Climate Solutions Summit, Jackson 2024
At Brendle Group, Imogen serves as a technical expert in climate change resilience, emissions reduction, electric vehicle readiness and community
outreach. She enjoys working with clients to develop goals and design place-based initiatives that improve sustainability practices, decrease carbon emissions and deliver tangible quality of life benefits. With over nine years of experience in the public, private, and non-profit sectors in both the US and her native UK, Imogen recognizes the need to focus on community priorities while leveraging regional, state, and national partnerships to amplify the impact of local action.
Outside of work, Imogen is a competitive trail runner who loves spending time in the mountains with her people and her dog.
Benji Backer is the Executive Chairman and Founder of the American Conservation Coalition (ACC), the largest right-of-center environmental organization in the country, and the author of The Conservative Environmentalist: Common Sense Solutions for a Sustainable Future. A proud graduate of the University of Washington, Benji has been awarded the Fortune 40 Under 40, Forbes 30 Under 30, GreenBiz 30 Under 30, and Grist 50. He serves as a Board member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences’ Climate Change Commission, the Wisconsin Conservative Energy Forum, and BridgeUSA. A frequent contributor to national media outlets, Benji is one of the leading youth environmental voices in the country. Above all, Backer is an avid outdoorsman who spends most of his free time in the mountains out West.
Bill Barron is Citizens’ Climate Lobby’s (CCL) Mountain West Regional Director focused on supporting volunteers, encouraging creativity and engagement, and building the CCL community throughout the region. An Alta ski patroller of 24 years, Bill blended his passion for the outdoors with advocating for meaningful bi-partisan action on climate change. Bill was a three time single-issue federal climate candidate, established the first Utah CCL Chapter in 2010, and has been the Mountain West Regional Director since 2013 covering MT, WY, UT, CO, NM, AZ and NV.
Jamie is a soul-centered, transformational leadership coach who is passionate about coaching individuals to use their lives as vehicles for greater self-actualization and raising consciousness on the planet. Jamie is a catalyst for individuals ready to get fully expressed in all areas of their lives and claim greater fulfillment, abundance, ease, and clarity around what their greater vision and mission is in the world while also helping them wake up to their inherent wholeness in the process.
Coming from a performing arts background, Jamie blends spiritual psychology, the healing arts, and creative expression to help people activate their own unique Inner Artist and authentic voice to create the most important masterpiece they will ever embark on creating – their own life.
Jamie is a Certified Mastery Coach and a Mentor Coach for The Institute of Coaching Mastery and head coach for Elected Leaders Collective, which she co-created with her beloved partner.
Nick has called Jackson Hole home for over 20 years and has worked in with local nonprofits for the duration of his career in area. He joined Grand Teton Association as the Executive Director in the spring of 2023 and prior to that worked in fundraising and communications for Teton Raptor Center and Teton Science Schools.
Laurel Eastman is the Regional Coordinator for Citizens’ Climate Lobby’s Mountain West region, leading efforts to empower communities and individuals to create the political will for a livable climate. A former professional kiteboarder. Laurel brings her passion for the outdoors to her climate advocacy, helping lead the national Outdoor Industry Action Team to promote clean energy solutions. She has a deep commitment to building strong, nonpartisan relationships to help congress pass climate solution policy. When not advocating with CCL, Laurel enjoys foilboarding at her watersports school in the Dominican Republic.
Jim came to the Jackson Hole Airport in 2014. Before coming to Jackson, Jim was the director of Aspen/Pitkin County Airport in Aspen, CO. While in Aspen he had significant accomplishments in improving the environmental stewardship of the airport. Prior to working in Aspen, Jim served as the Airport Manager in both Eagle County Airport and Pueblo Airport in Colorado. His many accomplishments in the industry include serving as Chair for the American Association of Airport Executives in 2008. Since his arrival to Jackson Hole Airport, Jim has implemented many new environmental measures and is an active member of the Jackson Hole community.
Since 2022, Robb Etnyre has served as the General Manager of the Truckee Tahoe Airport District, a General Aviation Airport serving business and private aviation in the Sierra Nevada Mountains just north of Lake Tahoe, California. In this role, he has facilitated the airport’s transition to a sustainable airport planning model and adoption of a blended Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) only offering at KTRK.
Prior to his current role, Robb served for 10 years as the General Manager of the Tahoe Donner Association, one of the largest four-season resort homeowner communities in the United States, located in Truckee, California. With over 6,500 homes and 25,000 members, the recreational amenities of this community spanned Donner Lake water sports and equestrian stables in the summer to downhill and cross-country skiing in the winter spread over 7,000 acres.
Starting his career in the United States Marine Corps, Robb served as an infantry officer for 20 years, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2009. Throughout his tenure, he served in infantry units, taught at the U.S. Naval Academy, served as a U.S. Marine & Naval Attache to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, concluding his career at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center near Bridgeport, California.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Robb Etnyre is known for his commitment to community engagement and philanthropy. He’s been a board member of the local chamber of commerce, California Ski Industry Association (Ski California), and California Association of Community Managers. After raising his four grown children, he can routinely be found in the backcountry hiking or skiing with his pack of huskies.
Gabrielle Fuerst is the Chief Sustainability Officer of CAP Management, a Denver-based HOA management company. In her work, she helps HOA Boards and communities holistically understand the connection between resource conservation, financial savings, and increased quality of life for residents. She provides education around emerging technologies in water & energy efficiency and helps HOAs navigate new legislation, such as the City of Denver’s Energize Denver and Waste No More ordinances, as well as the State of Colorado’s Building Performance requirements. CAP Management is a pioneer in HOA sustainability and developed a Sustainable HOA Certification Framework to recognize HOAs that are leaders in water, energy, waste, and transportation initiatives.
Gail serves as the President of the Steamboat Springs City Council. As the Council’s representative to the Routt County Climate Action Collaborative Board, she serves as Chair of the Board which is comprised of elected officials from Routt County and all municipalities in the County, along with representatives from the private sector and community-at-large. Gail is honored to represent local governments outside of the front range on the Producer Responsibility Advisory Board. This new program will require companies that package their products in single-use materials to fund a statewide system to recycle those materials. She also serves on the Yampa Valley Sustainability Council Board.
Matt Garlick is a man who loves what he does! Although he took a non-traditional route, he has found a place to put his talents to good use and improve the world through efficient design. Matt holds a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Utah and holds BEMP, CEM, and CCP certifications. In an industry filled with engineers, Matt’s combination of a broad understanding and technical expertise allows him to reduce complicated ideas into simpler forms. This helps bridge the worlds of owners, architects, engineers and contractors and encourages efficient systems that deliver in the real world.
As a Managing Member of The GreyEdge Group, he supports the evaluation and development of networked geothermal systems across North America and abroad. The GreyEdge Group is an industry leading TEN consulting firm with experience implementing ambient temperature loop systems going back over 20 years. Having worked on hundreds of geothermal projects and 14 networked heat pump systems, The GreyEdge Group provides a level of expertise and demonstrated results that few can match.
Emma Gerona is the Executive Director of EcoAction Partners, a sustainability nonprofit in the San Juan Mountain region of Colorado. She has worked with various nonprofits in Colorado and Oregon, specializing in connecting rural communities with resources to drive climate action. With EcoAction she has worked to increase collaboration on climate action, expand community outreach, and create accessible climate programming. She is focused on developing programming that supports our underserved and vulnerable populations by finding climate solutions that enhance our social, environmental, and economic resiliency.
Jeff Grasser has led Copper Mountain Resort’s conservation/sustainability efforts since 2014 and has been involved in the leadership of Copper’s Resort Operations teams for eighteen years. In this role, he has been responsible for improving energy efficiency, acquiring renewable energy, increasing landfill diversion, and advancing the care of Copper’s natural ecosystem.
Jeff has a bachelor’s degree in Ecology from the University of Northern Colorado and a master’s degree in Conservation Leadership from Colorado State University. He has achieved groundbreaking conservation actions that showcase Copper Mountain Resort as a conservation leader within the ski industry. In 2023, Jeff was recognized by the National Ski Area Association with the Hero of Sustainability Award.
Laura Hartman is the founder and Executive Director of the Adam Palmer Sustainability Fund. She has worked in the non profit and local government sectors for ten years across a variety of impact areas including human services, education, and public health. Laura serves on the Town
of Eagle Planning and Zoning Commission and Gore Range Gravity Alliance Board of Directors.
Kendra is the Climate Action Coordinator for EcoAction Partners, a sustainability nonprofit in the San Juan Mountain region of Colorado. She is passionate about local empowerment and the ways we can energize our communities to create a more healthy and equitable world through agency and hope. Kendra joined the EcoAction team in October 2022 and supports regional partners by facilitating collaborative partnerships and developing new programming outlined in the Regional Climate Action Plan. She conducts the annual GHG Inventory, facilitates the EV Taskforce, and supports our 10 government partners with implementing strategies outlined in the CAP. Kendra grew up amongst the lakes and woods of Minnesota but now delights in the fresh air and soft powder of Telluride. She feels grateful to learn something new every day.
Katy is a licensed civil engineer and founded Beyond Efficiency in 2009 to provide technical consulting services for high-performance building projects. She has over twenty-five years experience in the A/E/C and green building industries and is passionate about educating clients and team members on building science and best practices. Prior to founding Beyond Efficiency, Katy managed technical information programs at a California non-profit and was also an engineer at a national consulting firm specializing in the forensic investigation and repair of modern and historic structures. At home in the field as well as the office, Katy has pounded nails, hung drywall, and pulled wires on various construction projects.
She has presented for a broad range of clients including AIA, PG&E, ACI, West Coast Green, Structural Engineers Association of Northern California (SEAONC), and NARI as well as various public agencies, USGBC and Passive House chapters. Katy was a founding board member of the non-profit Passive House California and holds a Master of Science in Civil/Structural Engineering from the University of Michigan.
As High Country Conservation Center’s Climate Action Director, Jess coordinated the Summit County community’s first-ever climate action plan and greenhouse gas emissions inventory. Over the past several years, she has collaborated with community partners on multiple projects, including a climate equity plan, outdoor energy use policy, heat pump and solar bulk-buy programs, electrification videos, and – everyone’s favorite – stretch building codes. When she’s not busy trying to save the planet, Jess is a trail runner and fledgling mountaineer.
Chad Hudson is the Forest Supervisor of the 3.4-million-acre Bridger-Teton National Forest based out of Jackson, WY. Prior to his selection as the Forest Supervisor, he was the Deputy Forest Supervisor on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest located in Salt Lake City, UT. Chad also worked as a District Ranger on the Idaho Panhandle National Forest and served as the acting Assistant Director and Deputy Director of the Forest Service Range Management and Vegetation Ecology programs in Washington D.C.
Chad is no stranger to the Jackson Hole area. Earlier in his career he spent 9 years on the Bridger-Teton National Forest as both a National Environmental Protection Act coordinator and a recreation manager. He began his natural resources career conducting Mountain Gorilla census surveys and serving as a Warden of Tourism of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda.
Chip Jenkins, Superintendent Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. Chip has more than 38 years of experience working in and leading national parks. His experience includes working in 8 national parks, two regional offices, NPS headquarters in Washington DC and the Office of the Secretary of Interior.
Megan Jennings is the Program Manager at Energy Conservation Works (ECW), where she spearheads initiatives to mitigate environmental impacts within the built environment. Her current focus includes organizational strategic planning, managing a low-interest loan program for energy retrofit projects, promoting the utility’s Green Power program, and supporting the development of Wyoming’s first Community Solar project. With over four years at ECW, Megan has utilized her background in finance, data analysis, and creative design work to implement programs and enhance transparency and communication regarding energy and emissions savings programs.
A Jackson Hole local, she returned to her hometown after college, motivated by a profound connection to the region. Outside of work, Megan enjoys exploring the area’s natural beauty through trail running, hiking, skiing, and backpacking.
Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is a marine biologist, policy expert, and writer. She is co-founder of the non-profit think tank Urban Ocean Lab, co-editor of the bestselling climate anthology All We Can Save, co-creator and co-host of Spotify/Gimlet’s flagship climate podcast How to Save a Planet, and author of the forthcoming book What If We Get it Right?: Visions of Climate Futures. She serves on the board of directors for Patagonia, received the Schneider Award for climate communication, and was on the Time 100 Next List. She is in love with climate solutions.
Julie Kies is the Wood Innovations Program Lead for the Northern and Intermountain Regions of the U.S. Forest Service. In supporting the long-term management of our nation’s forests, she works with businesses, communities, and partners throughout the West to advance the responsible use of wood for renewable energy, green building, and other traditional and emerging markets. Julie’s roles include administering a very active grant program, tracking new technologies and markets, and working with partners to explore and deploy practical, right-sized solutions. She enjoys working at the nexus of resource use, management, and conservation recognizing that sustaining our lifestyles and environment into the future involves complex considerations and trade-offs. Julie lives in Missoula, Montana where she and her family spend time outside enjoying our public lands.
Narelle Kipple is the Climate Action Manager for the High Country Conservation Center, where she leads the sustainable business program, residential energy program, and bulk-buy solar initiatives. She works closely with residents and businesses to promote energy efficiency and sustainability. In her free time, Narelle enjoys skiing, biking, and hiking with her pup.
Courtney LaBrie joined the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) as the sustainability manager in August 2023, bringing over 7 years of professional experience in the sustainability field. Courtney spent time in project management and marketing before joining Sierra Club to support their organizational chapters across the country. She has earned an MBA specializing in Corporate Sustainability from Colorado State University’s Impact MBA program, during which time she worked as a Sustainability Fellow at Denver International Airport. Following that she worked as an ESG consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers and is currently a Sustainability Board Member for the City of Edgewater. Courtney loves being able to support the great sustainability work being done by NSAA and their members.
Alexi is the Director of Sustainability for the City of Moab. Working with partners throughout the city and broader community, she leads the implementation of the city’s Sustainability Action Plan in pursuit of an 80% reduction of greenhouse gases by 2040 and 100% renewable electricity by 2030. Prior to her work in Moab, she was the first sustainability program manager for Utah State University where she also received her PhD while working with faculty, staff, and students to integrate sustainability into campus operations and programs. Growing up on the rice-growing side of Arkansas, she is a returned Peace Corps volunteer and alumna of Arkansas State and Indiana Universities.
Originally from Littleton, Colorado, Emma has always had a deep love for her community and all that the Rocky Mountains has to offer. She has a background in natural resource management and landscape-scale conservation. Her academic research focused on bioremediation techniques and ethical animal husbandry in rural Colorado. Upon graduation, she was ushered into a land management fellowship program with the US Forest Service, serving the White River National Forest. Her current role as Project Manager for the Big Sky Owners Association, the first and largest HOA in Big Sky, Montana, has been the highlight of her career in implementing meaningful projects that aim to enhance the environment and quality of life for all.
James Rattling Leaf is a global Indigenous consultant and principal of the Wolakota Lab, LLC. He guides and inspires organizations to work more effectively with Indigenous peoples for a more equitable world. Rattling Leaf has more than 25 years of experience working with the U.S. federal government, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations to develop and maintain effective working relationships with American Indian tribes, tribal colleges and universities, and tribal communities. He sees a greater vision of human knowledge that incorporates the many insights of human cultures and provides a context for better understanding the world. Currently, Rattling Leaf holds co-leadership roles at the Environmental Science Data Innovation and Inclusion Lab; North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center; Sicangu Climate Center; Groups on Earth Observations Indigenous Alliance; and Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder. He is a citizen of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and has a Lakota Studies degree from Sinte Gleska University.
As Sustainability Coordinator for the Town of Crested Butte, Danah is responsible for implementing and administering municipal and community-wide climate and sustainability programs. As the first Sustainability Coordinator in a small and vibrant mountain town, Dannah’s roles are wide ranging and include overseeing an update to the Town’s Climate Action Plan, managing the Town’s renewable energy efforts, collaborating with regional partners, analyzing sustainability data, and leading creative community engagement efforts.Prior to joining the Town of Crested Butte in 2023, Dannah gained extensive experience in the solid waste and organics recycling sector along with facility environmental program auditing.
She has a master’s in Environmental Management, Sustainable and Resilient Communities from Western Colorado University.
Michael Leggett is the Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at Ever.green where he is focused on accelerating the path to 100% renewable energy via a marketplace for transferable tax credits and high-impact RECs that are accessible to buyers of all sizes and help make more new projects happen. Before Ever.green, Michael led product teams for carbon removal markets Nori and ESMC and lead design teams on products used by billions of people at Google and Meta.
Sonja Macys resides in Steamboat Springs, Routt County, Colorado where she is serving her first term as a Routt County Commissioner. Prior to that she served two terms on the Steamboat Springs City Council and a term as an Elected Director of her Rural Electric Cooperative Board. She completed her Master’s Degree at Colorado State University and has dedicated her professional career to improving the relationship between people and the natural environment. Sonja has led various non-profit organizations including an Audubon Chapter and a local environmental education organization. Her efforts at the City of Steamboat Springs were instrumental in convincing local elected officials to create a Climate Action Plan and use it as a fundamental guiding document.
Ari Matusiak is co-founder and CEO of Rewiring America, a national climate solutions nonprofit working to electrify homes, businesses, and communities, and vice-chair of Power Forward Communities, a national coalition built to help deploy Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund dollars equitably. He is also co-founder and managing partner of Purpose Venture Group, a social impact advisory and incubator building ventures to address climate and economic inequality. Matusiak previously was co-founder and chairman of Young Invincibles, a nonprofit he co-founded to speak for young adults in the health reform debate, and chief strategy officer of Renovate America, a residential energy efficiency and renewable energy financing platform. From 2011 through 2014, he was special assistant to the president and director of private sector engagement in the Obama White House. Earlier in his career, he was vice president of strategy and community impact at the Rhode Island Foundation.
Skippy Mesirow is a certified master coach and founder of the Elected Leaders Collective (ELC) P.B.C + Foundation, dedicated to Healing Our Politics. ELC leads the US in mental health and well-being training for public servants. Skippy’s extensive public service spans federal, state, and local levels as a campaign manager, staffer, activist, organizer, and Aspen City Councilperson. Drawing from his own mental health journey, he founded ELC to emphasize that healing politics begins with the human in the mirror. Skippy hosts the Healing Our Politics podcast, is a sought-after speaker and facilitator, serves on Gov. Polis’s Natural Medicine Advisory Board, co-created Mobilize the Movement, and is a board member of the Aspen Psychedelic Resource Center. Residing in Aspen, CO, with his partner Jamie, Skippy enjoys running ultra-marathons, road biking, motorcycling, international travel, culinary arts, Burning Man, and lifelong learning.
A proven systems thinker and reformer, Paul specializes in creating and implementing groundbreaking solutions to the systemic problems driving the environmental crisis. After more than a decade championing environmental progress as a senior congressional aide and campaign strategy consultant, Paul founded TOPO, an innovation hub that specializes in developing breakthrough solutions designed for seismic impact. As TOPO’s Executive Director, Paul has established TOPO as a leader in the responsible finance space and is spearheading numerous finance initiatives, including The Carbon Bankroll Report, which Bill McKibben has called, “the most important set of climate numbers I’ve come across in decades.”
Cameron Millard is a Clean Energy Specialist for the Town of Vail, within the Environmental Sustainability department. The first in this role at the town, Cameron is responsible for assessing the environmental impact of energy use and production, and evaluating the potential of emerging technologies to solve environmental challenges . He is responsible for understanding and communicating strategies that help the Town of Vail meet its climate action goals, including a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and a 100% reduction by 2050. Cameron has been working in clean energy since 2010, including a seven-year stint as Energy Programs Director for a non-profit organization in Leadville, Colorado, where he performed energy audits, administered rebates, and supervised a weatherization crew. In his current role, Cameron is deeply engaged in developing decarbonization solutions to solve mountain town issues like snowmelting and heating buildings. He enjoys spending time with his family exploring the backcountry of Colorado.
As CCEF’s Head of Business Development, Anna engages with potential partners and key stakeholders to pursue new projects. Anna brings many years of experience in business development and strategy, having worked with various clean energy companies to help commercialize innovative solutions through collaborative agreements. Prior to her time in the renewable energy industry, Anna began her career at Colgate-Palmolive in Global Supply Chain supporting manufacturing sites around the world. She later worked at Citigroup developing and launching co-branded products. In her spare time, she loves to travel and explore new places.
As A-Basin’s Sustainability Manager since 2015, Mike works on the resort’s strategic sustainability plan and quest towards Carbon Neutrality. He has pioneered renewable energy and electric vehicle infrastructure projects as well as championing the resort’s waste reduction program. Mike is also on the Board of Directors for the High Country Conservation Center and a member of the Summit Climate Action Collaborative since its inception. He lives in Dillon, CO with his wife, dog, and bass guitar.
Larry Pardee is honored to serve as the Town Manager of Eagle, Colorado, where he collaborates with a dedicated team to advance the community’s sustainability initiatives. With over 40 years of experience in local government, Larry has supported mayors and staff in Vail, Jackson, and now Eagle, promoting climate action and environmental stewardship. His journey
in sustainability began at the “Canary in the Coalmine” conference in 2006, which sparked his involvement in significant climate initiatives, including Jackson’s 10×10 and 40×20 programs.
Since joining Eagle in 2022, Larry has been committed to guiding the town towards its ambitious NetZero goals for 2028 and 2030. He values the collaborative spirit of the MT2030 Summit, where local governments unite to share ideas and support each other in their sustainability
efforts. Larry is an outdoor enthusiast who finds inspiration in the Rocky Mountains, enjoying hiking, biking, and skiing in the landscapes he strives to protect.
Jason Parkin is a passionate advocate of business as a force for good; prioritizing solutions for sustainability and climate action. Since founding Compose[d] in 2010, the company has become a standout among purpose-driven agencies. It is an active, Certified B Corp®, 1% For the Planet member, Clean Creatives signatory, and brand alliance partner with both SeaTrees and Protect Our Winters. Always looking for ways to have an outsized impact, Compose[d] is to-date, the smallest company in the country to sign a fixed-price Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPAs) with Ever.green which, along with a collective of other (much larger) businesses, has led to the repowering of the Ocotillo Wind Farm in Big Spring, Texas, where the grid is still predominantly powered by fossil fuels.
Professionally, Parkin has over 25 years of experience specializing in creative strategy, interactive/user-centered design, and animation. He is a founder and former Design Director of Motionbox, a personal video-sharing company that was acquired by HP Snapfish in 2010, where he helped create a then new, and now widely used interface for viewing online video. His work has been recognized with numerous awards including the Webby’s, the MIN Best of the Web Awards, OMMA, and the One Show Interactive Awards.
Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Jason lives in NYC, but splits his time in Warren, VT with his wife, Nicky and their dogs Shiloh and Ryder. He’s a former USCF Category 3 bicycle racer and now enjoys a slightly more leisurely approach to cycling, snowboarding, ice hockey, hiking, trail-running, and climbing.
Lizzie Peyton is the Director of the Big Sky Sustainability Network Organization. While living in Big Sky, Lizzie has worked as a personal chef, whitewater raft guide and in the non-profit sector. Trained as a chef in Paris following an undergraduate degree in International Studies at Boston College, Lizzie worked and traveled abroad for nearly a decade while continually returning to Big Sky as the community became her home. After immersion in many diverse cultures-including a biodynamic farming collective in Tanzania- soil health and regeneration became a favorite hobby study. Intent on expanding on sustainable sourcing as a chef, Lizzie delved into regenerative agriculture research to become a more conscientious consumer. Equipped with increasing knowledge of regional ecosystems resilience, she chose to hang up her apron and start working with SNO to support community driven solutions in the environmental and sustainability sectors. For the last 3 years Lizzie has been Big Sky’s community leader on sustainable and climate action. From collaborating with 40 community stakeholders on the publication of the Big Sky Community Climate Action Plan, to implementing many projects and programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase ecosystem resilience, Lizzie continues to convene and facilitate the Big Sky community members to make a positive impact for future generations. Implementation of a Gallatin Canyon commuter incentive program, installation of solar on workforce housing, and the launching of Alpenscapes, a partnership providing community-wide resources for local landscaping are just a few of the actions Lizzie has helped spearhead from 2022-2024. When not working, Lizzie spends time exploring the outdoors and other cultures.
Marty has served as the City of Durango’s Sustainability Manager since January 2022, overseeing programs and coordination across the municipality and community to achieve sustainability goals. Previously, he oversaw the Environmental Center at Fort Lewis College in Durango and worked on sustainability and building system consulting. His passion lies in finding ways that modern society can simultaneously improve human welfare while reducing negative impacts on the natural environment.
Like so many Coloradans and sustainability professionals, Marty’s love for the natural environment was sparked by spending time in the outdoors growing up – his family’s activity of choice was, uniquely, llama packing. He also worked for nearly a decade of summers as a multi- day raft guide on the rivers of the Colorado Plateau. These experiences, and many others, have shaped his view of our planet, the variety of ecosystems which it supports, and our connection to these natural spaces both personally and as a society.
David Roberts has been reporting on climate change and clean energy issues for 20 years, first at Grist.org, then at Vox, and now at his own newsletter and podcast, Volts. He lives in Seattle with his family, three dogs, and a cat.
Kim is the Managing Director of the Climate Mitigation and Resilience Planning team at Lotus Engineering & Sustainability. Kim has a broad range of experience in the sustainability field, with a strong focus on development of building codes and policy to drive greenhouse gas reductions. Kim has managed mitigation and resiliency programs working with communities to develop community-specific GHG reduction sustainability plans, policies, and energy codes. She excels in engagement and facilitation for large and small clients, through an integrative process to identify sustainability goals and actions. Her project experience ranges from facilitation of technical stakeholder groups and developing building code and policy recommendations to managing sustainability planning for cities and organizations. Kim has technical expertise in design and construction best practices for new construction and has a proven track record of implementing sustainable building strategies on projects across the Colorado Front Range and beyond. She received her B.S. International Relations at Rollins College.
Terry is the former Key Accounts Executive for San Miguel Power Association (a rural electric cooperative in SW Colorado). He now provides consulting services focused on grant writing and project management for numerous solar/storage community microgrids. SMPA was recently awarded more than $4.3 M from Colorado DOLA for community microgrids capable of providing 4 hours of resilience for the entire Town of Ridgway, Town of Rico, and several smaller systems for SMPA’s office Headquarters. Terry represents SMPA in the Town of Silverton TEAM GOLD project looking at a community Microgrid and smaller behind the meter microgrids in this remote mountain community. Terry has worked in the solar industry for most of his 46- year career including research at both the Solar Energy Research Institute (now NREL) and Sandia National Laboratory, as well as domestic and international consulting work. Terry is serving in his third term as a Councilor for the Town of Ridgway. Colorado.
Cam Sholly assumed duties as the Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park in October of 2018. Cam is a third-generation park service manager and began his National Park Service (NPS) career in 1990 in Yellowstone’s backcountry.
During his tenure as Superintendent, the park has set strategic priorities that focus on supporting the Yellowstone workforce, strengthening the Yellowstone ecosystem, delivering a world-class visitor experience, investing in infrastructure, and building coalitions and partnerships.
Shannon grew up in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and lives there now with her husband and son when he is home from college in Ireland. Most of her a-ha moments have occurred in the natural world. She was naturally drawn to place-based education because of the care, community, and citizenship involved. Shannon received her Masters of Education from Antioch New England Graduate School and practiced place-based education at her first teaching job in Portland, Maine. For over twenty years she worked as a classroom teacher and administrator in both public and independent schools. She worked as a Professional Learning Coach and Program Designer for Place Network as well as assuming the role of Interim Director of Place Network. In November of 2023 she became the Executive Director of the Riverwind Foundation, a nonprofit that works to unite efforts to reduce and repair visitor and resident impact on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem now and for future generations.
Ainsley Brosnan-Smith is the Waste Diversion and Recycling Program Administrator for the City of Aspen’s climate action office. She specializes in policy development related resource recovery and waste diversion. Ainsley’s mission is to keep usable materials out of the landfill and circulated in the local economy.
Mr. Staudenmayer holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Lehigh University and has over 25 years of experience in resort development and utility services management. He joined the Northstar Community Services District in 2004 as the District Engineer and has been the General Manager since 2006. During his tenure at the District, Mr. Staudenmayer has been responsible for all aspects of local governmental services including water and wastewater infrastructure planning and construction supporting a $1 billion resort real estate development project. He has been responsible for the implementation of a forest fuels and watershed management program for a premier Sierra Nevada resort community including leading the development of a thermally led wood energy facility utilizing forest residuals from local forest management projects. He was the architect of a best-in-class GIS infrastructure framework from the ground up to support state-of-the-art asset management and business enterprise solutions optimized for utility service management. Prior to coming to the Tahoe region, Mr. Staudenmayer worked in the San Francisco Bay Area and Park City, Utah on a variety of projects in an engineering and surveying capacity for real estate development and resort expansion projects.
Michelle Stewart is the Executive Director of Yampa Valley Sustainability Council.
Michelle has been involved in sustainability-related teaching, research, mentoring,
program development and leadership for over 20 years. Prior to joining YVSC in 2020,
Michelle was the Academic Director for the School for International Training’s Iceland
Program on Renewable Energy, Technology and Resource Economics. Michelle has
served as a distance faculty in the University of Denver’s M.A. Program on EnvironmentalPolicy and Management since 2019 and was the Pick Visiting Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies at Amherst College from 2013-2016. From 2016-2017, she was a rangeland social scientist with Colorado State University in the Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship She served as a doctoral fellow examining the politics of knowledge and environmental management at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government from 2011-2012. Michelle holds her B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Notre Dame;
an M.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of California-Santa Cruz; and a Ph.D. in Human-Environment Geography from the University of Colorado-Boulder.
Tim Sullivan is the Resilient Land & Water Director for the Yampa Valley Sustainability Council. He has more than 30 years of leadership experience in international, national, and local conservation efforts. Prior to joining YVSC, Tim was the Climate Director for the North American Region of The Nature Conservancy where he oversaw work in all 50 states to develop a climate change program including work on state-level policy; land based emissions mitigation and adaptation; and communication and outreach projects. Prior to this, he was the State Director for The Conservancy’s Colorado Chapter. Tim was earlier Conservation Initiatives Director for the Colorado program, managing programs in Science, Fire, Water, and Land Protection. Prior to joining The Nature Conservancy, Tim served as Regional Director for the Environmental Defense Fund, guiding their programs in seven states in the Rocky Mountain west. Tim holds an undergraduate degree in Biology and History from Cornell University, and a Master’s degree in Conservation Biology from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.
Jerry Tinianow operates Western Urban Sustainability Advisors. WestUrb (westurb.com) assists local governments in creating and improving sustainability and climate action policies, plans and programs. Jerry’s work at WestUrb reflects the successes he achieved as Denver’s first Chief Sustainability Officer (2012-19). Under his leadership Denver won Platinum-level certification in the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Cities program. Denver met its ambitious 2020 goal for community greenhouse gas reduction in 2018 – two years ahead of schedule. Denver’s record in mitigating climate change won it a place on the “A List” of top-performing cities issued by the international climate action organization CDP. Jerry previously served as a national officer of both the Sierra Club and the National Audubon Society, and directed the Center for Energy and Environment at the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission. Jerry received his undergraduate and law degrees from George Washington University. He was the 2018 winner of the Wirth Chair Sustainability Award, given by the University of Colorado in recognition of his climate action planning work.
Scott S. Turnipseed, AIA is the Mayor of Eagle, Colorado and was instrumental in writing the first Net Zero Goal for the Town of Eagle. Over the past several years he has turned an interest in sustainability into a passion. Scott is a firm believer in “think globally and act locally”. When not being the Mayor, Scott is an Architect and President of a Design/Build Company located in the Vail Valley with 22 employees that was established in 1995.
Crista Valentino has served as the Executive Director for the Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism Board since January 2023, previously serving on the Board for 5.5 years. During her time on the Board, Crista spearheaded the development of a Sustainable Destination Management Plan for Teton County, WY, creating a roadmap that ensures the power of travel and tourism contributes to the health of the community, economy, and environment. Prior to her current position, Crista was the Founder and Executive Director of CoalitionWILD for 10 years, a global youth organization training and mentoring emerging leaders to develop nature-based projects in communities around the world. In 2021, Crista relocated to Saudi Arabia for a year to facilitate the development of five nature reserves in the culturally rich region of AlUla. Crista graduated first in her class with a Master of Arts in Global Leadership in 2022 with a focus on community-led development, her thesis worked with the communities on the Wind River Reservation to leverage economic development as a form of sovereignty. You’ll often find her outside, ideally out of cell phone range, probably worrying her mother.
Katrina Wiese is the President/CEO at Destination Yellowstone (the West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce, Conventional Visitor’s Bureau and Visitor Information Center). She has been with Destination Yellowstone for almost 11 years. Prior to her career at Destination Yellowstone, she worked as a technical writer and graphic and web designer, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Graphic Arts. Katrina, her husband and three children have called West Yellowstone home for 16 years.
Rollie Williams is a Brooklyn-based comedian, video editor, and guy with both student debt and a Climate Science & Policy degree from Columbia University. He is the creator and host of the digital comedy series Climate Town, an exhaustively researched YouTube channel focused on the climate crisis. In the past few years, Climate Town has amassed 560,000 YouTube subscribers, several millions views, a handful of awards, and has spawned a delightfully engaged Discord community. Rollie is also the co-creator of The Climate Denier’s Playbook, a podcast he hosts with childhood friend/Daily Show writer Nicole Conlan. When he’s not feverishly researching climate change, Rollie plays an unhealthy amount of pool and recently achieved his dream of commentating for the World Cup of Pool in England.
Dan is a Vice President with an ownership group encompassing a decarbonization and energy services company (WES Energy and Environment, LLC), and an engineering company (Wilson Engineering Services, PC). This group of companies provides a suite of services focused on process optimization, energy efficiency and renewable energy, carbon accounting, data logging and analytics, REC aggregation/trading, and decarbonization across all scopes of GHG emissions. Dan has overseen this group’s role in over 300 decarbonization, renewable energy, and low-carbon energy projects. His role in these projects has included concept development, feasibility study, finance / business planning, design, permitting, construction management, commissioning, and operations. Prior to co-founding the ownership group in 2008, Dan was an engineering project manager at Gahagan & Bryant Associates, Inc. Dan has held leadership positions on the boards for several national and regional energy trade organizations. Dan is a registered professional engineer and holds a BS in Agricultural and Biological Engineering from Penn State University and a Master of Civil Engineering from Johns Hopkins University.
Mat is currently the Chief Executive at Destination Queenstown (DQ). Prior to joining DQ, Mat was head of sales & services at Cardrona Alpine Resort (CARL) and Treble Cone and was involved in the acquisition of Treble Cone, securing the rights to develop into the SOHO Basin. Mat moved from CARL to join the parent company RealNZ as GM of Experience Whakatipu to oversee the Queenstown operation of the TSS Earnslaw, Walter Peak, Jet Boating and Water Taxis.
Mat has a strong background in governance, He is currently a Director at Sport Otago Regional Tourism NZ and Racers Edge in Wānaka. Recently he was on the board of Snow Sports NZ and the Chair of Lake Wānaka Tourism.
Before joining the tourism industry, Mat had extensive experience in outdoor adventure sports retail, he was the managing director of R&R Sport before selling to The Warehouse Group, merging R&R Sport with Torpedo 7.
