is passionate about preserving our starry skies so future generations can experience the wonder and majesty that expands beyond our imagination.
Ted Maestas
Ted Maestas, with over 40-years in the Lighting Design Industry, has led as an innovator while Partner/Owner of Mountain States Lighting since 1990. His expertise in lighting, both residential and commercial, included ownership of Lighting Innovations, for a decade, where he specialized in high-end residential lighting design.
Ted was the Lighting Designer for 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics, in Salt Lake City Utah in, 2002, and is called upon as a lighting expert and consultant throughout the western United States.
As owner of Mountain States Lighting, Ted oversees seven western states, both selling and manufacturing a diverse portfolio of product that is distributed throughout the United States. Mountain States primarily services: DOT’s, Cities, Municipalities and Utilities.
Ted currently serves as Chairman of the Murray City Park & Recreation-Advisory Board (Utah).
Lana Mawhinney – Treasurer
Lana Mawhinney has achieved a 40 year career as an influential executive and consultant in the commercial insurance industry, has managed high level M&As, and owned and operated a highly successful commercial insurance enterprise for 16 years. She has been civically active throughout, and has contributed her time and expertise to numerous public policy initiatives.
Calvin Roberts
Cal Roberts brings his Wall Street financial expertise to local government, as he currently serves as the youngest elected councilman in Draper City’s history. (Elected in 2020)
Invested in the community, Cal works in real estate private equity and owns several small businesses across Utah.
While on Wall Street, Cal worked at Credit Suisse as an investment banker for several years. He managed over $25 billion of corporate transactions, working with multi-billion dollar venture capital firms and dozens of public and private companies.
Cal Roberts studied politics, finance, and philosophy at Brigham Young University.
Helga Kenyon – Secretary
Helga Kenyon, born in Frankfurt, Germany, is the Mother of Christine Kenyon, and proudly supports the legacy of her late husband, and Christine’s mentor, Fine Art Photographer, Lowell Anson Kenyon. Helga provides editorial support for SAS.