Krystina Cook
Founder/ President / Director of programming/ Gold Star Director/ Womens Programs Director
Krys is the owner and founder of The Ranch. A mom of three, a military wife, and The Ranch in Julian creator…and that’s just to start.
Formally a marriage and family therapist & informally (now) an outdoor therapist. Krys has a Masters in MFT specializing in Art Therapy and found her own healing in the outdoors. She has created The Ranch in Julian, CA. to educate others on all things outdoors. Giving others the tools necessary to creat purpose, drive, and dedication to the missions at hand.
The focus of The Ranch is “teach people to live free”. That carries a different meaning for every individual. Having the education to be self-sustainable, and being able to provide for yourself/family gives you the right to be free of reliance on the “system”. The point of all that happens at The Ranch is to share with others what our ambassadors have found passion doing. It’s about giving back and being apart of their process. That is what Krys and her family created.
“I believe that hunting and being one with the outdoors is therapy. It’s something that I know for a fact, because it’s my therapy.” -Krys Cook
Jeff Asher
Co-director of programming / Fishing Director/ Hunting Co-Director
Jeff’s father and grandparents are/were all outdoorsman. He was fortunate enough to go on his 1st backcountry pack in trip at the age of 10. It was this experience that provided the foundation for his love and passion for the high country and the solitude that it can provide. Jeff continues to be an advent outdoorsman, bow hunter and angler.
He loves sharing his experiences in the outdoors with others and being around positive and motivated people. His goal is to ensure the youth know what our countries public lands, oceans and streams have to offer so the future generations can enjoy the pristine outdoors our country has to offer.
Mike Herne
Hunting Director/ The Ranch instructor/ Co-Programmer/ Veteran outreach coordinator
Michael (Mike) Herne is a lifelong outdoorsman, writer, veteran, and photographer. He is a die-hard bowhunter who strives to be the best. When his military obligations aren’t at play, you will find him hunting, fishing, or training to hunt somewhere in the backcountry.
As he has progressed through his hunting career, he has developed a true passion for sharing his craft with others. He is a truly engaging teacher and a wide range of people enjoy learning his skills. His true definition of success is to bring the knowledge he has learned to a broad audience and help grow and preserve the sport of hunting.
Rebecca Lincoln
Gold Star Family Director
Rebecca knew from a young age her passions in life. She loved the outdoors, architecture, fishing, hunting and being an athlete. In her early 20’s, she created her own company, Coastal Dwelling, a boutique Design & Build Firm, and works everyday doing what she loves. She is a creative and adventurous soul. Her late fiancé Remi and her would travel around the world pushing the extremes on outdoor activities. They would climb, hike, jump and explore. Remi was part of the Navy SEAL Leap Frogs and Rebecca lost him in a jumping accident in 2017. She continues to grow her business, carry on the passions of her and Remi and create new hobbies like bow shooting and hunting as she makes steps forward in her life.
Katie Caster
Treasurer/ Financial Guru
Katie was born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil, the 4th largest city in the world. At any given chance she would drive hours to the nearest beach to escape the hustle and bustle of the busy routine. During law school, she traveled to California to learn English and immediately fell in love with the outdoor life in and around Southern California; she decided to move to the US and became a full time student at San Diego State University and switched to a Finance Major. She was hired by Merrill Lynch right after she graduated and there acquired her brokerage licenses “Series 7” and “Series 66”. She later on moved to JP Morgan where she was a key member of one of the highest producing teams that covered the Latin American Market. Katie is fluent in 3 languages, Portuguese, English and Spanish. She left the corporate world and became CFO of a start up beverage company, a position she holds today.
During her time in the world of finance, she met her now husband (Brian) who is an avid hunter both land and sea. Katie’s love for the outdoors grew as her husband introduced her to over-landing, scuba/free diving, archery, horseback riding and hunting.
Katie and Brian also share a love of service to the local and across the border underprivileged communities. Katie mentored middle school students at Nativity Prep Academy as well as volunteered her time to bring Cristo Rey High School to San Diego.
When Katie and her family are not traveling to remote places or she isn’t sharpening her outdoor skills, she can be found homeschooling their two girls (ages 4 & 6) in San Diego.
Brian Caster
Business Advisor/ Program Creator/ Hunting & Fishing Co-Director
Brian was born and raised in the foothills of San Diego, CA where he was allowed to explore the outdoors year around. Growing up he spent much of his time bird hunting, camping, deep sea fishing, surfing, on horseback, or riding dirt bikes. Brian’s adventurous personality has brought him around the world in search of new off grid activities, from war zone documentary work in Northern Uganda to spear fishing off the Great Barrier Reef. Brian understands the mental health benefits of surrounding yourself in nature. Hunting has become a largerpart of Brians life and he tries to share that love with his wife and daughters (6 & 4). Bringing them along on hunting trips, having them help butcher animals and then sharing the in the preparation of a meal. He wants his children to understand the importance of being self sufficient and the value of hunting.
Brian has worked in real estate development and asset management for the last 17 years and supports his families foundation; which conducts grant writing and non profit work in some of the poorest communities around the world. He also sits on the board for Nativity Prep Academy (a middle school for underserved communities) and has worked intimately with Cristo Rey High School (a high school for an underserved communities), Water for Sudan, and The Barrio Logan College Institute to name a few.
Brian along with his wife Katie are raising their two daughters to be servant leaders within their community, as well as trying to instill a love and respect for the outdoors.
Jeff Asher
Business Advisor
Jeff is a semi-retired structural engineer. He has spent over 40 years in the design and construction industry, and is the former President and Chairman of the Board of KPFF Consulting Engineers. KPFF is a 1,300 person civil and structural engineering consulting firm, with over 20 offices located throughout the US. He is still engaged part-time in structural engineering consulting work, primarily providing Expert Witness/litigation support services to selected clients. Jeff is also an Adjunct Professor in the Civil Engineering department of Boise State University, and teaches structural design classes on a part-time basis.
He currently lives in the Boise, Idaho area with Lynda. Jeff and Lynda have been married for 46 years, and have 3 adult kids (of which Krys is the eldest) and 9 grandkids. Both Jeff and Lynda have always loved the outdoors, and over the years have spent many hours of family time in fishing, skiing, hiking, beach-going, golfing, and all-things-outdoors with their kids and grandkids.
Both Jeff and Lynda are passionate about their support for The Ranch, its mission, and for their kids and grandkids in all things that they want to do and achieve.
Matt Williams
Matt joined the board at The Ranch Outdoors in early 2024. As a passionate veteran advocate, Matt is experienced in the veteran nonprofit space as a former nonprofit founder and is currently a full-time employee at the Gary Sinise Foundation.
Matt is a combat veteran with just under 13 years of service in the US Army and the Central Intelligence Agency. He lives in northern Virginia with his two children.