Lissa and Justin Howe, Ranch Managers Lissa and Justin Howe have managed the A Bar A since 2008, when they took the reins from Justin’s parents, Bob and Margie, who managed from 1984 to 2008. Justin and Lissa met while working together as A Bar A wranglers. Both Justin and Lissa feel very grateful to be part of the A Bar A community and have deep connections to the ranch and its guest and staff families. The landscape of the A Bar A is home for them, and they feel fortunate to be able to serve as its stewards. Lissa grew up in Durango, Colorado and went to Colorado College. Justin grew up in small towns in Colorado and Wyoming (including Encampment) and graduated from Fort Lewis College. They both attended graduate school at the University of Wyoming and then worked together for a non-profit called Project WET (Water Education for Teachers). At Project WET, they worked with a diverse group of educators and water resource managers to develop hands-on K-12 education. They live in Durango when they aren’t at the ranch, and have two daughters, Christine and Kenna. The whole family loves reading, travel, and outdoor activities like horseback riding, hiking, camping, river-rafting, and skiing. There is always a lot of music being played or sung in the Howe household!
Clarkie Duke Duke, Assistant Manager, Guest and Family Relations Benjy Duke, Assistant Manager, Conservation Stewardship and Expeditions Clarkie and Benjy Duke’s story at A Bar A began in 2012, when they met while working at the Ranch. Today, both are members of the Ranch’s leadership team: Clarkie serves as Reservations Director, while Benjy is Assistant Ranch Manager, directs the Conservation Stewardship Program, and co-directs the Expeditions program. Their shared love of the outdoors and deep connection to A Bar A have shaped both their careers and their family life. A Colorado native, Benjy grew up on his family’s ranch in Elizabeth, where an early appreciation for wildlife, conservation, and the outdoors helped shape his career. He graduated from Washington College with a degree in Humanities, concentrating in Environmental Science and Chesapeake Bay Regional Studies, and later gained experience in fisheries with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department in Jackson. Benjy began at A Bar A as a seasonal fly-fishing guide before joining the Ranch full-time in 2013, when he helped develop the Expeditions program. Today, his work in conservation brings together partnerships, education, hospitality, and agricultural operations to help care for the natural resources of the Gates Family Ranches. Clarkie grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and graduated from Sweet Briar College with a degree in business and a minor in psychology. She first came to A Bar A as a member of the waitstaff team and returned the following summer as a children’s counselor. After working in corporate sponsorship for the Denver Zoo, Clarkie returned to the Ranch in 2015 and eventually stepped into her current role as Reservations Director. During the winter months, Clarkie and Benjy live in Centennial, Colorado, with their daughter, Chambers and son, Ben. As a family, they share a love of the outdoors, with horseback riding, fly fishing, hiking, skiing, hunting, and time spent exploring among their favorite pursuits.
Burk Knowlton, Assistant Ranch Manager, Expeditions, Conservation and Land Resources Rettie Knowlton, Assistant Ranch Manager, Human Resources and Logistics Burk and Rettie Knowlton both found their way to A Bar A early in their careers and met during Burk’s first summer at the Ranch. Over the years, their connection to A Bar A and the surrounding landscape has grown into a shared life rooted in conservation, adventure, and the ranch community. Burk grew up in Columbia, South Carolina, and graduated from the College of Charleston before heading west for his first summer at A Bar A as a Ranger. After spending time in Jackson Hole, he returned to the Ranch as an Expeditions Guide. A lifelong outdoorsman, Burk is passionate about hunting, fishing, backpacking, and conservation, and especially enjoys introducing others to the landscapes and wildlife of A Bar A, Big Creek, and State Line Ranches. More recently, photography has become another way for him to capture and share his appreciation for the natural world. Rettie grew up on her family’s ranch in Elizabeth, Colorado, alongside her brother, Benjy Duke, who is also a longtime member of the A Bar A team. She first came to A Bar A in 2010 as the Ranch gardener and returned for several seasons as a fly-fishing guide. Rettie graduated from Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland, with a degree in Anthropology and a concentration in Chesapeake Bay Regional Studies. Before returning to A Bar A, she completed a two-year fellowship with Colorado’s El Pomar Foundation focused on leadership and nonprofit management. Burk and Rettie share a deep appreciation for the West and the landscapes surrounding the Ranches. Rettie enjoys hiking, painting, baking, and fishing the Ranches’ smaller streams, while Burk can often be found fishing, hunting, or behind a camera. They welcomed their daughter, Banks, in April 2024 and are grateful to be raising their family in a place that has played such an important role in both of their lives.
Andrew Koehn, Maintenance Director and Leah Koehn, Howdy Gate Lead & Administrative Assistant Leah and Andrew Koehn have been part of the A Bar A team since 2012 and live on the Ranch year-round. They first met while attending Oklahoma Panhandle State University, where Andrew earned a degree in Animal Science and Leah studied Psychology. Their connection to the Gates Family Ranches began at Big Creek Ranch, where they lived before coming to A Bar A and Andrew spent eight years working as a cowboy. Today, Andrew serves as A Bar A’s Maintenance Director, overseeing the many projects and day-to-day work that keep the Ranch running. He especially enjoys working with the draft horse team and restoring antique machinery, interests that reflect his lifelong connection to ranching and traditional skills. Leah supports many aspects of life at A Bar A. For many years, she led the Children’s Gopher Hole program, helping shape the experience for generations of young guests before completing her final season as its director in 2025. Today, she leads the Howdy Gate crew during the summer and provides administrative support to the Ranch office year-round. Outside of their day-to-day roles, Leah enjoys crafts, walking, and joining Andrew and the draft horse team to feed the horse herd from the Koehns’ horse-drawn sled.
Devyn Cordes, Head Housekeeper Alex Elliott, Expeditions Operations Manager Alex Elliott joined A Bar A in 2016, beginning as a breakfast cook and spending three summers in the Ranch kitchen before moving to Seattle to further develop his culinary skills. He returned to A Bar A in 2019 as the Expeditions Chef, where his love of cooking has grown into a passion for hospitality and bringing people together around the table. Originally from Valdosta, Georgia, Alex grew up bird hunting, fishing, camping, and playing sports. He graduated from the University of Alabama in 2015 with a degree in Communication and Information Sciences and worked briefly in the nonprofit sector before making his way to A Bar A. His first summers at the Ranch also introduced him to fly fishing and gave him the opportunity to explore the Western landscape that has since become an important part of his life. Devyn grew up near Boulder, Colorado, and has called Steamboat Springs home for more than a decade. She earned a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre with an emphasis in songwriting from the Boston Conservatory before finding her own path to the guest ranch world. Beginning in housekeeping at a Colorado dude ranch, she eventually moved into reservations and hospitality management, developing a lasting connection to ranch life and the rural West. In 2024, Devyn began pursuing a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Alex and Devyn are engaged and live in Steamboat Springs with their dog, Routty. They share a love of travel and the outdoors, with skiing, trail running, fishing, and exploring the mountains among their favorite ways to spend time together. Devyn is also a 200-hour registered yoga teacher, while Alex is happiest outside the kitchen when fishing or spending time with friends and family.
Kyle Cocowitch, Food and Beverage Manager Kyle first came to A Bar A in 2019, shortly after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with degrees in Political Science and Public Policy. Growing up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, he had long been drawn to the West and joined the Ranch for his first summer as a cook. After the season, he moved to Jackson, Wyoming, where he continued to develop his culinary experience while taking full advantage of the skiing. Kyle returned to A Bar A in 2021 as Sous Chef, a role that allowed him to further develop his interests in food, hospitality, and creating a memorable experience for guests. He has since become the Ranch’s Food and Beverage Manager, overseeing an important part of the dining and hospitality experience at A Bar A. During the winter months, Kyle lives in Denver, Colorado. In his free time, he enjoys sharing good food and drinks with friends, mountain biking, snowboarding, playing golf, and cheering on Carolina basketball.
Jacob Cook, Executive Chef Jacob Cook joined A Bar A as Executive Chef in the summer of 2024, bringing with him decades of experience in kitchens across a wide range of culinary settings. He grew up in Gardena, California, in the South Bay area of Los Angeles, before moving to Phoenix as a teenager, where he would spend much of the next 30 years. While in Arizona, Jacob earned his culinary degree and built his career working in restaurants ranging from boutique fine dining establishments to national and locally owned restaurant groups. Along the way, he developed a particular appreciation for teaching and mentoring in the kitchen, something he continues to value in his role at A Bar A. Jacob met his wife, Jada, while the two were working together in the kitchen at the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North. Today, they live in Wichita, Kansas, with their children, Rohana and William. As a family, they enjoy hiking, fishing, and exploring new places on road trips.
Izzy Ellenthal, Head Wrangler Izzy joined A Bar A in the summer of 2022 as a wrangler, bringing with her a lifelong love of horses and an interest in conservation. Originally from Wilton, Connecticut, she began riding at a young age and continued developing her horsemanship throughout college. She graduated from the University of Vermont with a degree in Environmental Science, concentrating in conservation, and a minor in Animal Science. While in college, she worked at a horse barn in Williston, Vermont—an experience that eventually led her to A Bar A and sparked a lasting connection to the West. Since her first summer at the Ranch, Izzy has continued to expand her experience with horses and ranching. She spent several winters in Colorado working with a horse trainer, starting young horses and further developing her horsemanship skills. During the winter of 2024, she remained at A Bar A, helping with winter maintenance and horse care while experiencing a quieter side of life in the North Platte River Valley. In 2025, Izzy joined the cowboy crew at Big Creek Ranch, where she gained hands-on experience with the cattle operation, working horses, and the day-to-day rhythms of a working ranch. She currently lives in Encampment and, when she’s not horseback, enjoys reading, hiking, and skiing.