Executive Leadership Team
Kelly Nordini
Chief Executive Officer
Kelly has been at the forefront of Colorado politics and conservation policy for over two decades. She has played a pivotal role in the conservation movement by leading efforts to advance clean energy, transform our transportation sector and elect environmental champions to office. In her previous roles as a campaign strategist, chief of staff to the speaker of the Colorado state house and deputy chief of staff to Governor Ritter she has played a role in some of Colorado’s largest environmental successes including the voter approval and development of the light rail system, increased renewable energy standards and various nationally-leading clean energy policies. She lives in Denver with her husband and two daughters.
Katie Belgard
VP/Vice President of Programs
Katie grew up in rural New Hampshire. She spent the first decade of her career at SEIU in Boston, working as a political organizer and later the political director at 32BJ SEIU.In 2018, she moved to Colorado and joined Conservation Colorado as the Government Affairs Director, supporting and leading major legislative and regulatory campaigns.
Advocacy Team
Luke Schafer
West Slope Director
Hailing from Michigan, Luke started working with us in 2004 and previously worked for Colorado Environmental Coalition.
Favorite place in Colorado: Anywhere on the “Best Slope”
Josh Kuhn
Senior Water Campaign Manager
Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, Josh started his work with us in 2015. Josh worked as a consultant for The Wilderness Society and as Conservation Fellow at the Colorado Mountain Club before joining our team.
Favorite place in Colorado: A tent under the stars, near a river, and far away from any roads.
Tykee James
Senior Environmental Justice Campaign Manager
Tykee James brings a wealth of experience in environmental advocacy and a commitment to bringing people into policy. Since his start as an environmental educator in Philadelphia over a decade ago, Tykee has become a respected voice in the environmental movement. His approach, which combines a passion for nature with a deep understanding of environmental justice issues, makes him a versatile leader in the fight for environmental justice in Colorado.
Brien Webster
Public Lands Campaign Manager
Originally from Colorado, Brien started working with us first in 2015 as before rejoining us in 2023 and previously worked with Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.
Favorite place in Colorado: southern-facing slopes and at the river’s edge.
Paul Sherman
Climate Campaign Manager
Before joining Conservation Colorado in 2023, Paul spent nearly a decade working to address the root causes of hunger. Most recently, he led national advocacy and community engagement efforts for MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger and in 2022, helped pass Prop FF — the first universal school meals program in the country to be approved by voters. Born and raised outside Chicago, Paul now lives in Denver and is passionate about protecting Colorado’s climate and fighting for environmental justice through systemic policy solutions.
Favorite place in Colorado: White River National Forest
Renée Larrarte
Climate & Transportation Campaign Manager
Renée is from Fort Collins and started at Conservation Colorado in 2014. Renée previously worked for the Obama Presidential Reelection Campaign, and sat on the Board of Directors of the Women’s Lobby of Colorado. She was appointed by Mayor Hancock as a commissioner to the Denver Women‘s Commission.. She received her bachelor’s degree in Political Science and certificate in Women’s Studies, as well as her master’s in Public Policy and Administration from CSU.
Favorite place in Colorado: Pingree Park.
Jessica Luiz
Government Affairs Program Associate
Originally from Northern California, Jessica received her undergraduate degree in Parks and Recreation from Chico State to protect land and parks for everyone to enjoy. Previous to starting with Conservation Colorado, Jessica worked at a Foundation supporting the Community Impact team and working to fund organizations who provided services to Jefferson County.
Favorite place in Colorado: Ridgeway State Park
Marketing and Communications Team
Angela Simental
Vice President of Communications
Angela grew up in the Texas-Mexico border. She has more than 15 years of experience in bilingual marketing and communications, including community journalism, local government communications, and crisis management. She earned a bachelor’s in Journalism Mass Communications and a master’s in Creative Writing from NMSU. Angela enjoys hiking, snowboarding and reading.
Favorite place in Colorado: Dream Stream
Hablo Español
Joe Cooper
Senior Visual Content Coordinator
Originally from Boulder, Colorado, Joe joined our team in 2021. He received his degree and previously worked for Colorado State University.
Favorite place in Colorado: Rocky Mountain National Park
Eza Devitt
Strategic Communications Coordinator
Eza has a diverse background in International Relations, Political Science, environmental justice, and women‘s rights. She has a history of working with non-profit organizations and in the music and arts industry, where she’s been dedicated to promoting social justice through community building and content creation. Eza enjoys producing music, practicing yoga, traveling, and hosting and attending transformative events.
Favorite place in Colorado: Crestone
Isabel Aguilera
Strategic Communications Coordinator
Isabel holds a bachelor‘s degree in Strategic and Corporate Communication. With over a decade of experience in public relations, marketing and hospitality, Isabel has demonstrated her commitment to community engagement and social impact. She devoted six years as a volunteer for the non-profit organization called “Clubes de Ciencia Bolivia," contributing to the foundation’s mission of fostering curiosity and creativity in young minds, particularly in STEM fields. Additionally, she enjoys continuous learning, exploring new languages and practicing new sports.
Favorite place in Colorado: Ice Lake
Hablo Español
Development Team
Miranda Graul
Vice President of Fundraising
Miranda started in the nonprofit sector in 2000, and has devoted her career to fundraising and marketing for mission-based organizations. Miranda has a passion for finding what motivates people and creating pathways for them to contribute their time, treasure, talent, testimony and ties to that endeavor. When not at work, she loves spending time outdoors rafting, camping and skiing. She also has a passion for good food, as well as spending time with family and friends and feel that these two combine well. You can often find her cooking up fun new recipes for family or visiting new restaurants with friends.
Favorite place in Colorado: Anywhere on the Colorado River
Ana Duque
Community Fundraising Manager
Ana is passionate about building community with purpose. She has led diverse fundraising initiatives with great success supporting programs to promote social change. Originally from Colombia, she moved from Miami to Colorado, as she is called to advocate for environmental justice, and sustainability.
Favorite place in Colorado: Red Rocks.
Hablo Español
Marisol Ibarra
Development Associate and Database Analyst
Marisol joined Conservation Colorado in July 2021. A Colorado native, she was inspired to join in the movement to help protect her beautiful home state and the wonderful communities that make it home. Previously, she worked at a nonprofit that focused on providing nutritious meals to individuals experiencing illness.
Favorite place in Colorado: Parents’ beautiful backyard
Hablo Español
Celia Stockwell
Deputy Development Director
Celia joined Conservation Colorado in 2023. She is originally from Los Angeles, California. Previously, she spent several years fundraising for political campaigns in Colorado. She loves trail running in Boulder and is passionate about protecting public lands and conserving wilderness.
Favorite place in Colorado: Mt. Sanitas
Hannah Berry
Special Gifts Manager
Born and raised outside of Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska, environmental conservation has always been close to her heart. She is thrilled to be focusing her fundraising talents on supporting Conservation Colorado’s mission and this beautiful state.
Favorite place in Colorado: Anywhere there’s good birding
Operations and Finance Team
Nikki Riedt
Vice President of Operations & Finance
Originally from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Nikki started working at Conservation Colorado in 2013. She previously worked as the Director of State Administration for the Public Interest Network.
Favorite place in Colorado: Red Rocks.
Cara DePan
Human Resources Coordinator
Before joining the team in 2022, Cara previously worked for Uncommon Schools and Elon University’s Sustainability Office. Originally from upstate New York, she received her degree in Environmental Studies and minors in Human Services & Environmental Education.
Favorite place in Colorado: Brown’s Canyon (rafting down the Arkansas River)
Katie Kirdahy
Data Manager
Katie joined our team in 2017, and is originally from Seattle, Washington. Before starting with us, Katie worked with the City of Spokane’s Environmental Programs Department, served two AmeriCorps terms, and most recently worked as Volunteer Coordinator at the Nisqually Land Trust in Washington.
Favorite place in Colorado: Garden of the Gods.
Dane Jordan
Finance Administrator
Dane joined our team in spring 2023. After a brief semester at Quest University Canada, he returned to his home state of Colorado to stay. He earned both his Master degrees from the University of Colorado Denver, one in Accounting, and the other in Taxation.
Favorite place in Colorado: Ridgway
Alexis Klosinski
Office Manager & Executive Assistant
Alexis has spent the majority of her professional career in the nonprofit sector as an admin or teacher. She thrives in environments that allow her to organize and problem solve. Alexis has also been a drummer for over 20 years and loves to connect with others creatively. Getting to play matchmaker for people and music fills her soul with joy.
Favorite place in Colorado: The Pikes Peak region
Organizing Team
Ian Roche
West Slope Field Manager and COBA Program Lead
Growing up in Evergreen, Colorado, Ian joined Conservation Colorado in 2018. He has worked in veterinary clinics, on ranches, and for Colorado Parks and Wildlife while always holding the natural world in the highest regard.
Favorite place in Colorado: Flattops Wilderness Area.
Emma Ragona
Front Range Field Organizer
Emma is originally from Louisville, Colorado but is an enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe (Sicangu Lakota Oyate) and a descendent of the Matinecock Indian Tribe of New York. Prior to working at Conservation Colorado, Emma has worked as a Legislative Aide in the Colorado House of Representatives during the 2021 Legislative session. She has also interned both in the State of Colorado Governor and Treasurer’s office.
Favorite place in Colorado: St Mary’s Glacier
Ana Hinojosa
Grand Junction Field Organizer
Ana joined Conservation Colorado in 2022. She graduated from Colorado Mesa with a degree in Environmental Science and has previously interned with the Forest Service.
Favorite place in Colorado: Grand Mesa National Forest
Hablo Español
Jaz Boehmke
Front Range Field Organizer
Jaz has many years experience in community based grassroots organizing around farmworker rights, indigenous land sovereignty, LGBTQIA2S+ issues, and fighting against pipeline construction among other things. They are very excited to be with Conservation Colorado at the crossroads of people and politics. Prior to this they have worked with League of Conservation Voters, in non-profits, as a wildland firefighter, as a teacher, and as a construction worker. They have helped build several natural buildings including strawbale homes that participated in the Living Building Challenge and implemented the first residential compostable toilets and closed loop black-water systems in Utah.
Favorite place in Colorado: Ceran St Vrain Trail
Hablo Español
Isaiah Flores
Front Range Field Organizer
Born and raised in Colorado, Isaiah joined the Front Range Organizing team at the start of 2023. Isaiah previously served as an Americorps NCCC Corps Member in 2018 to 2019. He also worked as Mentor through the Metropolitan University of Denver Chicana/o Studies Journey Through our Heritage Program from 2019 to 2022. He loves Basketball, Skateboarding, and Super Smash Bros. Melee.
Favorite place in Colorado: Shelf Lake Trail, on Guenella Pass near Grant
Protégete Team
Beatriz Soto
Protégete Director
Beatriz has been at the intersection of community building, social justice and working towards a stable climate for the past two decades. She is a LEED certified architect that worked on a variety of energy related projects, from Net-Zero affordable housing to high performance straw bale homes, sustainable developments in the pacific coast of Mexico, as well as providing professional trainings with the US and the Mexican Green Building Councils. She is former Director of Defiende Nuestra Tierra for The Wilderness Workshop, also a co-founding member of Voces Unidas de las Montañas, first non-profit organization in the central mountain region, made up of Latinx leaders that helps create opportunities for Latinos to speak and advocate for themselves.
Favorite place in Colorado: Rifle Mountain Park and the White River National Forest
Hablo Español
Patricia Ferrero
Protégete Leadership Development Manager
Hailing from Los Angeles, California, Patricia joined us in 2015. She previously worked as a Family Aid Coordinator for Mayan Families.
Favorite place in Colorado: Mesa Verde.
Hablo Español
Rebeca Medrano
Protégete Strategic Partnerships Manager
Raised in the heart of rural North Carolina, Rebeca has dedicated the last decade to uplifting Latine and undocumented voices. Their background in working with victims and survivors of violent crime throughout multiple systems has driven their passion and understanding of intersection activism, and they’ve used their experience in crisis management, grassroots organizing, and legal expertise to push for systemic change for voices stomped out by these systems. Rebeca strives to enact meaningful change, especially for those most marginalized, using a holistic and inclusive approach. They enjoy recharging by baking bread, dancing, and star gazing.
Favorite place in Colorado: Loveland Pass
Hablo Español
Xóchitl Marques-Guerrero
Protégete Senior Leadership Development Coordinator
Xochitl grew up in Colorado and loves its geographic and cultural diversity. She has spent the majority of her career in educational leadership. Her passion is supporting people to become the change agents and leaders they want to be.
Favorite place in Colorado: Lake Granby
Hablo Español
Political Team
Aly Ferrufino-Coqueugniot
Political Director
Aly started her work with us in 2017 as a Protégete Community Organizer and is from Denver. Before joining us, she worked for Workplace Resource as a Project Coordinator.
Favorite place in Colorado: The Great Sand Dunes
Hablo Español
Jenny Gaeng
Political Program Manager
Jenny joined Conservation Colorado in 2018 as a field organizer. Previously, she worked for Big City Mountaineers and the Continental Divide Trail Coalition. She believes that the best adventures are the ones that change the world.
Favorite place in Colorado: High in the Sangre de Cristo range
We Are Hiring!
Board of Directors
Helen Gemmill
Board Chair
Consultant and Farmer
J.W. Postal
Secretary & Treasurer
CEO/Founder Nikola Power
Dana Bryson
Senior Vice President, Social Impact - Study.com
Angela Giron
President/CEO of Boys and Girls Club of Pueblo County
Ning Mosberger-Tang
Innovo Foundation, President
Katherine Archuleta
Nonprofit Founder/Former Obama Administration Official
Jay Fetcher
Rancher
Steve Kaplan
Partner, Kaplan Kirsch and Rockwell LLP
Heidi McIntosh
Earthjustice Rocky Mountain, Managing Attorney
Rudy E. Verner
Partner with Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti LLP
Office Contact Info
Denver Office
303 E. 17th Avenue, Suite 400,
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 333-7846
