BOARD OF TRUSTEES
James Burk
President Emeritus
Past President Chairman of the Board
James is a senior partner of the law firm of Burk Law Firm P.C. (DC), and has been in the private practice of law for over 40 years. He specializes in assisting emerging companies in their initial stages of organization and then growing with the companies through the public offering stage.Mr. Burk began his career in 1969 as an attorney with the Federal Trade Commission investigating consumer protection matters. He then returned to his hometown of San Antonio, Texas where he served as Senior Law Clerk to the Chief Judge of United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. After completing his District Court clerkship, he was appointed Attorney-Advisor to a judge on the U.S. Tax Court in Washington, D.C.
He has been a senior partner in law firms located in New York and Washington D.C. and his practice is national in scope. The firm is located in Washington, DC.
His practice includes general business matters including corporations, contracts, mergers, acquisitions, venture capital financings, tax, securities and non-profit law. He has also assisted companies in securing seed and mezzanine funding for emerging companies. He has sat on the board of directors of several non-profit companies including: Institute of Mentalphysics where is he is currently Chairman of the Board and previously on the Boards of Americans For Health Freedom Foundation and the Washington Studio School.
He is the author of How to Start a Business in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia and Financing Your Small Business published by Sphinx Legal, a division of Sourcebooks, Inc. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin Law School and is a member of the bars of the District of Columbia and Texas (inactive).
Cheryl Bookout
President
Cheryl Bookout is a filmmaker and artist residing in Joshua Tree, CA. She is Founder and Executive Director of The Chimaera Project, a nonprofit organization that champions women and nonbinary filmmakers. Her Joshua Tree community nonprofit work includes sitting on the Board of Directors for the Joshua Tree Retreat Center, FurstWurld Performing Arts and Mil-Tree Veterans Project. Bookout is the past President of the Southern California Women’s Caucus for Art (2012 – 2016). As an individual artist, she is included in the California Women Artist Project archived at the University of Southern California and Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries, a project organized by Gloria Orenstein, Professor of Women in Literature and Art at USC. Cheryl has been a guest on numerous filmmaking and art panels throughout the U.S. Her filmmaking career includes directing, writing and producing the award-winning short documentary film INSIDE THE BEAUTY BUBBLE, producer of the award-winning short films GLORIA’S CALL and PURE; she is currently producing the feature-length documentary ACTING LIKE WOMEN and her short narrative film titled JUST A FRIEND is in post-production. In 2023 she will shoot a proof of concept for her award-winning sci-fi episodic screenplay, WOMEN OF STEEL.
Terry Taylor-Castillo
Vice President
Terry (aka Terry Lynn Taylor) moved to Joshua Tree in 2014 with her husband Rolo Castillo and opened Taylor Junction art gallery and event space. After reconnecting with friends from the metaphysical world she joined the board of directors of the Institute of Mentalphysics /Joshua Tree Retreat Center, eventually stepping off the board to become the ED.
In her other lives, she was the executive director of a non-profit community art gallery in Pomona, author of several spiritual books on Angel Consciousness, and worked with youth during the 80’s and 90’s as a teacher and human relations facilitator.
From 2009 to 2013 she was president of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 30 in Pomona and District 18 community chair, advocating and raising funds for military families and veterans. Her commitment to this work led to her joining the board of Mil-Tree a local non-profit established to bring together veterans, active-duty military, and civilians through communication and the arts.
Keith Greco
Treasurer
Keith has bounced between his homes in Los Angeles & the Mojave Desert for the better part of four decades. Keith’s creation of “Experiential, Interactive & Immersive Events” began generations before these terms were a prevalent part of our global lexicon. His client list, to name a few, includes: Academy of Motion Pictures, Activision, AEG, Adidas, Apple, Coachella Music Festival, Disney, Goldenvoice, Lionsgate Pictures, Netflix, Nike, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Red Bull, SAG-AFTRA, Warner Bros. and a 25 year run as a hired gun for Cirque du Soleil’s special event department. Keith also served as artistic director of the Hunter S. Thompson Memorial & is a founding member of the HST Institute. Keith has been a contributing member of the Burning Man Community for the better part of the past 20 years and continues to design restaurants, retail, residential, festival, special event & amusement spaces throughout our planet.
Michel Cicero
Secretary
Michel Cicero was formerly the managing editor at Ms. magazine, the nation’s oldest and most respected feminist magazine, founded by Gloria Steinem in 1972. Prior to working for the magazine she was coordinator for the Rock for Choice concert series, which raised funds to support the reproductive-rights work of the Feminist Majority Foundation. Currently she serves as board president of the Copper Mountain Mesa Community Association in the northernmost section of Joshua Tree and served two terms as the representative for the town of Landers for the Municipal Advisory Council (MAC), appointed by San Bernardino County Supervisor Dawn Rowe. When she isn’t attempting to empower and educate women, she is evangelizing about her passion for desert living as a broker at Joshua Tree Realty.
Susie Eaton Thorp
Gift Shop Manager & Curator
Susie has a background in retail management and 30 years of experience in conservation framing. She’s worked with artists and galleries in the Santa Ana’s artist village, Pomona’s arts colony, then opened Bunny Gunner Art services in 2007 in Pomona with her husband Juan where they featured contemporary artists from all over Southern California. They also curated and juried shows throughout the region. They moved the business to the Claremont Village in 2013.
After visiting the Pioneertown and Joshua Tree area for years they decided to buy a home in Pioneertown. They eventually sold the Claremont business in December of 2019. Susie opened a small art gallery during the pandemic in Yucca Valley called Desert Peach. Susie has now joined the team at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center as bookstore manager and art curator for the cafe and gift shop.
“ I love working in such a positive and rewarding environment. I love meeting the visitors from all over the world!” The Joshua Tree Retreat Center is a beautiful place. It feels so good to work with strong community builders and people with vision!”