Bright Block Initiative

About Bright Block Initiative

Chair Danae Bales

I was born and raised in Basin. Lived in Powell while attending Northwest Community College then moved to Cody to work for the Big Horn Radio Network. Lived and worked in Cody for 13 years, and opened the first all organic restaurant in downtown Cody, South Fork Cheesecake Company. Began remodeling hotels and owned companies in Montana, South Dakota and Florida working primarily for HGI Hotels, Marriott, Hilton chains. Expanded into Multi-family housing projects in South Dakota and Hospital Construction in Wyoming. I moved to Morocco for 5 years during Covid, opening an organic skincare company overseas. I am a proud mother of three girls and moved back to Basin in November of 2024 to be closer to my parents. I am determined to see all citizens of our communities thrive. I am a member of OWIT (Organization for Women in International Trade), Basin Area Chamber of Commerce, A2A Greybull and now Basin Teams. I work for South Big Horn County Water District and own Epiphanies Cheesecake and Catering in Greybull. I am Chair of Bright Block Initiative and am passionate about everyone having access to safe and affordable housing. I am President of Basin Heritage Initiative which is currently building Basin Heritage Commons. I am on the Board for Big Horn County Citizens for Economic Development, I actively support Basin City Arts Center, Basin Area Food Bank as well as other endeavors that support the economic growth of South Big Horn County.

Vice Chair Bill Hayes

I was born in Laramie while my father was getting a Geology degree. The grandfathers on both sides of the family were here by 1905 so they witnessed early Wyoming. My father was in the oil business, so we lived in Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas early in my life and later Canada and the Netherlands. I graduated high school in Shreveport, Louisiana and finished my college at the University of Texas at Austin. I worked in retail management for 24 years before changing careers to work as a financial advisor.

I came back to Wyoming many times growing up and built a house in Shell, Wyoming in 2001. My wife Karen and I moved to Shell full time in 2016 after both of us retired. My wife and I both enjoy being active in Wyoming. The A2A project caught my eye as a way to give back to the nearby communities.

I am currently sit on the following boards, Big Horn County Citizens For Economic Development, Wild West Dino Den, McCracken Research Library Advisory Board at Center of the West, Wyoming Economic Development Association, Three Rivers Foundation, Bright Block Initiative.

Secretary Serena Lipp

Serena serves as the District Clerk of Court. She’s deeply involved in the community and was a dedicated member of the A2A Greybull team with the Wyoming Business Council. Serena’s lifelong local perspective and her commitment to community betterment are key assets as we move forward.

Treasurer Gerald Crist

Debbie and I moved our family to Greybull in 1980. Past work experience has been agriculture, heavy equipment construction, home building, oil field supply and construction, and few years in the bentonite industry. Like many Greybull citizens, after the oilfield crashed in the Bighorn Basin I eventually worked both out of state and overseas to allow my three children the benefit of the Greybull School system. Prior to retirement, the last thirty years were spent in heavy equipment operations and management either below the Antarctic circle or above the Arctic circle. Currently I am on the Greybull Town Council, Greybull Museum Board member, Bighorn Citizens for Economic Development, member of the Assessment to Action team, and board member of the new Bright Block Initiative. My current goals are the replacement of the Greybull aged and failing water system and to see South Bighorn County as bustling and vibrant as it.