Board of Directors
In 1999 Camp Chippewa became a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization. As a non-for-profit, a board of directors was assembled to honor the past, support the present, and lead toward the future. All nine board members have close ties to Camp Chippewa as past campers, counselors, or family members of campers. Each brings a diverse set of skills and experiences and a unifying passion for camp.
Bo Norris, President
Bo is the co-founder of Maine Network Partners and is the founding Chairman of the Environmental Funders Network, two efforts focused on environmental philanthropy and nonprofit leadership development. He has served on the Board of Directors of Lennox International, Inc., a global manufacturer of HVAC equipment, since 2001 where he is the Chairman of the Public Policy Committee and a member of the Compensation and Human Resources Committee. Bo also has served on numerous nonprofit boards including the Maine Chapter of The Nature Conservancy which he chaired, Northern Forest Canoe Trail, Center for Cultural Exchange, Common Good Ventures and Maine Philanthropy Center. Bo earned a BBA in Finance and Economics from Texas Christian University in 1980 and an MBA in organizational behavior from the University of Michigan in 1984. Bo has a strong connection to Camp Chippewa as a counselor in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s and the leader of numerous Canadian trips including Camp’s 75th anniversary trip down the Coppermine River. He and his wife Cathy live in Cape Elizabeth, Maine and have three grown children, two of whom were long-time Chippewa campers and staff. Bo has been a board member since 2018.
Chris Knapp, Treasurer
Chris has over 36 years of experience as an investment advisor and entrepreneur. He began his career at Brown Brothers Harriman in New York, later co-founding and serving as CEO for Chilton Capital Management in Houston. Prior to joining Robertson Stephens Chris founded and served as CEO for Collaboration Capital, an investment advisory practice predicated on ESG principles and the power of for-profit enterprise to solve for complex, growing problems. A stalwart believer in the importance of active community engagement and civic leadership on the part of corporate citizens, Chris serves or has served as board member and/or in leadership capacity of The Honors College at the University of Houston, BridgeUp at Menninger, Hermann Park Conservancy, Houston Parks Board, Memorial Park Conservancy, The John Fairey Garden, and Workshop Houston. Chris earned a BA in Art History and History from Williams College. He began serving on the board in the 2000’s.
Charles Beeler, Secretary
Charles has been a venture capitalist since 1997 and has focused on early-stage business technology companies throughout his career. Charles co-founded Rally Ventures in 2012. Prior to co-founding Rally Ventures, Charles was a General Partner at El Dorado Ventures since 2000. He started his venture career as an associate at Scripps Ventures after working as an analyst at Piper Jaffray and earlier as a systems consultant at the Mayo Clinic, where he helped design a radiology information system. Charles founded and helps produce the Node Summit conference series, which focuses on the evolution and future of web application development. He serves on the boards of AnyRoad, Blue Lava, Bugcrowd, Influ2, Picnic and is past Chairman of the Board of the Camp Chippewa Foundation. Charles received his MBA from Wharton and his BA from Colby College. He has been a board member since 1999.
Rick Endres
Rick is the Chief Technology Officer at Itasca Blockchain Partners. Previously he was the Chief Information Officer for the Peace Corp from 2017-2018. From 1996-2017 Rick was President of Washington Network, Inc. supporting the computer networks and telecommunication systems of Washington DC area businesses. He also has extensive technology experience working for the US House of Representatives House Information Services and as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy with the US Department of Commerce. Rick has a degree from Purdue University. Rick holds the Richard Endres Family Director position on the board. He has been a board member since 2006.
Mike Endres, Camp Director
Mike is the Director of Camp Chippewa for Boys. He spent 30 years teaching science before devoting his full attention to educating boys in a wilderness setting. After many years as a camper, counselor, wilderness trip leader, volunteer, and Assistant Director, Mike Endres became the Director in 2012. Mike is the grandson of Cap Endres who founded Camp Chippewa in 1935. He has a bachelor’s degree in Geology and Geophysics from the University of Wisconsin, and a master’s degree in Education from the University of Minnesota. He is joined in the camp operation by his wife Mary, a freelance graphic designer and fitness professional, also a graduate of the University of Wisconsin. Mike and Mary have been providing instruction on the rifle range and tennis courts, and will continue teaching those activities. He has been a board member since 2012.
Chris Endres
Chris (CJ) is the founder and Chief Actuary at Endres Actuarial Computing. Previously he was an Actuarial Consultant at Millman from 2014-2020. He was a Principal and Consultant at Mercer from 1984-2010 working with clients on all aspects of retirement plans including defined benefit, defined contribution, other post-retirement benefits, and executive benefits. CJ graduated from the University of Wisconsin with degrees in mathematics and education. CJ has been involved in camp for his entire life, as a camper, counselor, and volunteer, having led numerous Canadian trips over the years including alumni trips in 2004 and 2012. CJ holds the John P. Endres Family Director position on the board. He has been a board member since 2021.
Zach Mills
Zach Mills has been making Cass Lake a part of his life since his first summer at Camp Chippewa in 1981, first as a camper, counselor, trip leader, and then a member of the board of directors in 2022. Zach has earned bachelor’s degrees in biology (BA), life sciences (BA), and veterinary science (BS), a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), a Master of Business Administration (MBA), and is completing a Master of Public Health (MPH). Zach has worked in university, private practice, animal health industry, and military contexts and is a recognized expert in population-based medicine. Zach holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve (USAR) and works on the Functional Specialty Team of a Civil Affairs Command unit. He has completed two combat tours of duty to Iraq and Africa. Zach is an avid trail runner, mountain biker, and mountain biking coach. One of Zach’s favorite places in the world is in the seat of a canoe in the Canadian wilderness. He has been a board member since 2022.
Tony Ross
Tony joined Woodforest National Bank in 2016 in The Woodlands (Houston, Texas) as Chief Credit Officer His 30-plus year career in banking has included management, business development, credit analysis, credit administration, and capital markets experience. Concurrently, Tony held a succession of increasingly more responsible positions within the Florida Army National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve, retiring in 2012 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Infantry. He is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. A native of Houston, Tony was a Camp Chippewa camper and counselor from 1975 – 1983. He was graduated from Washington & Lee University in 1983 with a B.S. in Geology, conducted post graduate work in petroleum geology at Texas A&M University, and received his M.B.A. with honors from the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College in 1988. He has been a board member since 2022.
Michael Thompson
Mike is the Vice President of Business Development at Francis Energy, LLC. Previously he was the Chief Growth Officer at Smaller Earth Group from 2018- 2021, a global cultural exchange company that embraces a vision to positively impact 20 million people by 2020. Prior to that he founded Lantern Camps in 2013-2021, to lead a clear, consistent and coherent message to promote the notion, value and opportunities uniquely provided by residential camps. As a resource for parents and staff, Lantern shares reviews and details about the top residential camps in the US. After many years as a camper and counselor, Mike was Director of Camp Chippewa from 2002-2012. Mike earned a BA from the University of Kansas. He has been a board member since 1999.
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