Annual Convention 2026 Speaker Bios
Wednesday, January 28th Speakers
Workshop: Demystifying Active Forest Management in Colorado
Patt Dorsey
Moderator
Director of Operations
West National Wild Turkey Federation
Patt Dorsey is the Western Director of Conservation Operations for the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), where she champions forest health and landscape-scale conservation efforts across the West. She was appointed by Governor Polis to serve as the wildlife conservation representative on the Colorado Forest Health Council, currently in her second term.
Prior to the NWTF, Dorsey had a distinguished career with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, where she served in a range of roles including District Wildlife Manager, Hunter Education Administrator, and ultimately Southwest Region Manager. She is known for her grounded leadership, storytelling, and deep naturalist instincts.
Christina Burri
Deputy State Forester
Colorado State Forest Service
Christina Burri is the Deputy State Forester for the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS), where the mission is to achieve stewardship of Colorado’s diverse forest environments for the benefit of present and future generations. The CSFS has 18 field offices and is housed within the Warner College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University. The agency provides staffing for the Division of Forestry within the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. Christina works to serve her staff and all Coloradans in stewarding the forests of Colorado.
Prior to the Colorado State Forest Service, Christina worked as a Watershed Scientist and led the Watershed Planning Team for Denver Water. Christina created Denver Water’s first Watershed Planning Program and Team, as well as led Denver Water’s forest health investments, such as the From Forests to Faucets Partnership. Throughout Christina’s career as a public servant, she has worked in all levels of government, such as for the Bureau of Reclamation, State of Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and Public Utilities Commission, and a county soil and water conservation district. Christina enjoys public service and contributing toward greater good for our natural environment.
Dan Dallas
Renewable Resource Director
United States Forest Service
Alison Lerch
Assistant Director for Forest Health and Wildfire Mitigation
Colorado Department of Natural Resources
Alison Lerch is the Assistant Director for Forest Health and Wildfire Mitigation for the Colorado Department of Natural Resources (DNR), where she provides analysis and policy recommendations on wildfire mitigation and forestry to DNR and the CSFS, manages the Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program, and facilitates shared stewardship efforts with state and federal partners. She joined DNR in September 2021 as the Program Administrator for the newly formed wildfire mitigation team, creating the Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program (COSWAP), which has invested over $40 million into strategic wildfire mitigation and forestry projects.
She graduated from the University of Missouri with a B.S. in Forestry and has a diverse career in forestry and wildfire resilience working for both Tribal and state governments, nonprofit organizations, and serving on a municipal fire department.
Madelene McDonald
Watershed Scientist
Denver Water
Madelene McDonald is a Watershed Scientist at Denver Water, the oldest and largest water provider in the state of Colorado, where she manages the utility’s forest health and wildfire resilience programs. Madelene works to protect Denver Water’s water supply and infrastructure from direct wildfire impacts and post-fire water quality contamination within a 2.5 million acre raw water collection system. She has helped develop national, regional, and local wildfire mitigation and recovery strategies by serving on the Colorado Forest Health Council in the Front Range Water Provider seat and on the National Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission in the Public Utility Industry seat. Madelene also serves on numerous boards and councils, including the Jefferson County Wildfire Commission and the Coalitions and Collaboratives Board of Directors.
Molly Pitts
Forest Management Manager
National Wild Turkey Federation
Molly Pitts is the Forest Management Manager for the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), leading NWTF’s engagement in the National Active Forest Management Strategy. Prior to joining the NWTF in 2023, Pitts ran her own natural resource consulting business, served as the Executive Director for the Northern Arizona Wood Products Association, the Executive Director for the Colorado Timber Industry Association, the Colorado Programs Manager for Intermountain Forest Association and as staff for the Federal Timber Purchasers Committee. Her experience gives her a unique perspective on the value of true partnerships with the industry.
Pitts is a forester by trade with a BS in Forestry from Northern Arizona University and a MS in Natural Resources from Oregon State University. She is an outdoor enthusiast and enjoys camping, backpacking, mountain biking, fishing, hunting and other outdoor pursuits.
Chris Sturm
Watershed Program Director
Colorado Water Conservation Board
Chris Sturm obtained his bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Georgia. He worked for several years in education around natural resources, until he arrived in Colorado in 2000. He has worked in the Colorado water community for 25 years and appreciates bigger picture discussions on how best to protect water for all uses. Chris has been with the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB), an agency within Colorado’s Dept of Natural Resources, since 2007 and currently works as the Watershed Program Director. In this capacity, he leads the CWCB’s activities related to watershed protection and restoration.
Esther Vincent
Environmental Services Director
Northern Water
Esther Vincent is the Director of Environmental Services at Northern Water and a registered Professional Engineer (P.E.) in Colorado, a role she has held since joining the agency in 1999. She holds an M.S. in Civil Engineering from the Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble (INPG) in France and has more than two decades of experience in water quality, watershed management, water supply planning, environmental permitting, and conservation. She is a graduate of the WeCo Water Leaders program.
Esther has led Northern Water’s response to major wildfire impacts, including oversight of more than $50 million in watershed recovery and restoration following the 2020 East Troublesome Fire. She oversees Northern Water’s water quality, environmental planning, compliance, data management and monitoring, and water efficiency programs, serves on the Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed board and the Poudre River Improvement Fund committee, and is engaged in statewide efforts to advance sustainable funding and biomass market development for forest and watershed health.
Workshop: Invasive Species Threatening Infrastructure: Assessing the Level of Threat and the Level of Resources to Address It
Dave Payne
Moderator
Assistant General Manager
Ute Water Conservancy District
Dave Payne is the Assistant General Manager at Ute Water Conservancy District, the largest water provider on the west slope of Colorado. Dave has over 31 years of experience in the water treatment industry and has been with the Ute Water for 17 years. Dave is responsible for managing the operation of Ute Water’s 34 million-gallon-per-day conventional water treatment facility and utilization of their source water portfolio including the Plateau Creek and Colorado River systems. Dave has a Bachelor of Science degree in the biological and agricultural sciences from Colorado Mesa University, is a certified Class A Water Works operator, a member of the Colorado Ground Water Commission, an active member of Colorado Water Congress and the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and is a past recipient of the Rocky Mountain Section AWWA Ralph R. Leinhardt Operator of the Year award. Dave serves as the Vice President of the Colorado Water Congress.
Justin Bush
Aquatic Invasive Species Division Manager
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Justin Bush is the Aquatic Invasive Species Division Manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, where he leads statewide prevention and management of invasive animals in both marine and freshwater environments, including oversight of ballast water and biofouling regulations. Since 2008, he has managed invasive species programs addressing plants, animals, and diseases across Washington and Texas. His previous roles include positions with the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, King County, and the Washington Invasive Species Council, giving him a breadth of experience in both policy and on-the-ground management.
Atlasi Daneshvar
Senior Water Resources Specialist
Valley Water California
Dr. Atlasi Daneshvar is a Senior Water Resources Specialist at Valley Water, where she has led the Aquatic Invasive Mussels Program and the Source Water Quality Management Program for the past decade. Following the recent detection of golden mussels in California, she now serves as Valley Water’s Golden Mussel Response Coordinator, guiding the agency’s preparedness and response strategy. In this role, she implements proactive measures, strengthens early-detection capacity, explores innovative solutions to protect critical water infrastructure, and leads inter- and intra-agency coordination efforts with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the California Department of Water Resources, regional partners, and multiple Golden Mussel Task Forces. Before joining Valley Water in 2016, Dr. Daneshvar spent more than eight years conducting research on emerging contaminants in water systems. She holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering, an M.S. in Environmentally Sustainable Process Technology, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Science. Dr. Daneshvar has published several articles in peer-reviewed journals, presented at national and international conferences, and contributed her expertise to multiple Water Research Foundation project advisory committees.
Melissa Panella
Natural Resource Specialist
Bureau of Reclamation
Melissa Panella is a Natural Resource Specialist with the Bureau of Reclamation, located at the Eastern Colorado Area Office in Loveland, Colorado. Her work focuses on land management, outdoor recreation and communication, wildlife, invasive species, NEPA oversight and guidance, and federal grants. Melissa has had a long career in public service at local, state, and federal levels of government. Prior to joining Reclamation, Melissa served as the Wildlife Division Assistant Administrator for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Melissa is originally from the Midwest, born and raised in Ohio where she earned degrees in Biology, Wildlife Ecology and Management. She greatly enjoys exploring Colorado’s wild and scenic places. She has two grown, and nearly flown, children and an adopted Amazon parrot.
Sherri Pucherelli
Biologist
Bureau of Reclamation
Sherri Pucherelli has worked for the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation for 17 years as a biologist and is the Invasive Species Research Coordinator for Reclamation’s Science and Technology Program. She works in the Invasive Species Lab at the Reclamation Technical Service Center in Denver, CO, where invasive mussel early detection samples are collected and analyzed for the Western United States. Sherri’s research has focused on invasive mussel control technologies for hydropower plants. Sherri graduated from Colorado State University with a Master of Science degree in Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management.
Ethan Scott
Land and Recreation Division Manager
Bureau of Reclamation (Western CO Area Office)
Ethan Scott is the Land and Recreation Division Manager for the Bureau of Reclamation’s Western Colorado Area Office. He started with Reclamation in 2017 as a Resource Management Specialist which included working with Colorado Parks and Wildlife and New Mexico Department of Game and Fish on building and funding Watercraft Inspection and Decontamination Stations at state parks. When Zebra Mussels were found in Highline Reservoir Ethan was tasked to be the lead on invasive mussel response for the WCAO based on his background working with CPW as well as previous work experience with invasives species while working for the National Park service at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan as well as with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the Fort Peck Project in Montana. Ethan holds a B.S. in Wildlife Biology from Colorado State University and a M.S. in Water Resources Engineering from Oregon State University.
Robert Walters
Invasive Species Program Manager
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Robert Walters has been with Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Aquatic Nuisance Species Program since 2012 and has served as Invasive Species Program Manager since 2020. In addition to his role with CPW, Robert currently serves as the Chair of the Western Regional Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species. Robert is a Colorado native and in his free time enjoys fishing, camping, gardening and enjoying live music with his wife and two young boys.
Wednesday Keynote Speakers
Fred Mosqueda
12:45 PM
Arapaho Language and Culture Program Coordinator
Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma
Fred Mosqueda was born in the small community of Canton, Oklahoma, where he grew up near the old Cantonment site. He was born into Little Raven’s Arapaho Band (Woxu’ei3i’). His Grandmother, Mother and relatives raised him in the Arapaho way and taught him to speak the Arapaho Language. He attended public school in Canton, Oklahoma and earned a B.A. Degree from SWOSU, Weatherford, Oklahoma. After serving in the United States Marine Corps and working in the oilfield, he went to work for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes in 1988. He has worked in several capacities with the Tribes throughout the years and presently employed as the Arapaho Outreach Specialist, in the Language and Culture Department. In this position, he also serves as the NAGPRA/Sand Creek Massacre Representative for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. He works to support the Tribes in preserving their culture, language and traditional practices and ceremonies.
Becky Mitchell
12:45 PM
Colorado River Commissioner
State of Colorado
Becky Mitchell was appointed by Governor Polis to represent Colorado in the Upper Colorado River Commission(opens in new window) (UCRC). The UCRC includes one Commissioner from each of the Upper Colorado River Basin states (Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming) who work together on interstate collaboration for the Colorado River, which flows 1,450 miles across the Western U.S. and into Mexico.
In her role as Commissioner, Mitchell works with a team of Colorado’s water experts to negotiate Colorado River matters with other states. Commissioner Mitchell works with all Coloradans - from the Front Range to the West Slope - and uses this input to inform Colorado’s positions and strategies. As compounded drought continues in Colorado and across the West, Commissioner Mitchell and the UCRC are exploring solutions to protect our state and its water users as we face drier conditions.
Sallie Clark
2:15 PM
State Director for Colorado
USDA Rural Development
Sallie Clark serves as the USDA Rural Development State Director for Colorado, a position she held during President Trump’s first term. Most recently, Sallie served as the Senior Advisor for Government & Military Engagement in the Mayor's Office of Community Affairs at the City of Colorado Springs, overseeing public policy, military engagement and the Sister Cities International program. She has served in local, state and national government-related positions including as an El Paso County Commissioner, president of the National Association of Counties (NACo) and a member of NACo's Rural Action Caucus and was a member of the Colorado Springs City Council and Colorado Springs Utilities Board. She is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program and Gates Family Foundation Fellowship.
Dedicated to rural communities, Sallie has family roots in Colorado where she spent every summer on her grandmother's farm in Pueblo. She is a military wife (U.S. Navy) and is a longtime business owner and entrepreneur with a passion for public service and volunteerism.
Phil Weiser
4:00 PM
Attorney General
State of Colorado
Phil Weiser is serving as Colorado’s Attorney General since January 2019. He is the Hatfield Professor of Law and Telecommunications, and Founder of the Silicon Flatirons Center for Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship at the University of Colorado. From June 2011-July 2016, Professor Weiser served as Dean after re-joining the Colorado faculty in June, 2011. From April 2010-June 2011, he served as the Senior Advisor for Technology and Innovation to the National Economic Council Director at the White House. From July 2009-April 2010, he served as the Deputy Assistant Attorney General at the United States Department of Justice's Antitrust Division.
Prior to joining the Colorado Law faculty, Professor Weiser served as senior counsel to the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust Division at the United States Department of Justice, advising him primarily on telecommunications matters. Before his appointment at the Justice Department, Weiser served as a law clerk to Justices Byron R. White and Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the United States Supreme Court and to Judge David Ebel at the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Weiser graduated with high honors from both the New York University School of Law and Swarthmore College.
Brittany Pettersen
4:15 PM
U.S. Representative
Colorado's 7th District
Brittany Pettersen was born in Colorado and grew up in Jefferson County, the community she is now proud to represent in Congress. She served in the Colorado state legislature for a decade before being elected in 2022 to represent Colorado’s Seventh Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. She is the first woman to represent this district, which encompasses Jefferson, Broomfield, Lake, Park, Teller, Chaffee, Fremont, and Custer counties. Representative Pettersen is a member of the House Financial Services Committee where she serves on the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance and as the Vice Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on National Security, Illicit Finance, and International Financial Institutions.
Before coming to Congress, Rep. Pettersen helped pass legislation in Colorado to lower health care costs, address the opioid epidemic, protect reproductive health care, and increase access to affordable child care. She is now bringing this proven record to Washington and working to expand these policies nationwide. Rep. Pettersen is leading the fight to improve the nation’s mental health and substance use disorder treatment programs and crack down on drug trafficking, after seeing firsthand the devastating impacts of the opioid epidemic through her own mother’s decades-long struggle with addiction.
Through her position on the Financial Services Committee, Rep. Pettersen is working to increase consumer protections, improve housing affordability and accessibility, keep America at the cutting-edge of technological advances, and crack down on drug cartels and terrorist organizations utilizing financial institutions.
While facing many challenges as an at-risk youth, access to great public schools and teachers who believed in her helped Rep. Pettersen become the first in her family to graduate both high school and college. She earned a bachelor’s degree at Metropolitan State University of Denver by waiting tables to put herself through school. Growing up in the 7th District, this community gave Rep. Pettersen the opportunity to build a better life, and she has spent her whole career fighting to give every Coloradan that same chance.
Rep. Pettersen lives in Lakewood with her husband, Ian, their two sons, Davis and Sam, and their rescue dog, Ollie.
More Storage: the Critical Need for It and How Population Growth, Drought, and Cost Stand in the Way
Kat Weismiller
Moderator
Water Supply Planning Section Chief
Colorado Water Conservation Board
Kathryn (Kat) Weismiller serves as the Section Chief for Water Supply Planning at the Colorado Water Conservation Board. She is a multidisciplinary environmental and water resources planner with more than 15 years of local and international experience spanning water and environmental planning, strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, and government relations. Kat holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Geography and Environmental Studies from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and a Master’s degree in Natural Resource Law from the University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law, where she focused on Water Law and Policy as well as Land Use Law.
Kat has worked in the Water Supply Planning section at CWCB for over five years. Before joining the agency, she was a senior planner at Denver Water and previously an environmental planner with HDR Engineering and URS Corp. Australia-Pacific, where she was based in Brisbane, Australia.
Matthew Elmer
Group Manager, Economic Analysis Group
Bureau of Reclamation
Matthew Elmer is a Colorado native - born in Colorado Springs, grew up in Littleton, did his undergraduate studies at the University of Colorado in Boulder, completed his PhD at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, and now lives in Arvada with his wife and two kids. He has always had a passion for natural resources and the environment and focused his studies on natural resource economics. He narrowed his focus to water resource economics after developing a strong appreciation for the importance of water management and the uniqueness of evaluating water through an economic lens. Water is like no other good or service that economists’ study, providing for challenging yet interesting work, that also has a meaningful impact on communities and people. Matt joined the Bureau of Reclamation in 2019 and became the group manager for the Economic Analysis Group in the Technical Service Center in 2023. He manages a team of 5 other economists that focus on both applied work and research. The group provides expertise in evaluating economic, financial, and social aspects of a wide range of water resource-related activities, including plan formulation and evaluation, environmental compliance, and altering water operations to achieve new or additional project goals. Before joining Reclamation, he taught economics at Colorado State University, conducted research for the U.S. Forest Service, and worked as an analyst for the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
Michelle Garrison
Senior Water Resource Specialist
Colorado Water Conservation Board
Michelle Garrison studied Applied Earth Sciences at Stanford University and Hydrology and Water Resources at the University of Arizona before moving to beautiful Colorado. She has served as a water resources specialist in the Interstate and Federal section of the Colorado Water Conservation Board for 25 years, working on a wide variety of technical issues related to the Colorado River including forecasting and modeling of water use, water administration, reservoir operations and accounting, and streamflows, endangered species issues, and federal reserved water rights. She believes water issues in Colorado regularly prove that complex problems are often the most interesting.
Kate Watkins
Demographer
State of Colorado
Kate Watkins is Colorado’s State Demographer. She leads the State Demography Office within the Department of Local Affairs. The State Demography Office produces population and economic estimates and forecasts for use by the business community, nonprofits, and state and local governments. Kate has nearly two decades of experience analyzing economic and demographic trends in Colorado and beyond. Her career history includes serving as the Chief Economist for Colorado’s state legislature, as an economist at the Denver Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, and as a private sector consultant. Kate holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University.
Reservoirs of Support: How Storage Can Help Maximize Non-Consumptive Beneficial Use
Heather Dutton
Moderator
Manager
San Luis Valley Water Conservancy District
Heather Dutton grew up in a farming family in the San Luis Valley, where she gained a love for agriculture and the outdoors. She is fortunate to have worked as the Manager of the San Luis Valley Water Conservancy District since 2016. The greatest reward of this position is the opportunity to work with friends in the water community to find creative ways to manage water and natural resources in the Upper Rio Grande Basin. Prior to working for the District, Heather was the Executive Director of the Rio Grande Headwaters Restoration Project. She serves on the Interbasin Compact Committee (IBCC), Colorado State University Water Center Advisory Board, Colorado Water Congress Board, and Colorado Rio Grande Restoration Foundation Board.
Hunter Causey
Director of Asset Management/Chief Engineer
Colorado River District
Hunter Causey, P.E. is the Director of Asset Management and Chief Engineer for the Colorado River Water Conservation District, where he helps steward the District’s reservoir infrastructure to serve a wide range of water users across Western Colorado. His work focuses on maintaining safe, reliable storage and adapting operations to meet the Western Slope’s evolving water supply needs.
Nathan Coombs
Manager
Conejos Water Conservancy District
Nathan Coombs Graduated from Centauri High School in 1989. He then served a 2 year Mission in Rome, Italy for his Church. Upon returning he acquired his ASE (automotive Service Excellence) certification and then a business degree from Adams State College. He grew up on a farm/Ranch near La Jara, Colorado and now farms with his wife and family near Manassa Colorado.
In 1992 he married Manassa native Charlotte Thomas. Charlotte is an Elementary School Teacher at Manassa Elementary and together they have 4 children, 3 boys and a beautiful daughter. Their children are the 5th generation on the original Thomas farm where they raise alfalfa and small grains
Nathan has always been active in Rural/Agricultural policy issues he has served locally as Chair of the Rio Grande Basin Roundtable, President of the Manassa Land and Irrigation Company, 6 years as President of the Conejos County Conservation District, and was a past Director for Colorado Farm Bureau,
In 2009 Nathan was hired as Manager of the Conejos Water Conservancy District, a position he currently holds. In 2023 Nathan was appointed to serve as the Rio Grande Basin Representative to the Colorado Water Conservation Board.
Greg Felt
General Manager
Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District
Greg Felt has been a fly-fishing and whitewater guide/outfitter on the Arkansas River since 1985 and is a founding partner of ArkAnglers. Wishing to better understand and protect the resource, he has engaged in the Colorado water conversation for the last twenty-five years, becoming a director of both the Upper Arkansas and Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy Districts. In 2016 he was elected Chaffee County Commissioner and served two four-year terms, and in 2020 Governor Polis appointed him Arkansas River Basin Director to the Colorado Water Conservation Board (he was reappointed to a second term in 2023). He is a long-time member of the Trust for Public Land Colorado Advisory Board and has received awards from both Colorado Trout Unlimited and Colorado Parks and Wildlife for his advocacy on behalf of our natural resources. Term-limited as county commissioner at the end of 2024, he was hired as the General Manager of the Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District. He has two adult children and lives with his wife, Susan, in Salida.
Rica Fulton
Advocacy and Stewardship Director
Dolores River Boating Advocates
Rica Fulton is a river and land conservation specialist with a decade of experience in the private and non-profit sectors. She has served as the Advocacy and Stewardship Director with Dolores River Boating Advocates (DRBA) since 2022, where she leads advocacy initiatives and participates in local collaborative efforts focused on the health of the lower Dolores River. Prior
to joining DRBA, Rica worked as a coordinator for the Dolores River Restoration Partnership, helping implement restoration projects along the riparian corridor from McPhee Reservoir to the confluence with the Colorado River.
Rica lives in Mancos Colorado with her husband and toddler and enjoys rafting desert rivers with family and friends. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and GIS from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado and a Master of Arts in Geography with an emphasis in Water Resources and Environment and Natural Resources from the University of Wyoming.
Her graduate research focused on collaboration and stakeholder values in the Dolores River watershed, deepening her understanding of the complex human relationships that shape river management
Thursday, January 29th Speakers
Legislative Priorities: Dialogue with Colorado Legislators
Aaron Citron
Moderator
Colorado Policy Director
The Nature Conservancy
Aaron Citron is the Natural Resources Policy Advisor and Interim External Affairs Director for The Nature Conservancy in Colorado. In these roles, he leads Conservancy's state legislative engagement with a focus on water rights and water policy issues. Aaron received his B.A. in history from Emory University and his J.D. from The University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law. He was appointed by Governor Polis to the Interbasin Compact Committee in February 2019. Aaron sits on the Colorado Water Congress Board of Directors.
John McClow
Moderator
General Counsel
Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District
John McClow is general counsel for the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Gunnison Ranchland Conservation Legacy. He is past President (2014) of the Colorado Water Congress, and is Vice-Chair of the State Affairs Committee. He serves on the Gunnison Basin Roundtable and the Colorado Water Conservation Board. He served 2013-2014 as Colorado’s Commissioner on the Upper Colorado River Commission, and Colorado’s representative to negotiations among the Colorado River Basin states, the United States, and Mexico. He represents Colorado in the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Work Group.
Marc Catlin
Senator
As a native of Montrose County, my background is varied, and I have held positions that lend themselves to skills necessary to represent our communities in the Colorado State Senate. I was born and raised in Montrose Colorado. I grew up on an irrigated farm raising row crops. We raised sugar beets and Coors barley until those crops were replaced with sweet corn and seed beans. After leaving farming, I opened my own real estate office and worked there until I was hired on with United Banks of Colorado as an ag-lender. I worked with A-B Lateral, a hydro electric project proposed by the Uncompahgre Valley Water Users Association until moving to Grand Junction and entering Mesa State College and finishing my degree in Business. I managed and operated the Mesa County fairgrounds while living in Grand Junction. I got an opportunity to work as the Assistant Manager of The Uncompahgre Valley Water Users association and was promoted to Manager of the Association. Most recently, I have been employed by Montrose County as Water Rights Development coordinator. I had a radio show on KUBC AM called Diversions, a weekly talk show about water, business and agriculture. The show was on air for over 5 years.
I am an advocate for the Western Slope. I will continue to advocate for the values held by the people in District 5. The discussions I participate in, about our area's natural resources and economy, guide policy in directions to improve and protect interests held by the citizens of SD 5. I consider Western Colorado's economic viability a high priority. Our people are the best stewards of the land and the environment. As your senator, I will stand up and speak out when government or special interest groups encroach on our property rights. It is very important to keep the public informed and educated on these topics. I used my radio show, "Diversions", to bring attention to important issues in our area and interviewed policy makers to answer questions the public may have about statewide issues.
Karen McCormick
Representative
Dr. Karen McCormick is a veterinarian, previous small business owner of a veterinary hospital, a mom and a strong Democrat. She is passionate about our state and working for policies that strengthen our community. In the General Assembly she advocates for hardworking families: for affordability of health care, housing and childcare, for education funding, for immigrants, LGBTQ and reproductive rights, for economic opportunity for all, for climate and energy resiliency and for the future of our natural resources.
Karen is currently the State Representative for House District 11 which encompasses most of Longmont. Being term-limited she is running for re-election to her last term at the General Assembly in 2026. Rep. McCormick is the Chair of the House Agriculture, Water and Natural Resources Committee, serves on the Health & Human Services and the Appropriations Committees.
Dylan Roberts
Senator
Dylan Roberts is an American politician and attorney who is a Democratic member of the Colorado Senate. He represents District 8, which includes all or part of Clear Creek, Eagle, Garfield, Gilpin, Grand, Jackson, Moffat, Rio Blanco, Routt, and Summit counties, including the communities of Steamboat Springs, Edwards, Craig, Gypsum and Eagle. Previously, from 2017 to 2023, Roberts served in the Colorado House of Representatives and represented the 26th District, which included Eagle and Routt counties. In 2022, Roberts ran for the State Senate and won the race.
Cleave Simpson
Senator
Senator Cleave Simpson serves as the general manager of the Rio Grande Water Conservation District and past chairman of the on the Adams State University Board of Trustees. Simpson’s primary focus in the senate is rural Colorado relevance, resilience and prosperity.
A fourth-generation San Luis Valley farmer and rancher, Simpson has a deep understanding of the water issues facing Colorado’s agriculture and rural communities. He believes leadership through a thoughtful, collaborative approach is necessary to provide solutions to the pressing needs across Senate District 35 and the state of Colorado.
Simpson serves as a representative on the Rio Grande Basin Roundtable and is a Roundtable representative to the statewide Interbasin Compact Committee. He is active in the Colorado Water Congress, and has served on the Farm Service Agency County Committee, Alamosa County Planning Commission, Alamosa Mosquito Control District and Alamosa School District Accountability Committee. He is a member of Action 22, the Colorado Farm Bureau, and is a lifelong Republican.
Lesley Smith
Representative
Lesley Smith is an at-large University of Colorado regent. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 1980 with a degree in aquatic biology and later earned a doctorate at the University of Maryland. She was the first woman aquanaut in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s underwater research lab, where she lived underwater and conducted research on coral reefs, according to her website.
She came to Boulder in 1989 for a fellowship with CU Boulder’s Cooperative Institute for Research in the Environmental Sciences (CIRES). From 2005 to 2013, she served on the Boulder Valley School District’s Board of Education. She also served as a volunteer on the city’s Water Resources Advisory Committee following the 2013 floods.
Ty Winter
Representative
Representative Winter was born and raised on a fourth-generation cattle ranch in Las Animas County, Colorado, and operates a third-generation family business, in Trinidad, alongside his mother. Mr. Winter is married and a proud father of two daughters.
In addition to running a successful family business, Representative Winter has given his time and energy to serve his community on several boards and/or organizations. These include: the Chicosa Water Users Association, the Las Animas County Fair Board, Hoehne Fire Protection District, the Holy Trinity Academy School Board, the Trinidad/Las Animas County Chamber of Commerce, and Colorado Farm Bureau.
Representative Winter has served as Las Animas County Republican chairman since 2019 and he was named the Republican of the Year in 2021 by the Colorado Republican Party. Some other notable accolades throughout his political career: Mr. Winter served as both the vice chairman and chairman of Colorado State House District 64, attended the Leadership Program of the Rockies and shortly after became a member of their advisory council, and also assumed the role of a small county representative on the Colorado Republican State Central Committee.
As a legislator, Representative Ty Winter is constantly looking at ways to improve himself so that he is better able to serve the constituents of Colorado House District 47. Representative Winter continues to stand for the core tenants of: constitutional rights, private property, personal freedom, small business, water, agriculture, and energy independence.
How Does Population Growth in Our Cities Increase the Need for Storage and Supply?
Emma Donahue
Legislative and Policy Advocate
Colorado Municipal League
Emma is a Legislative and Policy Advocate for the Colorado Municipal League and is responsible for advocating municipal interests before the state legislature. Her issues include elections, natural resources and environment, oil and gas, open meetings and open records, severance tax, water and wildfires. She also assists in training and answering inquiries for other municipal officials on various topics.
Prior to joining CML, Emma worked for the National Endowment for Financial Education supporting national policy to increase financial education, especially in K-12. Previously, she worked with political candidates and organizations across the state, including high profile legislative, city council and state level candidates. In addition to candidate work, Emma has assembled grassroots organizations, building coalitions to reach consensus on some of Colorado's most challenging issues, passing legislation at the state and local levels.
Gillian Laycock
Town Manager
Akron, Colorado
Gillian Laycock currently serves as Town Manager of Akron, Colorado. She brings over 20 years of diverse leadership experience across the public and private sectors. Her expertise includes infrastructure development, grant acquisition, rural economic development, and organizational leadership. She is professionally certified in human resources and project management and actively contributes to regional and state policy initiatives.
Nicole Poncelet-Johnson
Executive Director
One Water, City of Fort Collins
Status of the Colorado River
Jim Lochhead
Consultant, Attorney, and Recognized Colorado River Expert
Jim Lochhead recently began consulting after serving for 13 years as the CEO for Denver Water, the public utility providing water service to over 1.5 million customers in the Denver metropolitan area.
Prior to his time at Denver Water, Jim managed a law practice concentrating on western water rights, interstate and international water matters, public lands and natural resources, and state and federal public policy.
Jim served under Governor Roy Romer as the executive director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. He also served for 20 years as the governor’s representative on interstate Colorado River operations and Colorado’s Commissioner to the Upper Colorado River Commission.
Jim is a recipient of the Water Leader of the Year award from the Colorado Water Congress, the President’s Award from the Colorado Foundation for Water Education, the Del Hock Lifetime Achievement Award from the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, and the President’s Award from the Association of Municipal Water Agencies.
Amy Ostdiek
Section Chief; Interstate, Federal, and Water Information Section
Colorado Water Conservation Board
Amy Ostdiek is the Chief of the Interstate, Federal, and Water Information Section at the Colorado Water Conservation Board. Much of her work focuses on Colorado River matters, including supporting Commissioner Becky Mitchell in her role as Colorado’s principal negotiator on interstate Colorado River matters. She oversees a team focused on managing and protecting Colorado's water interests in interstate compacts and coordinating with federal agencies and other states, particularly regarding the Colorado River issues. Prior to joining CWCB, Ms. Ostdiek was an Assistant Attorney General with the Colorado River Subunit at the Colorado Attorney General’s Office. Ms. Ostdiek is originally from rural Western Nebraska. She attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Colorado Law School.
Telling Their Stories: Producers Are Stewards of the Land
Jim Yahn
Moderator
Owner/Operator
Yahn Ranch
Jim Yahn is a Logan County Commissioner and, along with his wife Tracy, is owner and manager of Yahn Ranch, a cow calf operation north of Sterling. Jim is the past manager of the North Sterling and Prewitt Reservoirs, a position that he held for over 33 years. He is now a consultant to the North Sterling and Prewitt Boards. As manager, he was responsible for overseeing the diversion and distribution of water to over 350 farmers. Together the reservoirs are a source of irrigation water for approximately 70,000 acres. Jim is a registered professional engineer, receiving his B.S. in Agricultural Engineering from Colorado State University. Prior to his employment with North Sterling and Prewitt he worked as a private consulting engineer in Fort Collins for 5 years. He is a native of Colorado growing up on a family ranch, which used water from the North Sterling Reservoir System.
Jim was appointed by Governor Hickenlooper in 2015 to serve as the South Platte Director on the Colorado Water Conservation Board. He served for a total of 5 years, one year as Chair. Jim has been a member of the South Platte Basin Roundtable since its inception in 2005, served as chair from 2009 – 2012, and currently serves as one of the roundtable’s two representatives to the Inter-Basin Compact Committee. Jim also currently serves as a Colorado Water Congress board member and serves as one of two Colorado board members to the Family Farm Alliance. Jim was given the friend of the South Platte award in 2019 and was awarded Four States Irrigation Council’s Headgate award for Colorado in 2025. Jim sits on the Colorado Water Congress Board of Directors.
Jim and Tracy are the parents of two married children, daughter Hannah and husband Weston and son Austin and wife Amber. They are also grandparents of grandsons Knox and Maverick. Jim is also an elder at the United Church of Crook.
Ryan Froman
Farm Manager
Rusler Produce
Ryan Froman has been the farm manager at Rusler Produce for around 30 years and has been employed there since 1989. He is currently a member of the Bessemer irrigation ditch company's board of directors. He is also the president of the South Pueblo Soil Conservation District and has been for close to 10 years now, and also sits on the board for Avondale water and sanitation district. Ryan is involved in his local FFA chapter as a member of the advisory committee.
Gene Manuello
President
Sterling Irrigation
- President of the Sterling Irrigation Company
- Ag Representative to the South Platte Basin Roundtable
- Founding Member of Colorado Ag Water Alliance (CAWA)
- Vice President of Lower South Platte Water Conservancy District
- Member of Board of Directors of Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District
- Vice President of Logan Well Users LLC
- Member of Board of Directors of the District 64 Reservoir Company
- Past President of Colorado Cattlemen's Association
Landan Wilson
Board Member, Producer
Dolores Water Conservancy
Hailing from Pleasant View, Colorado, Landan Wilson is a 5th-generation farmer committed to preserving and advancing his family’s agricultural legacy. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness from BYU–Idaho, he returned home to farm alongside his dad, managing 2,000 acres of premium steamed alfalfa, cereal hay, and small grains. In recent years, he has helped the operation adapt to challenging water shortages—three of the past five years brought less than half of their normal allocation—pushing the farm to innovate and prioritize long-term sustainability.
At just 27, Landan was appointed to the Dolores Water Conservancy District. In this role, he contributes to critical discussions on water management and the future of agriculture in the region. Whether in the field or the boardroom, he is dedicated to supporting rural communities and ensuring that the next generation of farmers can continue to thrive.
Let's Not Forget Conveyance: It Is Critical Infrastructure, Too
Joe Frank
Moderator
General Manager
Lower South Platte Water Conservancy District
Joe Frank is a Colorado native and has served as general manager of the Lower South Platte Water Conservancy District since May, 2004. He represents the District on the South Platte Basin Roundtable where he currently serves as Chair. He has been on the board of directors of the Colorado Water Congress since 2005 and served as President in 2011. Through the District, he also assists with the coordination of the Northeast Colorado Water Cooperative, manages the District 64 Reservoir Company, coordinates and develops water accounting for numerous augmentation plans, and provides technical assistance and coordination in developing and operating various water supply projects. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in 1998 and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Colorado. Joe serves as the Treasurer for the Colorado Water Congress.
Tina Bergonzini
General Manager
Grand Valley Water Users Association
Tina Bergonzini is the General Manager of Grand Valley Water Users Association in Grand Junction, CO. As a western Colorado native, she’s committed to supporting and fostering a robust and healthy agricultural community centered around an efficient and resilient water culture. Her experience in municipal and raw water supplies, live media and broadcasting, along with the on-the.ground knowledge from growing up on a family-based cattle ranch provides her with both personal and professional skills to offer the Association and the broader water community.
Leann Noga
Executive Director
Southeastern Water Conservancy District
As Executive Director of the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District, Leann Noga is committed to providing effective leadership, ethical standards and a shared vision for the District’s Board, staff and stakeholders. She became Executive Director in March 2024 as part of her 22-year career with the District. During that time, she has helped build a strong foundation for finance, administration, Fryingpan-Arkansas Project administration, the Arkansas Valley Conduit and numerous other projects. Her goal is to continue improving all areas touched by the District in its quest to provide water to the people of Southeastern Colorado. Leann has bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University in Business Management and Administration, and a Master of Finance. She lives in Avondale, Colorado with her husband of 21 years and their three children.
Ron Redd
General Manager
Parker Water
Ron Redd has been with Parker Water & Sanitation District since 2013. Before coming to PWSD, he worked for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California for 14 years and the Town of Castle Rock for 13 years. In addition to managing PWSD, Ron serves on the Boards of the South Metro Water Supply Authority and the WISE Authority. Ron is a Montana native and a graduate of Montana State University. He enjoys the outdoor lifestyle offered by Colorado.
Erin Wilson
Founder
Wilson Water Group
Erin Wilson has 25 years of experience in basin-wide water resources planning and modeling, and is the principal owner of Wilson Water Group. She has a strong background in water resource planning, consumptive use modeling, and surface water allocation modeling. Erin’s expertise in basin-wide consumptive use and surface water modeling is widely recognized, and she frequently provides training to state and federal staff, non-profit organizations, and other water resource consultants. Erin is a Colorado native with degrees in Geophysical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and Civil Engineering from Colorado State University. She is a registered Professional Engineer in Colorado. Erin sits on the Colorado Water Congress board.
Pine Beetle Task Force
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 and his family reside in Breckenridge, Colorado, where he enjoys all that living in the high country has to offer, including skiing, running, mountain biking, hunting and fishing.
Matthew McCombs
Colorado State Forester
Matt McCombs serves as Colorado’s State Forester and the Director of the Colorado State Forest Service. Prior to that role, he served in a variety of leadership roles in WA, CO and NC for the USDA Forest Service, beginning as a Presidential Management Fellow in 2008. His career has spanned both natural resources and forest management, as well as other government work, having served as an aide to members of Congress in both Colorado and Montana.
McCombs is also a veteran, having deployed to Iraq in 2003 as a combat medic with the Colorado Army National Guard and serving as a Medical Service Officer in the Montana Air National Guard, where he achieved the rank of captain before leaving the service in 2012.
Smarter Tools for a Tougher Future: Agri-Tech to Support Farmers and Irrigators in the Arid West
Perry Cabot
Moderator
Extension Professor
Colorado Water Center and Colorado State University Agricultural Experiment Station
Perry Cabot is an Extension Professor with the Colorado Water Center and the CSU Agricultural Experiment Station, working at the intersection of research, outreach, and applied water management. He leads field-scale studies on irrigation technology, crop water use, and flexible options for forage systems across the Western Slope. Cabot collaborates widely with producers, water districts, and research partners to advance drought resilience and improve agricultural water productivity. His work supports practical, science-based solutions for water-limited agricultural regions.
José Chávez
Professor
Department of Civil & Environmental
Engineering, Colorado State University
José Chávez is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering specializing in irrigation engineering and precision water management. His research integrates field instrumentation, remote sensing, and modeling to improve estimates of crop evapotranspiration rates, soil water content sensor accuracy, and soi salinity mapping. He works closely with producers, agencies, and industry to modernize irrigation systems. Chávez is widely regarded as a leader in advancing data-driven water management for Western agriculture.
Manny Deleon
Technical Research Lead
CSU Agricultural Water
Quality Program
Emmanuel DeLeon is the Technical Research Lead for CSU’s Agricultural Water Quality Program, where he supports statewide research and outreach on irrigation, water quality, and technology integration. He specializes in applying 3-D printing, sensor systems, and field engineering to create affordable tools for water monitoring. DeLeon works directly with producers and partners to deploy practical, field-ready innovations. His work strengthens Colorado’s capacity for hands-on, translational agricultural research.
Jordan Kraft Lambert
Director of Agricultural Innovation and
Partnerships
Colorado State University, Spur
Jordan Kraft Lambert serves as the Director of Ag Innovation and Partnerships at CSU Spur, where she builds collaborations that connect producers, educators, researchers, and industry. Her work focuses on accelerating practical innovation in food, water, and agriculture. She leads programs that prepare the next-generation workforce and support community-oriented problem solving. Kraft Lambert is known for fostering partnerships that translate research into real-world agricultural solutions.
Sangmi Lee Pallickara
Clare Boothe Luce Professor of Computer Science
Colorado State University
Sangmi Lee Pallickara is a Clare Boothe Luce Professor of Computer Science whose work spans AI, machine learning, and large-scale data systems. She leads research on modeling complex environmental and agricultural processes under uncertainty. Her team develops tools that integrate sensor networks, climate data, and predictive analytics for real-time decision support. She is internationally recognized for advancing AI-enabled approaches to sustainable resource management.
Career Accelerators Presentation
Emily Hunt
Moderator
Interim Director of Utilities and Infrastructure
City of Thornton
Emily has thirty years of experience in Colorado water issues, with over 25 of those serving the Thornton community. She values collaboration, innovation, and working with the talented and service-minded professionals at Thornton. Currently, Emily is excited about the imminent completion of the Thornton Water Project, optimizing the city’s new AMI system, and the construction of a PFAS treatment facility for the Thornton community. Emily is on the Metro Roundtable, formerly served 10 years on the Board of Directors of the Colorado Water Trust, and participated in the first cohort of WECO’s Water Leaders program. Emily earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Geology from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and her Master’s degree in Fluvial Geomorphology from the University of Denver. When not at work, Emily enjoys travel, being outside and growing spicy things.
Devin
Aziz
Career Accelerator Scholarship Recipient
Devan Aziz is the Community Development Director for the Town of Palisade, Colorado, where he leads an initiative converting wastewater lagoons into constructed wetlands along the 15-Mile Reach of the Colorado River. In this role, he applies systems thinking principles to integrate water infrastructure planning with habitat restoration, drought mitigation, and community resilience. Devan received his Master's in Urban & Regional Planning from the University of Amsterdam with a focus on Spatial Sustainability and holds a Permaculture Design certificate. He applies the seven generations principle to municipal water planning, ensuring infrastructure investments consider impacts seven generations into the future.
Jasper Eastman
Career Accelerator Scholarship Recipient
Jasper holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado Law School with a focus on environmental law and a Master’s degree from the Yale School of the Environment. Their academic and professional work centers on sustainability, conservation, and social engagement with water bodies, with research exploring how communities understand and relate to water. Having grown up in Colorado, Jasper is deeply connected to the region’s landscapes and water challenges and is excited to build a career dedicated to water stewardship, conservation, and sustainable resource management.
Mary
Lobato
Career Accelerator Scholarship Recipient
Mary Lobato was born and raised in Pueblo, Colorado. Her family’s ranching background in the San Luis Valley sparked an early interest in water resources and water law. This led her to pursue a deeper understanding of the complexities of the water system and infrastructure. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the Colorado School of Mines in 2019, with a minor in Humanitarian Engineering. After graduating, Mary worked in engineering for three years, gaining practical experience in infrastructure and water-related projects. Motivated to deepen her focus on water law, she pursued a legal education and enrolled in law school, where she completed advanced coursework in water law, served as a student attorney in the Environmental Law Clinic, and acted as Sources Editor for the Water Law Review. Mary graduated from the Sturm College of Law in 2025 and passed the Colorado Bar in October of the same year. She hopes to continue exploring issues of equity and water quality within the complex system of Colorado water law.
Patrick Vernon
Career Accelerator Scholarship Recipient
Patrick Vernon is a civil engineer and attorney focused on water resources and water law. He earned his civil engineering degree from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2017. He later completed his Juris Doctor at the University of Denver while continuing to work as a water resources engineer, graduating in 2024 and passing the Colorado Bar in 2025. Patrick operates independent engineering and legal practices dedicated to water-related matters, bringing integrated technical and legal perspectives to complex water challenges. Through his work, he supports public and private clients navigating Colorado’s water systems and regulatory landscape. Outside of work, Patrick enjoys hiking and organizing a local soccer team in Boulder.
Mitchell Zombek
Career Accelerator Scholarship Recipient
Mitchell Zombek is a Water Resources Analyst for the City of Lafayette, where he works on municipal water operations, data analysis, and resource planning. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Watershed Science from Colorado State University and has professional experience spanning hydrogeological consulting and municipal water resources. Mitchell is particularly interested in the intersection of data driven decision making, water policy, and basin wide water management, with a growing focus on the Colorado River system. Originally from Ohio, he now calls Colorado home and spends much of his free time rock climbing, bikepacking, and caving, activities that have deepened his appreciation for the landscapes and water systems he works to protect. As an early career water professional, Mitchell is eager to build relationships across Colorado’s water community and contribute to collaborative, forward thinking solutions to the state’s water challenges.
Beyond Water: Legacy, Stories of Courage and Hope in the Face of Agriculture's Challenges
Robert Sakata
Moderator
Farmer
Robert Sakata currently serves as Colorado’s Acting Commissioner of Agriculture while Commissioner Greenberg is on maternity leave. Prior to this appointment he was hired as the first ever Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Water Policy Advisor, a brand new position approved during the 2023 legislative session, where he not only was the liaison between CDA and other state agencies who work with agricultural stakeholders on water issues but also worked to strengthen relationships with water organizations around the state while encouraging dialog among diverse groups. He was born and raised in Colorado and grew up on his family farm and has served in a wide range of agricultural and water-focused positions beyond his farm. He has served on the Agriculture Groundwater Protection Advisory Committee, the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission, the InterBasin Compact Committee, and the Colorado Water Conservation Board. He has also served on the Metro Basin Roundtable, Colorado Foundation for Water Education Board of Directors (now known as Water Education Colorado), Colorado Water Congress Board of Directors, and several mutual ditch company boards He has been active and served in leadership positions in numerous farm organizations including the National Onion Association, The Western Growers Association, and he helped form both the Colorado Ag Water Alliance and the Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, where he served as the founding president. He was
awarded by the US Vegetable Grower Magazine with the 2014 Grower Achievement Award, was recognized by the Colorado Farm Bureau with the Service to Agriculture award in 2022 a recognition he cherishes since his father received the same award in 2013. In 2020 the Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers recognized the work he did to help start the organization by naming the annual CFVGA Member of the year award after him. Most recently he was recognized by Water Education Colorado with the 2025 Dianne Hoppe Leadership Award. In his current role Robert is honored to be representing all of the important work being done at the Department of Agriculture by an amazing team.
Tony Hass
Commissioner
Las Animas County
President
Colorado Counties, Inc
Vice Chair
Action Colorado
Owner/Operator
Walking Y Ranch
Tony Hass resides with his wife Connie near Trinidad Colorado. They are Ag producers running a cow/calf operation. He is a proud father of two grown children and really enjoys his 3-year-old grandson, Liam. He is a Las Animas County Commissioner and serves on the EIAF Commission at the state level as well as the Colorado Outdoor Partnership board. Tony has a life- long passion for Agriculture and all it embodies. Tony represents the Southern District and is Vice Chair of Colorado Counties Inc. and is involved with the Colorado Farm Bureau, Colorado Cattlemen's Association and the Colorado Department of Agriculture with the Legacy film. Tony and Connie were also honored as Land Owners of the Year through CPW and Colorado Farm Bureau as well as the
Trailblazer award with Denver Business Journal and Colorado Farm Bureau. He aspires to share the
story of Agriculture with all he meets and to live by the words his grandfather shared with him, “If
you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu”.
Chad Reznicek
Behavioral Health State Specialist
Colorado AgrAbility
Project
Chad Reznicek is the Behavioral Health State Specialist with CSU Extension and the Colorado AgrAbility Project, committed to helping expand and improve behavioral health support and resources in rural communities. Prior to joining the AgrAbility Team, Chad spent 20 years as a licensed therapist, providing behavioral health services in diverse settings with special focus areas in suicide prevention, trauma, mood disorders, and substance abuse. Both of Chad’s parents were raised on farms and he grew up in a small farming community in central Nebraska with a deep respect for agriculture as the heart of our rural communities.
Jacob Walter
Associate Director of Statewide Initiatives and Outreach
Colorado State University Pueblo
Jacob Walter serves as the Associate Director of Statewide Initiatives and Outreach for CSU Pueblo. Jacob was raised on his family's ranch in southern Colorado and his passions led him to graduate from CSU Fort Collins before working for an international non-profit before pursuing a career in secondary education. He was honored in 2021 as a recipient of the Denver Business Journal's Who's Who in Agriculture and as a Who's Who in America honoree. After losing his father to his battle with mental health in 2016, Jacob has found another passion in helping discuss the challenges faced in agriculture and the stigma that surrounds mental health.
Kirsten Wulfsberg
Behavioral Health Regional Specialist - Mountain Region
CSU Extension, Colorado AgrAbility
Project
Kirsten Wulfsberg, LPC, is the Regional Behavioral Health Specialist with CSU-E, covering the Mountain Region and also represents Colorado AgrAbility Project. For 20 years, Kirsten completed and taught crisis psychiatric assessments (suicide, homicide, psychosis, substance use) in the hospital setting. Kirsten is passionate about helping people gain personal insight and tools to recognize the ups and downs of life (as well as mental health issues) and work towards managing them before they become a crisis. She loves to integrate humor and play into her psychoeducational trainings and the therapeutic work she does through CAAMHPforhealth.org.
Friday, January 30th Speakers
Friday Keynote Speakers
Steve Lohr
Acting Associate Chief of Natural Resources
US Forest Service
Steve Lohr currently serves as the Acting Associate Deputy Chief Natural Resources of Natural Resources for the USDA Forest Service, covering all natural resources programs for the 193 million acres of National Forest lands. He received his bachelor’s degree in biology from Lander University and a master’s degree at Clemson University (Go Tigers!). After working as a wildlife biologist for the US Air Force for just over a year, Steve began his career with the Forest Service in 2002 when he accepted the district wildlife biologist position on the Francis Marion National Forest in South Carolina and used active forest management to enhance habitat and support local industry. At the end of 2005, Steve began working as the forest wildlife biologist on the Tonto National Forest. He then moved into a District Ranger role on the Nantahala National Forest from 2008 to 2011 where he began a comprehensive prescribed fire program in southern Appalachian ecosystems. Steve served as the Forest Supervisor in Alabama from 2011 to 2014 and developed a timber management and prescribed fire program to promote forest health and restoration. He was the Director of the National Partnership Office in Washington, DC from 2014 to 2016 and created corporate partnerships on behalf of the agency. Steve then moved to Lakewood, CO, and served as the Director of Renewable Resources for the Rocky Mountain Region for seven years where he had responsibility for the forest management, wildlife, range, water, and air programs. He moved from that position to the Deputy Regional Forester of the Rocky Mountain Region in 2022 until heading back to the national headquarters in October 2024 where he serves as the Director of Natural Resources covering the timber, range, and biological resources programs for the agency.
Before joining NWRA, Greg served as Vice President of External Relations for the Idaho Hospital Association, where he managed state-level advocacy and communications. He previously held senior roles at the Elsinore Valley and Western Municipal Water Districts in California and was appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board.
Greg has more than 30 years of experience in government relations, communications, and public policy. He holds a BA in Political Science from San Diego State University and lives in Idaho with his wife, Michelle.
Greg Morrison
Executive Vice President
National Water Resources Association
Greg Morrison serves as Executive Vice President of the National Water Resources Association (NWRA), leading national advocacy, policy initiatives, and member engagement across the 17 western states. He is focused on strengthening NWRA’s voice in Washington, expanding collaboration with federal agencies, and ensuring that Western water interests are well represented in national policy decisions.
Before joining NWRA, Greg served as Vice President of External Relations for the Idaho Hospital Association, where he managed state-level advocacy and communications. He previously held senior roles at the Elsinore Valley and Western Municipal Water Districts in California and was appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board.
Greg has more than 30 years of experience in government relations, communications, and public policy. He holds a BA in Political Science from San Diego State University and lives in Idaho with his wife, Michelle.
Carrie Diroll
Manager of the Reclamation Law Administration Division
Bureau of Reclamation Small Storage Program
Carrie Diroll, Manager, Reclamation Law Administration Division.
Beginning her federal career in 2018, Carrie most recently led the Reclamation Law
Administration Division’s economics and planning team where she developed and oversaw water resources planning programs and led the review of federal planning studies. Carrie holds a Bachelor of Arts from Ohio State University (Go Bucks!) and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Colorado, Denver.
As the Reclamation Law Administration Division manager, in Reclamation’s National
Programs Office, Carrie guides the division in oversight and program management for
water-related contracts and repayment, water resources planning and economics, acreage limitation requirements, and more. Under these programs, this division is responsible for the development, coordination, and consistent application of federal reclamation law, regulations, and the Reclamation Manual. The Reclamation Law Administration Division also plays a critical role in Reclamation’s Small Storage Program and the Aging Infrastructure Account.
Carrie enjoys camping and hiking across Colorado with her husband and two sons, singing in a community choir, and is always in search of a good book recommendation.
Balancing Growth & Sustainability in Colorado’s Emerging Data Center Hub
Jackie Brown
Moderator
Natural Resource Policy Advisor
Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association
Jackie Brown begged her parents to move from California to Colorado in the early 80’s as a toddler, sensing that Colorado would offer more intellectual stimulation in its water community. Submitting to her accurate appraisal, she is currently the Water and Natural Resource Policy Advisor to Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, representing Energy on the Colorado Water Congress Board of Directors. Tri-State is a not-for-profit wholesale electric power provider owned by the 43 co-ops and public power districts in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming that it serves with a varied generation portfolio inclusive of coal, wind, solar, hydropower, and natural gas. Jackie works on external affairs and policy issues in each of the aforementioned four states, and on Colorado River Basin Issues on behalf of Tri-State. Jackie studied History at the University of Colorado and Water Resources at Colorado State University, and serves as Vice-Chair of the Yampa White Green Basin Roundtable and a Director on Board of the Nebraska Water Balance Alliance. Mrs. Brown tolerates cold swims through rapids, though much prefers any river from the boatman’s seat.
Marshall Brown
General Manager
City of Aurora
Marshall Brown has been the General Manager of Aurora Water since 2012. Mr. Brown has over 30 years of experience in the water industry. He began in the private sector, where he worked on water resource evaluation and development, feasibility studies, groundwater modeling and groundwater characterization and remediation. After leaving the private sector, he was the head of Scottsdale Water (AZ).
Brown received a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Brigham Young University in Geological Engineering and a Master’s of Science degree from the University of Arizona in Geophysical and Geological Engineering.
Dan Jaynes
Senior Director of Origination
AES Clean Energy
Dan Jaynes is the Senior Director of Origination in the Mountain West region for AES Clean Energy. He is responsible for commercializing a multi-gigawatt pipeline of wind, solar, and battery storage projects with a range of customers. Dan has been with AES Clean Energy since 2024 but has been active in the renewable energy industry in various positions for over 18 years.
He holds Mechanical Engineering degrees from The Ohio State University and the University of Massachusetts where he studied with the Renewable Energy Research Lab. His background includes consulting, wind turbine sales with Vestas, and several roles at Avangrid Renewables. From 2011 to 2018 Dan was a member of the board of directors with the Citizens’ Utility Board of Oregon where he served as board chair, treasurer, and member at large. Dan also previously served on the board of directors for Renewable Northwest.
Deborah Kapiloff
Clean Energy Policy Advisor
Western Resource Advocates
As a clean energy policy advisor at Western Resource Advocates, Deborah Kapiloff advocates for policies and programs that reduce emissions in the power and transportation sectors, focusing on decarbonizing utilities throughout the Interior West and accelerating transportation electrification. Her work is concentrated on emerging issues across WRA’s seven-state region that will help spur a rapid transition to a clean energy economy and mitigate the worst impacts of climate change.
Her role largely centers around working with investor-owned utilities in the region to advocate for equitable policies that reduce emissions from electricity generation, concentrating on arising concerns like artificial intelligence. She monitors local, state, and federal policy developments, as well as utility proceedings across the West to ensure that cost-effective, renewable energy resources are secured to reduce pollution for the benefit of all stakeholders. Kapiloff works in regulatory, legislative, and other policy forums. Recently, she co-authored, "Data Center Impacts in the West: Policy Solutions for Water and Energy Use," a report that takes a deep dive into the data centers that power the burgeoning AI industry. The publication looks at the environmental implications of data centers’ extensive energy and water demands in WRA’s region and offers state-specific solutions for meeting climate and water conservation goals in the West.
Lisa Tiffin
Chief Commercial Officer
Tri-State Generation & Transmission
Lisa Tiffin has served in numerous energy management roles since joining Tri-State in July 2004, including her previous role as Vice President of Planning and Analytics with responsibility for Tri-State’s resource planning process. With over 30 years of experience in the energy industry, she has also held roles in energy trading and operations, organized market implementation, and fuel supply and transportation and is currently engaged on key reliability and greenhouse gas initiatives within the industry. Lisa has held a NERC Balancing, Interchange and Transmission certification since 2007 and has a Bachelor of Science degree in political science.
Colorado Congressional Delegation
Lauren Boebert
Representative
District 4
U.S. Congresswoman Lauren Boebert is serving her third term as a member of Congress and her first as Representative for Colorado’s Fourth Congressional District.
She serves on the Natural Resources and Oversight Committees, is the Vice Chair of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, is co-chair of the Congressional Second Amendment Caucus, and is a member of the House Freedom Caucus.
Rep. Boebert is also a member of the Congressional Western Caucus where she focuses on issues that impact rural Colorado like energy, agriculture, multiple-use on public lands and water.
A 38-year-old, citizen legislator who lives in Windsor, Colorado, she never held public office prior to her 2020 victory and is now the senior Republican member of Colorado's Congressional Delegation.
Congresswoman Boebert was the proud owner of Shooter's Grill, a Second Amendment and Western-themed restaurant in Rifle, Colorado where staff open-carried.
Congresswoman Boebert is active in her church and spent years as a volunteer, counseling and assisting at-risk women at the local jail with reentering society and becoming contributing members in their communities.
She worked in the domestic energy sector as a natural gas product technician, GIS technician, and pipeline integrity coordinator.
Representative Boebert is the mother of four boys and a grandmother of one.
Gabe Evans
Representative
District 8
Congressman Gabe Evans is proudly serving Colorado’s Eighth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, which includes most of Adams County, Weld County north to and including Greeley, and part of Larimer County including Berthoud.
Gabe comes to Congress eager to make Colorado the best possible place to live and raise a family.
Prior to serving in public office, Gabe served his country in the U.S. Army, the Colorado Army National Guard as a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot and company commander, and as an Arvada police officer.
Gabe spent twelve years in the Army, where he completed a combat deployment to the Middle East and served in Operation Enduring Freedom, ultimately reaching the rank of Captain.
In the Colorado Army National Guard, Gabe was stationed at Buckley Air Force Base where he served as a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot and company commander responding to wildfires and search and rescues throughout Colorado. In 2011, Gabe joined the Arvada Police Department, where he reached the rank of Lieutenant before retiring to run for public office in 2022.
In 2022, he was elected to serve Colorado House District 48, which he faithfully served before being elected to Congress in 2024.
The grandson of Mexican immigrants, Gabe is a Colorado native who truly understands the beauty and responsibility of the American Dream. Preserving that sacred ideal for his community and children is why he served in the military, raised his hand for law enforcement, was elected to the Colorado State House, and now works to represent Colorado’s Eighth Congressional District well in Washington, D.C.
Gabe and his wife, Anne, own and operate a family farm in southern Weld County where they raise their two boys.
Jeff Hurd
Representative
District 3
Jeff Hurd is a proud Colorado native who grew up in Grand Junction. His first job was bagging groceries at a local store—a small but formative role that shaped his appreciation for hard work and community. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame, Jeff earned law degrees from the University of Denver and Columbia Law School. He clerked for federal appeals court judge Timothy M. Tymkovich before practicing law at Sullivan & Cromwell in New York City.
But Colorado was always home. Jeff and his wife, Barbora, returned to western Colorado to raise their family more than a decade ago. He built a successful law practice serving rural communities, focusing primarily on rural electric cooperatives—the locally owned organizations that power much of Colorado’s Third District.
Now, as a U.S. Congressman, Jeff is honored to represent Colorado’s Third District, one of the most stunning and diverse regions in the country. From the rugged San Juan Mountains to the farms and ranches in the San Luis Valley, from Mesa County’s breathtaking public lands to Pueblo’s historic steel mill, the district embodies the best of the American West. It is home to world-renowned ski resorts, thriving ranching and agricultural communities, and one of the nation’s largest energy reserves.
Jeff serves on three key House committees:
- Natural Resources – Protecting Colorado’s water, energy, and public lands.
- Transportation & Infrastructure – Improving roads, bridges, airports, and water facilities across southern and western Colorado.
- Science, Space & Technology – Ensuring that Colorado remains a leader in energy innovation, aerospace, and advanced technology.
He is a steadfast advocate for Western values—fighting for Colorado’s energy independence, water rights, and rural way of life. Jeff’s wife, Barbora, grew up in communist Czechoslovakia. Now a proud American citizen, she and Jeff are raising their five children in Grand Junction.
Wayne N. Aspinall Awards
Russ George
2025 Aspinall Award Winner
At various times past or in the present Russ has served organizations including Crow Tribe of Indians of Montana, Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), Colorado Water Conservation Board, Interbasin Compact Committee, Colorado Ground Water Commission, Silt Water Conservancy District, West Divide Water Conservancy District, Great Outdoors Colorado, Rocky Mountain Health Foundation, Western Colorado Community Foundation, Boettcher Foundation, Roaring Fork Habitat for Humanity, Colorado Bar Association, and Uniform Law Commission.
Russ was president of Colorado Northwestern Community College which provides education opportunities to the main campuses in Rangely and Craig and to Meeker and South Routt County.
Russ served as the director of Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado Department of Natural Resources, and Colorado Division of Wildlife.
Russ was elected four times to the Colorado House of Representatives. The district included Moffat, Garfield, Rio Blanco and Pitkin Counties in Western Colorado. In his fourth term he was elected Speaker of the House.
Russ practiced natural resources law in Rifle with the law firm of Stuver and George. He was admitted to the Colorado bar and the Montana bar. Russ is a graduate of Rifle High School, Colorado State University and Harvard Law School. He resides in Rifle and Denver.
Christine Arbogast
Board President
Colorado Water Congress
Christine Arbogast is a native Coloradan. She has a degree in journalism and political science and has worked with Congressman Ray Kogovsek since 1979. Since 1985 when Kogovsek & Associates was established, the small firm has worked primarily in the Western states on resource and tribal issues as well as local government concerns, capital construction projects and health care. Christine is an active member of the Water Congress Federal Affairs Committee and former President of the National Water Resources Association. She chairs the NWRA's federal affairs committee, and is a member of the Colorado River Water Users' Association and the Family Farm Alliance. She is the President and Founder of the Women in Water Scholarship Fund. Christine is the 2020 Wayne N. Aspinall Water Leader of the Year Award.