Partners in the Outdoors 2020

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Rachel VandeVoort

Montana Office of Outdoor Recreation

Rachel VandeVoort – Harnessing the Power of Outdoor Recreation

Born and raised in the mountains and streams of Montana, Rachel VandeVoort earned a BS in Resource Conservation and Watershed Management from the University of Montana. She immediately put it to use as an over educated fly angler. Since then, Rachel has built a diverse career that spans: organic agriculture, management in the skiing, fly fishing, whitewater and firearms industries. Most recently, she was appointed by Governor Steve Bullock to create and direct the Montana Governor’s Office of Outdoor Recreation.

Rachel resides in Whitefish, Montana with her two sons in the center of the recreation world. She feels confident every time she steps off a plane, after traveling to hunt and fish the world, that her life really lives up to what the sticker says on her Yeti cooler - "my life is better than a vacation."

Rachel will discuss how her childhood connection to the land has led to a career that spans the hunting, angling and outdoor recreation industries. She will share how her unique perspective can help bridge the multiple, and sometimes conflicting uses of our public lands.

Thanks to our partnership with Mountain & Prairie, and host Ed Roberson, we are pleased to bring you this interview with Rachel VandeVoort--Director of the Montana Office of Outdoor Recreation.

01 June

10:00 AM

Podcast Release: Mountain & Prairie Podcast with Keynote Speaker Rachel VandeVoort

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Gabe Vasquez

Founder

Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project

Gabe is the founder of the Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project and serves as a city councilor in Las Cruces, New Mexico, home to the Organ Mountain Desert Peaks National Monument. Gabe grew up in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, and developed a childhood passion for the outdoors fishing in the Rio Bravo with his father Alfonso.

Gabe has more than a decade of experience working on local, state, and federal public policy and advocacy, including working for the New Mexico Wildlife Federation and U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich. He is an avid hunter, angler, and hiker. Last year, Gabe drafted New Mexico's Outdoor Equity Fund legislation, the first of its kind in the nation, that was enacted into law in 2019. This public-private fund is part of New Mexico's Office of Outdoor Recreation and provides micro-grants to nonprofit organizations and incorporated governments to connect low-income youth to the outdoors in urban, rural and Native American communities throughout New Mexico.

Gabe will share his story about a life spent outdoors and how it has led him to his current career where he works to tell the stories of Latinx & Hispanic communities to help inspire the next generation of conservation leaders. His success stories will inspire us to continue our efforts to connect all Coloradans to the outdoors.

29 June

09:00 AM

Mountain & Prairie Podcast Release with Keynote Speaker Gabe Vasquez

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Aaron Mike

Native Lands Regional Coordinator

Access Fund

Aaron Mike is a Diné (Navajo) rock climbing guide, Athlete with Natives Outdoors, and Native Lands Regional Coordinator with the Access Fund. Mike's work includes promoting and strengthening Tribal interests in outdoor recreation and outdoor recreation management.

25 June

10:30 AM

Conflict to Collaboration: Lessons from Climbers & Tribes from the Bears Ears National Monument

Priority Area #1: Enhance sustainable access and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors for all Coloradans.

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Adam Gall

Founder

Timber to Table Guide Service

Adam Gall is an outfitter in western Colorado. Along with his wife, Ana, they run Timber to Table Guide Service. These guided hunts are geared specifically towards new hunters and place a big emphasis on the food and educational aspects of hunting. Formerly employed as a USFS wildland firefighter, wolf biologist, and high school science teacher. He and Ana live in Hotchkiss where they are the proud parents of two daughters.

04 June

09:00 AM

Hunting for Sustainability: Recruiting A New Generation of Conservation Minded Hunters

Priority Area #1: Enhance sustainable access and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors for all Coloradans.

Priority Area #3: Conserve lands, waters and wildlife.

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Alex Alma

COTREX Project Manager

Colorado Department of Natural Resources

In addition to COTREX, Alex works to advance trails projects and recreation initiatives all across Colorado. He is originally from Wisconsin - the state of delicious cheese.

14 May

09:00 AM

Understanding Trail Users' Needs and Behaviors in a COVID-19 World

Priority Area #2: Promote stewardship of natural, cultural and recreational resources.

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Amy Schwarzbach

Natural Resources Manager

City of Durango

Amy is the Natural Resources Manager for the City of Durango and oversees nearly 5,300 acres of open space and more than 110 miles of natural surface trails that are owned or managed by the City. She received her Bachelor of Science in International Agriculture and Natural Resources with a major in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Her professional experience includes land conservation and stewardship with The Nature Conservancy and Estes Valley Land Trust, and prior to joining the team at the City, Amy served as the Executive Director at La Plata Open Space Conservancy serving Southwest Colorado. Earlier seasonal work for federal land management agencies includes work as a biological technician for the National Park Service at numerous national parks across the country and as a lands specialist for the US Forest Service in southwest Colorado. Amy’s professional experience spans wildlife research, land use planning, land acquisition and conservation, trail planning and stewardship, environmental education, fire mitigation, and interagency collaboration.

14 May

10:30 AM

How Might We Plan Trails and Protect Wildlife?

Priority Area #3: Conserve lands, waters and wildlife.

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Andrew Taylor

District Wildlife Manager

Colorado Parks and Wildlife

District Wildlife Manager Andrew Taylor was raised in Monte Vista, Colorado. He grew up spending most of his summers camping and working for his father and grandfather doing irrigation work. He thoroughly enjoys hunting.Andrew attended Colorado State University and earned his B.S. in wildlife management with a minor in conservation biology. In 2014 Andrewwas hired as a District Wildlife Manager and was placed in Paonia, CO and has really enjoyed it. He lives there with his wife, Megan and children Trenton and Clara. Andrew has a passion for getting new hunters involved and in the field.

04 June

09:00 AM

Hunting for Sustainability: Recruiting A New Generation of Conservation Minded Hunters

Priority Area #1: Enhance sustainable access and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors for all Coloradans.

Priority Area #3: Conserve lands, waters and wildlife.

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Anna Zawisza

Chief Program Officer

Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado

Anna Zawisza currently serves as the Chief Program Officer at Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado. Prior to joining VOC in 2015, Anna spent seven years at the Alliance for Sustainable Colorado, the last two as their Executive Director. Throughout her career, Anna has worked to further sustainability through climate change mitigation initiatives, making higher education possible for low income students, and engaging in the community to further environmental stewardship and human services.

In addition to her professional life, Anna volunteers with VOC, The Park People and A Little Help, providing assistance on public lands and helping seniors stay in their homes through completing household chores that they can no longer accomplish independently. When she’s not working, she spends most of her time in the outdoors with her partner Peter and dog Nina.

Anna completed an MBA at Webster University and holds a BS in Management Science from SUNY Geneseo.

14 May

01:15 PM

An idea worth sharing, a mission worth joining

Priority Area #1: Enhance sustainable access and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors for all Coloradans.

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Ben Lara

Salida Ranger District Recreation Staff

United States Forest Service

Ben has been working as the Salida Ranger District Recreation Staff for the past 10 years. Originally from the San Luis Valley in Southern Colorado, Ben started his Forest Service career on the Inyo National Forest and Pacific Southwest Regional office in California. He has spent the better part of his career working on facilitating access to National Forests. Ben has a strong passion for connecting people to their public lands and building a strong stewardship ethic within the communities he serves. During his time with the Forest Service, Ben has worked with some amazing communities and natural landscapes in California, Wyoming, Honduras, Brazil and the Philippines. Ben’s formal education includes a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Management from Colorado State University and a Master of Science in Parks and Protected Area Management from San Francisco State University.

28 May

01:15 PM

Envision Recreation in Balance - Community-driven solutions to manage recreation growth in balance with healthy forests, waters and wildlife

Priority Area #4: Ensure adequate funding availability to sustain Colorado’s outdoors for the future.

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Ben Lawhon

Education Director

Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics

Ben Lawhon is a seasoned conservation professional with deep commitment to environmental protection through education, partnership, public/private collaboration and the stewardship of natural resources. He joined the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics staff in 2001. As the Education Director his responsibilities include research, curriculum development, management of national education and training programs, agency relations and oversight of national outreach efforts.

14 May

09:00 AM

Understanding Trail Users' Needs and Behaviors in a COVID-19 World

Priority Area #2: Promote stewardship of natural, cultural and recreational resources.

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11 June

09:00 AM

Best Practices for Partnering with Land Managers To Develop New Recreation Opportunities

Priority Area #1: Enhance sustainable access and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors for all Coloradans.

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Brandon Watkins

Associate Director

Colorado Youth Corps Association

Brandon started as the Associate Director with Colorado Youth Corps Association (CYCA) in August 2017. He first entered the Corps world in 2010 as a Corps Member with AmeriCorps NCCC in Denver. He joined the NCCC Wildland Fire Crew and helped fight fires across all of Colorado. After falling in love with service and land conservation, and the state of Colorado, Brandon stuck around Denver and enrolled in a second term of service with an AmeriCorps State program housed at Denver Human Services. After his second term, Brandon joined a nonprofit called Playworks as a Program Manager where he oversaw 12 AmeriCorps members serving 1700-hour terms supporting low-income elementary schools around Metro Denver.

Managing AmeriCorps programs has been at the heart of Brandon’s career path, especially one focused on land and energy conservation. At CYCA, Brandon’s main role is to support the AmeriCorps grant and the five corps within it. He oversees grant compliance, provides technical support and training, and ensures our local corps are fully supported in running their programs.

04 June

10:30 AM

Increase Your Organization's Impact through AmeriCorps

Priority Area #4: Ensure adequate funding availability to sustain Colorado’s outdoors for the future.

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Brien Webster

Program Manager

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers

Brien was born and raised in Colorado. “For as long as I can remember,” he said, “my family has come together for reunions timed around hatches, hunts and favorite landscapes.” After receiving a BA in Government from the University of Redlands, Brien headed to Zambia where he spent two years with the Peace Corps. Upon returning home he found his way to the West Slope of Colorado and worked on public lands and water conservation issues with Conservation Colorado as a community organizer.

The opportunities and experiences made possible by our public lands and waters have shaped Brien’s identity and deepened his passion and curiosity as a sportsmen. When he’s not in the office chances are he’s in the field or on the river sharing his favorite pastime of pursuing wild game in new and familiar landscapes with his wife, Holly, family and friends. Brien is thrilled to be working with BHA, and as a Chapter Coordinator he’s committed to supporting and amplifying the efforts of the Colorado and Wyoming chapters.

04 June

09:00 AM

Hunting for Sustainability: Recruiting A New Generation of Conservation Minded Hunters

Priority Area #1: Enhance sustainable access and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors for all Coloradans.

Priority Area #3: Conserve lands, waters and wildlife.

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Cate Townley

Senior Built Environment Specialist

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE)

Cate Townley, is a Senior Built Environment Specialist for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Her primary role at CDPHE is to work with community organizations, local public health agencies, and local governments on policy and environmental change efforts to promote access to safe spaces for physical activity, increase access to shade, and prevent chronic disease for all Coloradans. Cate is an appointed member of Colorado’s Inter-Agency Trails Council, a member of the Colorado Public Health Parks and Recreation Collaborative, a member of the Urban Land Institute Building Healthy Places Committee and a Planning and Zoning Commissioner for Englewood, Colorado.

11 June

01:15 PM

What the Rx is going on in Colorado?!?

Priority Area #1: Enhance sustainable access and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors for all Coloradans.

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Chris Castilian

Executive Director

Great Outdoors Colorado

A native of Colorado, Castilian has a lengthy history of both private and public service, including serving as deputy chief of staff for Gov. Bill Owens, as well as director of the Colorado State Board of Land Commissioners. Most recently, Castilian was director of strategy and engagement for Anadarko Petroleum Corp., where he led government affairs, social investment, employee engagement, and stakeholder outreach for the Rockies region. He also served as a commissioner for Colorado Parks and Wildlife and is on several other boards of nonprofit organizations throughout the Denver metro area.

18 June

01:15 PM

GOCO 2020 Strategic Plan

Priority Area #4: Ensure adequate funding availability to sustain Colorado’s outdoors for the future.

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Chris Pipkin

Park Ranger and Outdoor Recreation Planner

BLM

Chris Pipkin has been planning, building and maintaining trails since 1989 when he first volunteered for a VOC trail construction project while studying at Colorado State University. After that first project, he was hooked, and has pursued his passion for trails throughout his career managing public lands for the Bureau of Land Management in Grand Junction. After graduating from CSU with a degree in wildlife biology in 1992, he got his start at the BLM by volunteering for the recreation program. Along with other duties, he led volunteer trail construction crews, and helped design new trails in the Kokopelli Loops area. Since then, he’s had a hand in most of the new trails, both motorized and non-motorized, in the BLM’s Grand Junction Field Office. Working on trails with volunteers and community partners has been an integral part of Chris’ jobs as a Park Ranger and Outdoor Recreation Planner for the BLM. Chris sees trails as a tool to connect people to their public lands, and to foster stewardship of Colorado’s diverse natural and cultural resources, along with other uses of public lands. He helps implement the BLM’s national recreation strategy, Connecting with Communities, by engaging community partners in trail planning, design, construction and maintenance. That entails on-the-ground trail design and layout with volunteers and staff, writing planning documents, organizing construction and maintenance projects, and leading trail crews. He also teaches trail design and crew leadership courses. Chris lives in Grand Junction, where he and his wife have raised three children. When he’s not working on trails, he enjoys mountain biking and hiking on the many amazing trails in western Colorado and eastern Utah. He also enjoys backpacking, fly fishing, road biking, and backcountry telemark skiing.

11 June

09:00 AM

Best Practices for Partnering with Land Managers To Develop New Recreation Opportunities

Priority Area #1: Enhance sustainable access and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors for all Coloradans.

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Cindy Williams

Executive Co-Lead of Envision Chaffee County and Chair of the Chaffee County Common Ground Fund

Cindy is the Executive Co-Lead for Envision Chaffee County, a non profit organization convened by the Chaffee County Board of Commissioners., and the Chair of the Chaffee County Common Ground Fund. She is a Colorado native, tapping her experience to help Central Colorado maintain its identity, rural landscapes and natural resources as the state grows.

Williams is an accomplished executive with 30 years of domestic and international experience including executive roles leading global exploration, innovation and technical services for Newmont Mining Company. She holds a BS and MSc in Economic Geology from Colorado State University and a Certificate in Executive Leadership from the Daniels College of Business. In her spare time, Cindy is working to catch fish in 200 Colorado high lakes by 2020.

28 May

01:15 PM

Envision Recreation in Balance - Community-driven solutions to manage recreation growth in balance with healthy forests, waters and wildlife

Priority Area #4: Ensure adequate funding availability to sustain Colorado’s outdoors for the future.

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CJ Goulding

Manager, Community Leadership Development

Children & Nature Network

In his work with the Children & Nature Network, CJ Goulding trains, mentors and supports a national network of young leaders who are creating equitable access to nature in their communities. His work stems from his previous experience as an outdoor trip leader, community conservation crew leader, youth programs manager for the National Park Service, his Masters studies in Urban Environmental Education, and his overall passion for people, community, and leadership. He was featured in the Outdoor Industry's inaugural "30 Under 30" list (2016) highlighting game changers in the outdoor industry, and his essay "Why I Wear Jordans in the Great Outdoors" has been published in books and featured in culturally relevant outdoor curriculum all across the country.

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Courtney Geib

Portfolio Manager

Corporation for National and Community Service, Mountain Region

Courtney Geib joined CNCS in September 2019 after more than a decade working in the nonprofit sector, most recently focusing on evaluation and operations with the “I Have a Dream” Foundation of Boulder County. Her passion for national service rose from a two-year stint serving as an AmeriCorps State & National member in the San Francisco Bay area. From there, she transitioned to managing a large AmeriCorps State & National grant and coordinating operating sites across the country before returning home to Colorado.

04 June

10:30 AM

Increase Your Organization's Impact through AmeriCorps

Priority Area #4: Ensure adequate funding availability to sustain Colorado’s outdoors for the future.

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Dana Coelho

Executive Director

Metro Denver Nature Alliance

Dana Coelho is the Executive Director of Metro DNA and a community-proclaimed dangerous collaborator! Motivated by the belief that a coordinated alliance can achieve more than the sum of its parts, Metro DNA is a growing coalition of non-profit, government, research, and private sector partners seeking to align nature-based efforts to ensure more equitable access to nature and to promote healthy people, communities, and natural places. Dana joined Metro DNA following an 11-year career with the US Forest Service, most recently serving as Urban & Community Forestry Program Manager for the Rocky Mountain Region where she worked alongside five state coordinators from CO, WY, SD, NE, and KS to build vibrant local community forestry programs. She is a full-time mom of two crazy dogs, part-time co-parent to three amazing kiddos, serial volunteer, and lover of the outdoors.

11 June

01:15 PM

What the Rx is going on in Colorado?!?

Priority Area #1: Enhance sustainable access and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors for all Coloradans.

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Dan Gibbs

Executive Director

Colorado Department of Natural Resources

As Executive Director, Dan Gibbs leads the development and execution of the Department’s initiatives for the balanced management of the state’s natural resources. Dan works on an array of issues pertaining to all of Colorado’s natural resources, including water, wildlife, state lands, oil and gas and mining.

Dan is a respected collaborator and a strong proponent of building partnerships across agencies, nonprofits and private-sector organizations to improve the productivity and success of government operations and services.

Prior to joining the Department of Natural Resources, Dan served as a Summit County Commissioner from 2010-2018. As county commissioner, Dan successfully pushed for wildfire preparedness, affordable workforce housing, lower health insurance costs and protection and improvements to transportation infrastructure.

Prior to his tenure as a Commissioner, Dan served in the Colorado House of Representatives and in the Colorado State Senate where he served on the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. His legislative accomplishments include securing funding for wildfire mitigation and forest health, creating the Colorado Kids Outdoors grant program, supporting watershed health initiatives, and increasing environmental protections for wildlife from oil and gas development.

Dan is a certified wildland firefighter and is affiliated with the ROSS system, through which he is on call to fight wildfires throughout the United States. He chaired the statewide Wildland Fire and Prescribed Fire Matters Advisory Council, and represented county governments on the Forest Health Advisory Committee. Dan has served on a variety of civic boards including: Search and Rescue Advisory, Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus, Tourism Office, Youth Corps Association, Friends of the Dillon Ranger District and the Keystone Science School.

Dan is a graduate of Western State Colorado University and completed the Harvard Kennedy School Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program. He is also a Marshall Memorial Fellow.
Dan enjoys all that living in the high country has to offer, including skiing, running, mountain biking, hunting and fishing. He is a resident of Breckenridge, Colorado, where he lives with his wife, Johanna; daughter, Grace; and son, Tate.

18 May

10:00 AM

Video Address DNR Executive Director, Dan Gibbs

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Danny Fisher

Training Officer

Serve Colorado - The Governor’s Commission on Community Service

Danny Fisher is the Training Officer with Serve Colorado - Governor’s Commission on Community Service. He began his career in public service with a graduate internship with the U.S. Department of Justice's Community Relations Service, providing community-based conflict resolution and dialogue facilitation throughout New York State. Following graduate school, Danny was awarded a Presidential Management Fellowship, during which he worked with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in national preparedness. He later worked with the White House Council on Environmental Quality during the Obama Administration, where he focused on climate change preparedness and community resilience. A certified mediator, Danny graduated with an MS in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution from Columbia University and a BS in Psychology from Oklahoma State University.

04 June

10:30 AM

Increase Your Organization's Impact through AmeriCorps

Priority Area #4: Ensure adequate funding availability to sustain Colorado’s outdoors for the future.

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11 May

09:00 AM

Mountain & Prairie Podcast Release with CPW Director Dan Prenzlow

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Dan Zimmerer

Statewide Partnership Coordinator

Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Dan Zimmerer currently serves as the Statewide Partnership Coordinator for Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). In his current role, he coordinates CPW's annual Partners in the Outdoors Conference and co-facilitates the Colorado Outdoor Partnership. Both are key platforms for organizations across the spectrum of the outdoor industry to gather, collaborate and discuss how to advance and balance outdoor recreation and conservation in Colorado.

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Dave Erickson

Stewardship Director

Aspen Valley Land Trust

Dave was born and raised in Saratoga Springs, NY and first moved to Colorado to attend Fort Lewis College in Durango. After completing his undergraduate degree in environmental biology, he worked for the Teton Regional Land Trust in Driggs, Idaho, where he gained a deep appreciation for the important work land trusts do. He has also worked as a field biologist and natural resource specialist across the U.S. and in the East African country of Tanzania. He completed a master’s degree in wildlife science at the University of Arizona and eventually found his way to the Roaring Fork Valley, where his wife grew up. Dave lives in Carbondale.

04 June

02:15 PM

What has private land conservation done for you lately? Success stories of land trust partnerships and public benefits

Priority Area #3: Conserve lands, waters and wildlife.

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Dominique Naccarato

Executive Director

Greater Arkansas River Nature Association (GARNA)

A native of Salida, Colorado, Dominique Naccarato, MEM is a systems thinking professional who is passionate about community engagement and collaboration. She’s the Executive Director of the Greater Arkansas River Nature Association (GARNA), a non-profit with a 24-year history which partners with public land agencies to inspire a conservation ethic by providing educational opportunities and experiences so that those who live, work and play in the Upper Arkansas Valley are motivated to take care of the natural resources and leave a legacy of responsible use of the natural environment.

28 May

01:15 PM

Envision Recreation in Balance - Community-driven solutions to manage recreation growth in balance with healthy forests, waters and wildlife

Priority Area #4: Ensure adequate funding availability to sustain Colorado’s outdoors for the future.

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Eden Vardy

Commissioner

Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Passionate about leaving the world better for future generations, Eden Vardy is committed to supporting and implementing environmental solutions, namely around agriculture. Vardy has had the honor and privilege of living in Colorado for over 30 years, and enjoys the majority of his days outdoors.

Eden Vardy has a BA in Sustainable Food Systems and an MS in Integrated Eco- Social Design. Dedicated to continuing our state's legacy around agriculture, Vardy is the founder and executive director of The Farm Collaborative, a Roaring Fork Valley nonprofit and farm that connects children and the community to nature and their food source, and solves global climate challenges through local food production.

Vardy is also a regenerative agriculture adjunct faculty for Colorado Mountain College, the CEO of The 2 Forks Club (an organization that makes 0% interest loans to burgeoning community farmers and local food entrepreneurs), the VP of the board of Compass for Lifelong Learning (which oversees the Aspen and Carbondale Community Schools), an avid percussionist, and a very proud husband and father.

04 June

09:00 AM

Hunting for Sustainability: Recruiting A New Generation of Conservation Minded Hunters

Priority Area #1: Enhance sustainable access and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors for all Coloradans.

Priority Area #3: Conserve lands, waters and wildlife.

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Ed Roberson

Mountain and Prairie Podcast

Ed Roberson serves as Conservation Director at Palmer Land Trust, an innovative land and water conservation organization that protects Southern Colorado’s working agricultural lands, recreational open space, and stunning scenic vistas. Prior to Palmer, he spent his career in the business world, having worked extensively in ranch brokerage, commercial real estate, and finance. Ed's formal education also centered around business—he holds both a BA in economics and an MBA with a concentration in finance from Wake Forest University. As a passion project, Ed hosts the Mountain & Prairie Podcast, a top-ranking podcast which features interviews with innovators of the American West and has been recognized by the Aspen Institute, High Country News, and other notable organizations. Away from the office, he is keenly focused on mountain sports, having run numerous 50- and 100-mile ultramarathons through the western backcountry and climbed Denali, Aconcagua, and many of Colorado’s 14,000-foot mountains. He calls Colorado Springs home, where he lives with his wife and two young daughters.

Recognized by the Aspen Institute, High Country News, and other notable organizations, the Mountain & Prairie Podcast features substantive, long-form interviews with innovators of the American West. Guests include ranchers, writers, athletes, artists, adventurers, conservationists, entrepreneurs—anyone who’s doing inspired work that contributes to the region’s evolving and complex cultural fabric. Through informal yet in-depth conversations, conservationist Ed Roberson introduces you to these fascinating characters, giving you a better understanding of their careers, influences, and outlooks, as well as a deeper appreciation for life in the American West.

11 May

09:00 AM

Mountain & Prairie Podcast Release with CPW Director Dan Prenzlow

01 June

10:00 AM

Podcast Release: Mountain & Prairie Podcast with Keynote Speaker Rachel VandeVoort

29 June

09:00 AM

Mountain & Prairie Podcast Release with Keynote Speaker Gabe Vasquez

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Emily Orbanek

Parks and Wildlife Program Manager

Great Outdoors Colorado

Emily manages the relationship with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, GOCO’s largest partner. Her work with the agency on joint strategic priorities, funding, and annual programs and projects takes her to all corners of her native state. She joined GOCO in 2014 after a year in Durango working on the Hermosa Creek Watershed Protection Act with Conservation Colorado. Prior to the conservation world, Emily spent two years as a Fellow with El Pomar Foundation. Emily graduated from CU’s Executive MBA program in the summer of 2018 and has an undergraduate degree from Santa Clara University in Economics and Environmental Studies. In 2018, Emily was appointed to Denver Water’s Citizen Advisory Committee where she represents Denver residents You can find her casting to rising trout in the summer and chasing elk in the fall.

18 June

01:15 PM

GOCO 2020 Strategic Plan

Priority Area #4: Ensure adequate funding availability to sustain Colorado’s outdoors for the future.

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Erik Glenn

Executive Director

Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust

Erik is the Executive Director of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT). As Executive Director, Erik oversees the operations of the land trust and works closely with the Board of Directors and staff to ensure that there is consistent alignment with the mission and strategic plan.

Erik holds a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources Management from Colorado State University, a Master of Resource Law Studies from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and an MBA from the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver. Erik also serves on the Steering Committee of the Colorado Outdoor Partnership (CO-OP) and the Board of Directors of Keep it Colorado and the Partnership of Rangeland Trusts. Erik is also a Trustee of the Western Stock Show Association.

25 June

09:00 AM

CODEX- a New Tool for Conservation and Planning in Colorado

Priority Area #3: Conserve lands, waters and wildlife.

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Erik Murdock

Policy Director

Access Fund

Erik leads the Access Fund's policy and advocacy program. He is the contact for local climbing management plans and other land management plans on federal and state lands that affect climbing opportunities.

25 June

10:30 AM

Conflict to Collaboration: Lessons from Climbers & Tribes from the Bears Ears National Monument

Priority Area #1: Enhance sustainable access and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors for all Coloradans.

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Fay Hartman

Conservation Director

Colorado River Basin Program American Rivers

Fay connects communities in the Colorado River Basin to their local rivers. She strives to raise the profile of rivers and demonstrate the values and benefits they have for our communities and the environment. Fay works on innovative policy, program, and project solutions to conserve water in the urban, agricultural, and energy sectors to ensure that the rivers and streams in the region are healthy for local and regional economies, sustainable agriculture, and world-class recreation. You can often find Fay outside adventuring and exploring the amazing spaces in and around Colorado’s rivers with her dog Henry and her husband Peter.

Fay joined American Rivers in 2010. Prior to that she interned with Wisconsin State Representative Cory Mason, and was the Economic Research Assistant for Clean Wisconsin’s water program.

11 June

10:30 AM

Diversifying Community Engagement in Conservation Through Film

Priority Area #2: Promote stewardship of natural, cultural and recreational resources.

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Fletcher Jacobs

Statewide Trails Program Manager

Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Fletcher Jacobs serves as the Statewide Trails Program Manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife where he oversees the division's annual motorized and non-motorized trail grants. Prior to his current role, Fletcher managed volunteer stewardship programs across Colorado for both the public and non-profit sectors. Fletcher graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Geography and Natural Resources/Environmental Sciences.

14 May

10:30 AM

How Might We Plan Trails and Protect Wildlife?

Priority Area #3: Conserve lands, waters and wildlife.

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Gabby Zaldumbide

Conservation Communications Specialist

Wildlife Management Institute

Gabby Zaldumbide recently earned her master's degree in public land management from Western Colorado University. She serves as a Conservation Communications Specialist for the Wildlife Management Institute, and also works for Hunt to Eat as their Community Manager. She has been volunteering with Backcountry Hunters and Anglers as a Colorado Chapter Leader since May of 2019. In her free time, she loves writing about her outdoor experiences, jigging for big lakers through the ice in the winter, and going small game hunting for squirrels and rabbits.

04 June

09:00 AM

Hunting for Sustainability: Recruiting A New Generation of Conservation Minded Hunters

Priority Area #1: Enhance sustainable access and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors for all Coloradans.

Priority Area #3: Conserve lands, waters and wildlife.

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Gabe Vasquez

Founder

Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project

Gabe Vasquez was born in El Paso, TX, and raised in Cd. Juarez, Chihuahua, and is the founder of the Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project. Gabe grew up fishing the Rio Grande in Chihuahua and New Mexico with his father and learned early on about hunting and conservation traditions from his grandfather Javier. Gabe is a Las Cruces City Councilor and serves on the boards of the Outdoor Alliance and Friends of Organ Mountains Desert Peaks. He has previously served on the Federal Advisory Committee for the Implementation of the 2012 Forest Planning Rule for the U.S. Forest Service/USDA, has served on numerous local and national boards, and has nearly a decade of experience working on public policy. He has served as the southern New Mexico coordinator for the New Mexico Wildlife Federation, a staff member for U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, as the director for the Las Cruces Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, as a member of the New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division Advisory Board, and as a volunteer and ambassador for Latino Outdoors. Gabe’s passion is outdoor equity, fishing, hunting, and conservation.

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Jackie Miller

Director of Programs

Great Outdoors Colorado

Over the course of nearly two decades in the grant-making industry, including 13 years at Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), Jackie has created, managed, and directed initiatives to impact others’ lives. In 2015 she spearheaded the launch of Generation Wild, an unprecedented movement in Colorado to connect youth and families with the outdoors. Collaborating with the GOCO Board, stakeholders, partners, and constituents across the state has provided Jackie with a ground-up perspective of program development and grant management as well as in-depth strategic planning and direction experience.

As Director of Programs, Jackie currently directs GOCO’s competitive grant programs and program staff. She is a convener who is passionate about facilitating partnerships across organizations, developing strong and supportive teams, and connecting people with opportunities that will help them grow personally and professionally.

Jackie received her bachelor’s from Saint Michael’s College in Vermont, was a 2016 fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Executive Education, and was selected by the Denver Business Journal as a 2019 40 under 40 award winner. When not at work, Jackie likes to spend time outside with her family, host dinner parties, go to concerts, and find her zen on a yoga mat.

14 May

01:15 PM

An idea worth sharing, a mission worth joining

Priority Area #1: Enhance sustainable access and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors for all Coloradans.

18 June

01:15 PM

GOCO 2020 Strategic Plan

Priority Area #4: Ensure adequate funding availability to sustain Colorado’s outdoors for the future.

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Jack Placchi

Travel Management and Trails Coordinator

Colorado State Office - BLM

Jack began his current position with Bureau of Land Management in September 2002. Prior to that, he worked for Colorado State Parks as the OHV Program Manager from 1997 to 2002 and worked for the US Forest Service over 18 years. His career includes over 35 years of managing complicated dispersed recreation, trails, wilderness, volunteer, OHV, and travel management programs. He regularly collaborates with diverse special interest groups, agencies, organizations and local governments to plan and implement programs and projects locally, regionally and nationally.

14 May

10:30 AM

How Might We Plan Trails and Protect Wildlife?

Priority Area #3: Conserve lands, waters and wildlife.

11 June

09:00 AM

Best Practices for Partnering with Land Managers To Develop New Recreation Opportunities

Priority Area #1: Enhance sustainable access and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors for all Coloradans.

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JR

Jason Robertson

Deputy Director for Recreation, Lands, and Minerals

USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region

Jason Robertson serves as Deputy Director for Recreation, Lands, and Minerals in the Rocky Mountain Region of the USDA Forest Service. Robertson has also worked on policy and budget for the Bureau of Land Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, and the non-profit American Whitewater. For fun, Robertson takes his kids around Colorado on skiing, biking, climbing and rafting adventures.

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Jessica Foulis

Executive Director

Eagle Valley Land Trust

Jessica became executive director in 2020 after a four-year tenure as EVLT’s stewardship and outreach manager. Previously, Jessica worked for conservation organizations including American Rivers and Walking Mountains Science Center. She also has professional trail crew training and was also lead horticulturist for Red Sky Ranch Golf Course. She holds a Master of Science in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources from Colorado State University and a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Sciences from Virginia Tech.

04 June

02:15 PM

What has private land conservation done for you lately? Success stories of land trust partnerships and public benefits

Priority Area #3: Conserve lands, waters and wildlife.

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Jessica Godinez

Conservation Program Associate

Hispanic Access Foundation

As a second-generation Mexican-American, Jessica feels inclined to support immigrant communities in navigating the systems of a new country while striving for social equity. Jessica's family moved around Richmond, Virginia for a few years before landing in rural Montpelier, Virginia, where Jessica's love for nature continued to grow as did the gardens around this home. Prior to joining the HAF team, Jessica worked towards social equity by working with local non-profits serving the needs of immigrants, like interpretative services and family literacy programs. Most recently, Jessica worked with the U.S. Forest Service in Lakewood, Colorado through a rigorous internship program in which she served the community by engaging with partners to provide opportunities for underrepresented communities to engage with and steward public lands. She is passionate about re-connecting communities with their innate relationship with nature, which she uses to fuel her work with conservation efforts.

11 June

10:30 AM

Diversifying Community Engagement in Conservation Through Film

Priority Area #2: Promote stewardship of natural, cultural and recreational resources.

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Jo Burns

Director and Co-Founder

Colorado Public Health/Parks & Recreation Collaborative and Jo Burns Consulting

Jo Burns is widely known for her work in bringing together professionals from parks, recreation and public health. She is the director and co-founder of the Colorado Public Health/Parks & Recreation Collaborative. Over the past several years the collaborative has focused on common interests and mutual impact areas, such as reducing obesity and chronic illness, increasing opportunities for physical activity, improving access to healthy food and beverage choices, and developing walk-able communities.Jo is a Parks & Recreation professional with over 20 years of experience in community, camp and association settings, and continues to be a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. With numerous public speaking engagements, and critically acclaimed workshops, Jo is a recognized expert in parks and public health arenas. Jo lives in Arvada and loves to hike, ski, bike and roast marshmallows in the backyard firepit.

11 June

01:15 PM

What the Rx is going on in Colorado?!?

Priority Area #1: Enhance sustainable access and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors for all Coloradans.

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Joe O'Brien

COTREX Product Designer

Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Joe O’Brien has spent the last decade working in the fields of trail construction, design, volunteer management, nonprofit and government operations, and software development. Currently Joe oversees the development and design of many of the new features within COTREX.

14 May

09:00 AM

Understanding Trail Users' Needs and Behaviors in a COVID-19 World

Priority Area #2: Promote stewardship of natural, cultural and recreational resources.

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Julie Mach

Conservation Director

Colorado Mountain Club

Julie joined CMC in 2013 to manage the Conservation Department’s stewardship programs and outdoor recreation advocacy initiatives. With over 11 years of experience working on public lands projects in Colorado, Julie strives to bridge the gap between conservation groups, recreational users and land managers to formulate smart solutions that protect both recreational and natural resources. Previous positions with a conservation corps, an economic development group, an IT company and a small business start-up have given her a variety of skills in project management, fund development, innovative technology use, partnership-building and more. Julie grew up in California and received her Bachelors of Science from Allegheny College in Pennsylvania before relocating to Colorado and landing in Salida where she currently lives and works. Julie embraces the incredible recreational resources throughout the state as a runner, mountain biker, backcountry skier and kayaker, usually with her dog Slider in tow!

28 May

10:30 AM

RIMS Mobile App: Year 1 data and analytics on recreation & impact monitoring

Priority Area #2: Promote stewardship of natural, cultural and recreational resources.

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Katie Navin

Executive Director

Colorado Association for Environmental Education

Katie is the executive director of the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education (CAEE), a network of over 800 educators working to ensure all Coloradans have access to environmental and outdoor learning. She has been active in the field of environmental education for over 15 years. She joined CAEE in May of 2008 and since then has led Environmental Literacy Plan efforts in collaboration with the State Department of Education and is the past chair of the North American Association for Environmental Education’s Affiliate Network.

21 May

09:00 AM

Creating Pathways to Natural Resource Careers: By Youth and For Youth

Priority Area #2: Promote stewardship of natural, cultural and recreational resources.

21 May

10:30 AM

Get Colorado Kids Outside: Policies for Youth Outdoor Engagement

Priority Area #1: Enhance sustainable access and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors for all Coloradans.

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Kris Middledorf

Area Wildlife Manager

Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Growing up in Boulder Colorado Kris has grew a great appreciation for the outdoors, living life outside, and a passion for conserving our wildlife and natural resources. After serving four years with the United State Marine Corps, Kris returned to Colorado to earn a degree in Wildlife Biology at Colorado State University. Kris began his career with the Colorado Division of Wildlife (now Colorado Parks and Wildlife) in 2007, serving as a District Wildlife Manager in Castle Rock and Boulder until moving up to Steamboat Springs in 2016. Now the Area Wildlife Manager in Steamboat Springs managing field operations including land use planning, recreation development, and wildlife management in Routt and Jackson County. Kris has been involved in planning for current and future recreation related projects while balancing the needs for wildlife and conserving our natural resources.

14 May

10:30 AM

How Might We Plan Trails and Protect Wildlife?

Priority Area #3: Conserve lands, waters and wildlife.

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Kristin Powell

Senior Lead Ranger

City of Fort Collins Natural Areas

Kristin has served in her capacity to protect lands for over 20 years. She is a certified Wildland Firefighter, Emergency Medical Responder and Field Training Officer. Prior to law enforcement, she completed a M.S. at Colorado State University studying Natural Resource Management and spent two summers as a graduate teaching assistant at the university’s Mountain Campus. Kristin resides in Lyons, Colorado with her husband and son. In her free-time she enjoys her horses, mountain biking, trail running and dirt biking.

14 May

09:00 AM

Understanding Trail Users' Needs and Behaviors in a COVID-19 World

Priority Area #2: Promote stewardship of natural, cultural and recreational resources.

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Len Necefer

Founder and CEO

NativesOutdoors

Len Necefer is a scholar, entrepreneur, and outdoor adventurer who is also a proud member of the Navajo Nation, from the Tachii’nii and Naakai Dine’e clans. Academically, Len holds a Ph.D. in engineering and public policy, and is currently a professor of both Indian Studies and public policy at the University of Arizona. In business, he’s the CEO of NativesOutdoors, a cutting-edge outdoor apparel company that uses its platform to advocate for the cultural empowerment indigenous people. Len is also a committed mountaineer, backcountry skier, and rock climber, having ticked off countless impressive adventures throughout the West.

28 May

09:00 AM

Working with Tribes: A framework for building productive and respectful relationships

Priority Area #2: Promote stewardship of natural, cultural and recreational resources.

25 June

10:30 AM

Conflict to Collaboration: Lessons from Climbers & Tribes from the Bears Ears National Monument

Priority Area #1: Enhance sustainable access and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors for all Coloradans.

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Leslie Kaminski

Assistant Regional Director

Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

Leslie Kaminski has served as an Assistant Regional Director for Backcountry Hunters and Anglers since May of 2019. She serves western slope youth as a public school educator teaching 6th grade math and Earth science. Leslie will be starting her master's degree this fall at Mississippi State University studying geosciences. Any time left in her schedule is spent cooking wild game dishes, gardening, backpacking, hunting and fishing.

04 June

09:00 AM

Hunting for Sustainability: Recruiting A New Generation of Conservation Minded Hunters

Priority Area #1: Enhance sustainable access and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors for all Coloradans.

Priority Area #3: Conserve lands, waters and wildlife.

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Libby Collins

Project Manager

Colorado West Land Trust

As a project manager at Colorado West Land Trust, Libby works to preserve landscapes and develop trail based recreation along the Monument Corridor and around the six county service area. Through partnerships with local organizations and government, Libby fundraises, coordinates public processes and land acquisition that support trail based recreation and community stewardship of public and private lands. She received her Master of Arts from the Joseph Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver, where she studied international economic development with a focus on rural communities.

04 June

02:15 PM

What has private land conservation done for you lately? Success stories of land trust partnerships and public benefits

Priority Area #3: Conserve lands, waters and wildlife.

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Lisa Eadens

Program Coordinator

Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education

Ms. Eadens joined the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education as the Career Development Coordinator in 2013. Formerly, Ms. Eadens lived in Minnesota and was the executive director of a small watershed non-profit where she supervised two staff, oversaw an annual budget of $200,000, and managed multiple concurrent state and foundational grants. In her current position, Ms. Eadens has provided leadership and communication to the Careers in Natural Resources Initiative (a 250+ stakeholder group), organized two semi-annual summits, ran committee meetings, coordinated and executed a pilot natural resource career exploration week called “Work Gone WILD Week,” written a 125-page “How-To Guide for Pursuing a Career in Natural Resources,” and helped launch a new website. Through both her current and previous positions, Ms. Eadens has successfully administered grant funding, including managing budgets and preparing grant reports. Ms. Eadens holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology from Davidson College in North Carolina and a Master’s of Science in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the University of Florida.

21 May

09:00 AM

Creating Pathways to Natural Resource Careers: By Youth and For Youth

Priority Area #2: Promote stewardship of natural, cultural and recreational resources.

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Mary Ann Bonnell

Visitor Services Manager

Jefferson County Open Space

Mary Ann is the Visitor Services Manager for Jefferson County Open Space. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Mary Ann’s work focuses on supporting the team that manages seven million annual visitors to 46,000 acres of open space. Mary Ann’s research and publications include two urban coyote research papers and a children’s book on climate change. She is currently working on a rattlesnake research journal article.

21 May

01:15 PM

Mean(ingful) Tweets: Public Lands Edition

Priority Area #1: Enhance sustainable access and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors for all Coloradans.

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Matt Gray

Executive Director

Rocky Mountain Innovation Lab

Matt Gray serves as the Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Innovation Lab. Focused on facilitating collaborative conservation initiatives, Matt designs strategic plans and coaches executive leaders to implement actionable goals. Matt believes in the power of truly listening to others and being aware of the world around him, empowering the creative skills that each individual brings to our most pressing challenges.

14 May

10:30 AM

How Might We Plan Trails and Protect Wildlife?

Priority Area #3: Conserve lands, waters and wildlife.

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Melissa Daruna

Executive Director

Keep It Colorado

Melissa joined Keep It Colorado after a decade in the parks and recreation field where she focused on policy development, community programming and strategic partnerships. She has a Bachelor of Science in parks, recreation and tourism administration from Western Illinois University and a J.D. from The John Marshall Law School. Melissa is passionate about protecting and preserving Colorado’s beautiful landscapes and rich heritage. When not at work, Melissa can be found hiking, biking, climbing, fishing or running with her husband, son and black lab.

04 June

02:15 PM

What has private land conservation done for you lately? Success stories of land trust partnerships and public benefits

Priority Area #3: Conserve lands, waters and wildlife.

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Mike Sukle

Founder + Creative Director

Sukle Advertising & Design

Every day, Mike’s expertise helps Sukle Advertising & Design, create campaigns that are among the most effective in the country and often held as examples of how to create engaging, impactful communications. The agency has achieved an enviable track record of helping clients across the gamut achieve impressive results, including brands such as Noodles & Company, Carter’s, Whole Foods, Nestlé-Purina, Denver Water, UNICEF Tap Project, Colorado Governor’s Office and Great Outdoors Colorado. Sukle has received creative acknowledgment from around the globe, with work being featured at the Venice Festival of Media, the OBIE Awards and the national Addy awards, as well as on ABC’s “The World’s Best TV Commercials You’ve Probably Never Seen” and in Communication Arts, The One Show, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, George Washington University and Stanford University, among many others. But any chance at gaining a swelled head was dashed the day after his first Best of Show award, when a letter came addressed to “Suckie Advertising.”

14 May

01:15 PM

An idea worth sharing, a mission worth joining

Priority Area #1: Enhance sustainable access and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors for all Coloradans.

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Noel Durant

Crested Butte Land Trust

Noel comes to the Crested Butte Land Trust from Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he managed park development and urban land conservation projects as a program director for Trust for Public Land. Prior to that, Noel managed 3,500 acres of private land for natural resource benefit at the Lula Lake Land Trust in Georgia. Noel began his conservation career with in fire management with the National Park Service. He worked in prescribed fire management in King’s Mountain National Military Park, and later traveled the west fighting wildfires with the Alpine Interagency Hotshot Crew in Rocky Mountain National Park. Noel graduated from Clemson University with a Bachelor of Science in natural resource management.

04 June

02:15 PM

What has private land conservation done for you lately? Success stories of land trust partnerships and public benefits

Priority Area #3: Conserve lands, waters and wildlife.

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Noé Orgaz

Denver Community Organizer

Conservation Colorado

Noé began his organizing career in 2002 by helping form the Youth Justice Coalition (YJC). Noé helped bring together gang members, high school dropouts and juveniles to advocate for alternative solutions to incarceration and put an end to mass incarceration, including locking up minors in adult jails.

Motivated to educate himself about past revolutions and social movements, Noé took the opportunity to visit the Zapatistas in Chiapas, Mexico. There Noé learned about Self-determination, Restorative Justice and the makings of a nation for the people. He witnessed a society that abolished incarceration and outlawed drugs and alcohol. Noé has a passion for justice and fights everyday for the rights of the people.

Today, Noé works for Conservation Colorado, the largest environmental advocacy group in Colorado. As the Denver community organizer, Noé is organizing Latino communities to demand the state prioritizes public health over profit. Noé ensures that Latinos are represented in the legislative process and continues to advocate for human rights. Noé works tirelessly to ensure low-income communities benefit from the legislation that is designed to protect the state's precious resources.

21 May

10:30 AM

Get Colorado Kids Outside: Policies for Youth Outdoor Engagement

Priority Area #1: Enhance sustainable access and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors for all Coloradans.

11 June

10:30 AM

Diversifying Community Engagement in Conservation Through Film

Priority Area #2: Promote stewardship of natural, cultural and recreational resources.

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Norman Reitter

Chief Analytics Officer and Senior Vice President of Analytics Operations

CANA Advisors and CANA Foundation

Norman Reitter is the Chief Analytics Officer and Senior Vice President of Analytics Operations for CANA Advisors. Mr. Reitter is responsible for CANA’s analytic capability development and business operations, company-wide information technology governance and independent research and development. Mr. Reitter has a long history of providing operations research based analysis to a variety of problems and helping different types of organizations improve the quality of their decision support. Mr. Reitter has 25 years of analytics and logistics subject matter experience in delivering analytics and information-based solutions to support complex problems. Mr. Reitter is a MORS Past President and Chair of the INFORMS Analytics Capability Evaluation (ACE) Committee. He is Executive in the CANA Foundation – a philanthropic arm of CANA Advisors focused on creating positive change and providing creative solutions to enhance the lives of people, organizations and the environment. Mr. Reitter’s primary career focus has been on delivering solutions that use a combination of analytics - data, math, visualization - for organizational improvements to support decisions with an information and analytics focus. He has been specifically focused on using operations research methods to support decisions. Through his combined career in the U.S. Marine Corps and in Industry, Mr. Reitter has provided analytics-based solutions and analysis to Marine Corps decision makers and a variety of clients with the most appropriate analytic methods including quantitative risk management for deployed NATO logistics support contracts in Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, for all branches of the U.S. Military, and including the Defense Logistics Agency and U.S. Transportation Command. Mr. Reitter has also worked with commercial and academic partners to transfer their technologies and methods to support logistics modernization programs. Mr. Reitter has been applying mathematical modeling methods and decision support techniques for the majority of his career and briefing results to a variety of audiences including unit level leaders to senior officers in higher headquarter organizations.

M.S., Operations Research, Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, California – 1999
B.S., Oceanography, U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland – 1993

28 May

10:30 AM

RIMS Mobile App: Year 1 data and analytics on recreation & impact monitoring

Priority Area #2: Promote stewardship of natural, cultural and recreational resources.

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Patsy McEntee

Project Manager & Landscape Architect

National Park Service

Patsy McEntee has been a project manager and landscape architect with the National Park Service Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance Program since 2011 and currently supports projects in TX, UT, OK, CO and MT. She began her parks career 20 years ago building trails with Boulder County Parks & Open Space and has specialty expertise in park development, alternative transportation planning and design, recreation, open space and collaborative planning. Since 2018, Patsy has been supporting DOI Secretarial Order 3366, aimed at increasing recreational opportunities on lands and waters managed by the US Dept. of Interior. She actively integrates health partners and Park Rx programming into her work with communities and supports national programs. Patsy lives in Louisville, CO and is a mountain and road cyclist, hiker, runner, skier, all-terrain stroller-pusher and former mountaineer.

11 June

01:15 PM

What the Rx is going on in Colorado?!?

Priority Area #1: Enhance sustainable access and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors for all Coloradans.

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11 June

09:00 AM

Best Practices for Partnering with Land Managers To Develop New Recreation Opportunities

Priority Area #1: Enhance sustainable access and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors for all Coloradans.

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Robyn Paulekas

Senior Mediator and Program Manager

Meridian Institute

Robyn is a Senior Mediator and Program Manager at Meridian Institute. In this role she catalyzes collaboration, builds partnerships, convenes policy dialogues, and improves decision-making on a variety of topics, including conservation, outdoor recreation, water, and agriculture. Robyn facilitates the Youth Outdoor Policy Partnership, which brings together experts on youth outdoor engagement and state policy to identify, amplify, and support policies that get kids outside.

21 May

10:30 AM

Get Colorado Kids Outside: Policies for Youth Outdoor Engagement

Priority Area #1: Enhance sustainable access and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors for all Coloradans.

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Rosemary Dempsey

Director of Communications

Great Outdoors Colorado

Rosemary joined GOCO in 2016 after a decade of working at advertising and marketing agencies in the Boulder/Denver area. She received her master’s degree in mass communication research from the University of Colorado at Boulder’s Journalism School and her bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College. She lives near the Flatirons in Boulder with her husband and two children. The whole family likes to hike, camp, and road trip to new outdoor destinations. Rosemary oversees GOCO's marketing and communications strategy and serves as the organization's primary press contact.

14 May

01:15 PM

An idea worth sharing, a mission worth joining

Priority Area #1: Enhance sustainable access and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors for all Coloradans.

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Sarah Lyke

Assistant Program Director

AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC)

Sarah Lyke serves as an Assistant Program Director for AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) Southwest Region based out of Aurora, CO. AmeriCorps NCCC is a full-time, residential, team-based service program for 18-24 year olds. NCCC’s mission is to strengthen communities and develop leaders through direct, team-based national and community service. In her role she has the awesome responsibility of performing community outreach and project development in five states. Sarah is a national service alumni serving in AmeriCorps NCCC from 2000-2002. Sarah’s passion for service started while working in the areas of public recreation services and residential camping after earning a Recreation Professions degree from Metropolitan State University. Sarah is still actively engaged in the recreation community as a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional (CPRP), member of Colorado Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA) and the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals (SORP).

04 June

10:30 AM

Increase Your Organization's Impact through AmeriCorps

Priority Area #4: Ensure adequate funding availability to sustain Colorado’s outdoors for the future.

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Scott Segerstrom

Executive Director

Colorado Youth Corps Association

Scott is the executive director of the Colorado Youth Corps Association (CYCA) representing 8 accredited corps which engage more than 1,600 youth, young adults, and veterans annually. Scott has served in the conservation corps sector for more than a decade with CYCA and Rocky Mountain Youth Corps in Steamboat. Prior to joining conservation corps management, Scott was a wildland firefighter and wilderness ranger with Bridger-Teton National Forest.

21 May

09:00 AM

Creating Pathways to Natural Resource Careers: By Youth and For Youth

Priority Area #2: Promote stewardship of natural, cultural and recreational resources.

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Scott Winans

President

Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association

Scott Winans has been involved with singletrack trail creation for 25 years, and has served since 2009 on the board of directors of the Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association, Inc. (COPMOBA), and since 2011 as President.COPMOBA is a 30+ year western Colorado regional non-profit organization committed to advocacy for, and construction and maintenance of, non-motorized singletrack trail.

Via its current five chapters, COPMOBA furthers its mission through active and responsible partnership with Federal and State management agencies, County, Municipal, and organizational agents, as well as business and individual members in all of the communities in which it operates.Scott believes that these community relationships, and the demonstrated lifestyle and economic benefits of trails in the communities, are the keys to the grounded success of the organization.

Scott is the V.P. of Engineering for Mountain Racing Products, based in Grand Junction, where the team designs, tests, and manufactures high-end mountain bike components, utilizing the local trail networks as our testing grounds.Scott is also the co-owner of Rapid Creek Cycles, in Palisade, serving the needs of local riders and paddlers as well as visitors to the regions agriculture and viticulture resources.

11 June

09:00 AM

Best Practices for Partnering with Land Managers To Develop New Recreation Opportunities

Priority Area #1: Enhance sustainable access and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors for all Coloradans.

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Shaina Young

Graphic Designer

Jefferson County Open Space

With a background in Journalism and Digital Media, Shaina enjoys the challenge of developing messages that reach people at the right time and place for greatest impact. As part of the Communications/Community Connections Team at Jeffco Open Space, Shaina works throughout the organization to streamline communications with visitors, partners, and internal teams. Shaping conversations through events, web, social media, and marketing materials, she strives to build relationships with audiences of all types.

21 May

01:15 PM

Mean(ingful) Tweets: Public Lands Edition

Priority Area #1: Enhance sustainable access and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors for all Coloradans.

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Shaun Howard

Park Ranger Lead

Jefferson County Open Space

Shaun has worked in Natural Resource Education for over 20 years. With a background in psychology and biology, wildland firefighting, emergency response and EMT instruction, Shaun brings a unique perspective on human dimensions within land management. As a Park Ranger Lead at Jefferson County Open Space for the last 14 years, Shaun heads up the Volunteer Patroller Team that encourages peer-to-peer interactions and promotes positive, proactive stewardship behavior with park visitors.

21 May

01:15 PM

Mean(ingful) Tweets: Public Lands Edition

Priority Area #1: Enhance sustainable access and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors for all Coloradans.

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Shley Suarez-Burgos

Shley Suarez Burgos (she/her/hers) was born and raised in Miami. At a young age, Shley discovered her passion for conservation-focused digital storytelling. Combining her background of professional salmon fishing, filmmaking and yoga instruction, she's discovered outlets for creative eco-storytelling by creating authentic conversations, events and marketing strategies for diverse communities. Shley is currently a member of the Oceans Alliance Council and the Cuba Advocacy Team

11 June

10:30 AM

Diversifying Community Engagement in Conservation Through Film

Priority Area #2: Promote stewardship of natural, cultural and recreational resources.

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Taishya Adams

Commissioner

Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Taishya Adams is an avid rock climber, skier, hiker and backpacker. Adams serves as a Senior Technical Consultant at the American Institutes for Research (AIR). In this role, Adams develops, implements, and monitors a coordinated strategy to build the capacity of state education agency staff, districts leaders and partners to increase the academic outcomes of the students in their states.

Adams also serves as the Colorado co-lead for Outdoor Afro. Outdoor Afro is a national organization that celebrates and inspires African American connections and leadership in nature. Adams is the founding Board President for New Legacy Charter School – a charter high school and early learning center for teen parents and their children in Aurora, Colorado. Adams is committed to ensuring equity (e.g. access, representation, meaningful participation and quality) in all her endeavors. She holds a MA from George Washington University in International Education and a BA from Vassar College in Political Science and Film Production.

04 June

09:00 AM

Hunting for Sustainability: Recruiting A New Generation of Conservation Minded Hunters

Priority Area #1: Enhance sustainable access and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors for all Coloradans.

Priority Area #3: Conserve lands, waters and wildlife.

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18 June

10:30 AM

No Occupation without Representation: Creating an Inclusive Workforce

Priority Area #1: Enhance sustainable access and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors for all Coloradans.

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18 June

10:30 AM

No Occupation without Representation: Creating an Inclusive Workforce

Priority Area #1: Enhance sustainable access and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors for all Coloradans.

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Tony Lewis

Donnell-Kay Foundation

For 20 years, Tony Lewis led the Donnell-Kay Foundation.This year, he and his team dropped their titles in recognition of the work being created and led by all team members in their search for ways to improve education in Colorado.Their work in policy, practice and innovative pilots and prototypes have positioned the Foundation as a thought leader in reimagining the educational system of the state and in specific policies and practices that have direct improvement on the lives of students, families and educators through transportation, housing, educational practices to improve the current educational system and to provide new ideas to shape a new statewide educational system.

Prior to being at the Foundation Tony spent many years at the Colorado Outward Bound School (COBS).In his roles there he not only led outdoor adventures, but also the annual development campaign and capital campaign for building their new headquarters.During his tenure at Outward Bound, Tony led many international climbing and trekking trips for donors and trustees.

Between his time leading outdoor adventures and taking the helm of the development and fundraising at COBS, Tony worked for the Environmental Protection Agency in San Francisco.Initially hired through the Presidential Management Intern program (PMI), Tony worked in various media/areas (ground water protection, air pollution, strategic planning), ending up overseeing the wetlands policy, enforcement and mitigation banking for wetlands in the Central Valley and Northern California.

Tony is a Colorado native who continues to spend time in the out of doors, climbing, biking, hiking and leading several international trips each year.He has served on several boards including Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), Education Cities, America Succeeds, Colorado Charter School Institute, Colorado Outdoor Recreation Advisory Board, University of Colorado at Denver School of Public Affairs and the dZi Foundation.He is blessed with a wonderful wife, dogs, cats, chickens, ducks and bees.

21 May

10:30 AM

Get Colorado Kids Outside: Policies for Youth Outdoor Engagement

Priority Area #1: Enhance sustainable access and opportunity to enjoy the outdoors for all Coloradans.

Schedule

Mountain & Prairie Podcast Release with CPW Director Dan Prenzlow

Understanding Trail Users' Needs and Behaviors in a COVID-19 World

How Might We Plan Trails and Protect Wildlife?

An idea worth sharing, a mission worth joining

Video Address DNR Executive Director, Dan Gibbs

Creating Pathways to Natural Resource Careers: By Youth and For Youth

Get Colorado Kids Outside: Policies for Youth Outdoor Engagement

Mean(ingful) Tweets: Public Lands Edition

Working with Tribes: A framework for building productive and respectful relationships

RIMS Mobile App: Year 1 data and analytics on recreation & impact monitoring

Envision Recreation in Balance - Community-driven solutions to manage recreation growth in balance with healthy forests, waters and wildlife

Podcast Release: Mountain & Prairie Podcast with Keynote Speaker Rachel VandeVoort

Hunting for Sustainability: Recruiting A New Generation of Conservation Minded Hunters

Increase Your Organization's Impact through AmeriCorps

What has private land conservation done for you lately? Success stories of land trust partnerships and public benefits

Best Practices for Partnering with Land Managers To Develop New Recreation Opportunities

Diversifying Community Engagement in Conservation Through Film

What the Rx is going on in Colorado?!?

Partner Awards Ceremony Video Release

Colorado Outdoor Regional Partnerships - Join the Conversation!

No Occupation without Representation: Creating an Inclusive Workforce

GOCO 2020 Strategic Plan

CODEX- a New Tool for Conservation and Planning in Colorado

Conflict to Collaboration: Lessons from Climbers & Tribes from the Bears Ears National Monument

No More Volunteering as Tribute

TENTATIVE: Natural Leaders Workshop

Mountain & Prairie Podcast Release with Keynote Speaker Gabe Vasquez

Keynote Speakers

Session Speakers

Sponsors

Planning Team

Rachel VandeVoort

01 June

Podcast Release: Mountain & Prairie Podcast with Keynote Speaker Rachel VandeVoort

Gabe Vasquez

29 June

Mountain & Prairie Podcast Release with Keynote Speaker Gabe Vasquez

Aaron Mike

25 June

Conflict to Collaboration: Lessons from Climbers & Tribes from the Bears Ears National Monument

Adam Gall

04 June

Hunting for Sustainability: Recruiting A New Generation of Conservation Minded Hunters

Alex Alma

14 May

Understanding Trail Users' Needs and Behaviors in a COVID-19 World

Amy Schwarzbach

14 May

How Might We Plan Trails and Protect Wildlife?

Andrew Taylor

04 June

Hunting for Sustainability: Recruiting A New Generation of Conservation Minded Hunters

Anna Zawisza

14 May

An idea worth sharing, a mission worth joining

Ben Lara

28 May

Envision Recreation in Balance - Community-driven solutions to manage recreation growth in balance with healthy forests, waters and wildlife

Ben Lawhon

14 May

Understanding Trail Users' Needs and Behaviors in a COVID-19 World

Bob Morris

11 June

Best Practices for Partnering with Land Managers To Develop New Recreation Opportunities

Brandon Watkins

04 June

Increase Your Organization's Impact through AmeriCorps

Brien Webster

04 June

Hunting for Sustainability: Recruiting A New Generation of Conservation Minded Hunters

Cate Townley

11 June

What the Rx is going on in Colorado?!?

Chris Castilian

18 June

GOCO 2020 Strategic Plan

Chris Pipkin

11 June

Best Practices for Partnering with Land Managers To Develop New Recreation Opportunities

Eden Vardy