WHO
WE ARE
STAFF
Wendy McDermott
Executive Director
Favorite Place(s) in Central Colorado:
Brown’s Canyon and west faces of the Sawatch Range and Cochetopa Hills
Adam provides leadership and supervision over strategic, programmatic and financial operations that support the Conservancy’s conservation programs. He holds a PhD in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources from Colorado State University (2011), and has over 23 years of collaborative conservation experience in the Rocky Mountain West and abroad (South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Niger, Ghana). Adam is an avid mountain biker, backcountry snowboarder and alpine enthusiast.
Favorite Place(s) in Central Colorado:
anywhere in the alpine on the Sawatch range
Wendy has a deep background in land and water management policies and practices and is experienced in collaborating with diverse interests on complicated resource management issues. Prior to joining Central Colorado Conservancy in 2022, Wendy was the Northwest Regional Director for American Rivers in Bellingham, WA; the River Program Director for the San Juan Citizens Alliance in Durango, CO; and the Executive Director for the High Country Citizens’ Alliance in Crested Butte, CO.
Favorite Place(s) in Central Colorado:
Brown’s Canyon and west faces of the Sawatch Range and Cochetopa Hills
Adam provides leadership and supervision over strategic, programmatic and financial operations that support the Conservancy’s conservation programs. He holds a PhD in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources from Colorado State University (2011), and has over 23 years of collaborative conservation experience in the Rocky Mountain West and abroad (South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Niger, Ghana). Adam is an avid mountain biker, backcountry snowboarder and alpine enthusiast.
Favorite Place(s) in Central Colorado:
anywhere in the alpine on the Sawatch range
Harmony Jump is , our Natural Resources Conservation Manager located in Lake County, working on land protection and resource management. In this role, she also serves as manager for the Lake County Conservation District. Harmony grew up in a small town on the Rhine River in Germany, majored in natural resources at Cornell University, and has worked as a wildlife biologist specializing in endangered, threatened, and species of conservation concern, and as a NEPA planner for most federal land management agencies. Harmony is the mother of two young boys, loves living in the mountains, and values her daily mindfulness practice.
Harmony Jump
Natural Resources Conservation Manager
Favorite Place(s) in Central Colorado:
Brown’s Canyon and west faces of the Sawatch Range and Cochetopa Hills
Adam provides leadership and supervision over strategic, programmatic and financial operations that support the Conservancy’s conservation programs. He holds a PhD in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources from Colorado State University (2011), and has over 23 years of collaborative conservation experience in the Rocky Mountain West and abroad (South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Niger, Ghana). Adam is an avid mountain biker, backcountry snowboarder and alpine enthusiast.
Favorite Place(s) in Central Colorado:
anywhere in the alpine on the Sawatch range
The focus of Heather’s work is “keeping working lands working” through innovative and collaborative programs with Central Colorado Conservancy and the Upper Arkansas Conservation District. Heather fell in love with farming growing up on a corn/livestock farm in Appleton, WI which led to a lifelong career as a horse trainer, facility manager and competitor in equestrian events.
Agriculture Program Manager
Heather Mills
Adam provides leadership and supervision over strategic, programmatic and financial operations that support the Conservancy’s conservation programs. He holds a PhD in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources from Colorado State University (2011), and has over 23 years of collaborative conservation experience in the Rocky Mountain West and abroad (South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Niger, Ghana). Adam is an avid mountain biker, backcountry snowboarder and alpine enthusiast.
Favorite Place(s) in Central Colorado:
anywhere in the alpine on the Sawatch range
Nathan coordinates the Upper Arkansas Watershed Partnership. He is a 5th generation Coloradoan who grew up in the Upper Arkansas River Valley. His family worked the land as farmers, ranchers, teachers, storytellers and conservationists. Nathan is also an award-winning film maker.
Nathan Ward
Adam provides leadership and supervision over strategic, programmatic and financial operations that support the Conservancy’s conservation programs. He holds a PhD in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources from Colorado State University (2011), and has over 23 years of collaborative conservation experience in the Rocky Mountain West and abroad (South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Niger, Ghana). Adam is an avid mountain biker, backcountry snowboarder and alpine enthusiast.
Favorite Place(s) in Central Colorado:
anywhere in the alpine on the Sawatch range
As Donor and Volunteer Relations, Julie is the first person to get to know you at the Conservancy. Her work with the Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas began in the spring of 2013. She is from Kansas City where she grew up, raised her children, was a board member and volunteered with Wildwood Outdoor Education Center, and was an elementary teacher for over 25 years. In 2003, she assumed the role of director at the girl’s camp, High Trails Ranch, Sanborn Western Camps in Florissant, CO for the next 10 years.
Julie Richardson
Donor and Volunteer Relations
Favorite Place(s) in Central Colorado:
Brown’s Canyon and west faces of the Sawatch Range and Cochetopa Hills
Adam provides leadership and supervision over strategic, programmatic and financial operations that support the Conservancy’s conservation programs. He holds a PhD in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources from Colorado State University (2011), and has over 23 years of collaborative conservation experience in the Rocky Mountain West and abroad (South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Niger, Ghana). Adam is an avid mountain biker, backcountry snowboarder and alpine enthusiast.
Favorite Place(s) in Central Colorado:
anywhere in the alpine on the Sawatch range
Bryce works with landowners on conservation easements and manages the Arkansas River Community Preserve properties. Bryce was born and raised in western Colorado. After receiving a degree in fish and wildlife ecology at Montana State University, he worked throughout the Northern Rockies for different state and federal agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service. Most recently he was working for a land trust based in the old-growth forests of Northern California. As Conservation Program Manager, he brings his experience in landscape ecology and love for the mountains of Colorado to the management of conservation easements and growing conservation efforts of the Central Colorado Conservancy.
Bryce Howe
Conservation Program Manager
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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Favorite Place(s)
in Central Colorado:
Brown’s Canyon and west faces of the Sawatch Range and Cochetopa Hills
Robert Tallmadge
President
Favorite Place(s) in Central Colorado:
anywhere in the unroaded backcountry that has fish and elk
Favorite Place(s)
in Central Colorado:
anywhere along the Continental Divide Trail
Rob White
Secretary
Favorite Place(s) in Central Colorado:
Favorite Place(s)
in Central Colorado:
Penitente Canyon grabs my heart—climbing, hiking, forest, desert, night-sky camping and cultural history
John McGowan
Treasurer
Favorite Place(s) in Central Colorado:
Favorite Place(s)
in Central Colorado:
the view from the top of Mt. Elbert when the aspens are changing, the swimming beach by Rincon and the view of the Collegiates from Trout Creek Pass
Alison Lerch
Board Member
Favorite Place(s) in Central Colorado:
Favorite Place(s)
in Central Colorado:
anywhere the birds can be heard unobstructed by the sounds of civilization high up in the Sawatch Range
Gina Peters
Board Member
Favorite Place(s) in Central Colorado:
Favorite Place(s)
in Central Colorado:
anywhere in the unroaded backcountry that has
fish and elk
Miles Cottom
Board Member
Favorite Place(s) in Central Colorado:
Favorite Place(s)
in Central Colorado:
stay tuned...
Wendy Gordon
Board Member
Favorite Place(s) in Central Colorado:
Favorite Place(s)
in Central Colorado:
stay tuned....
Ben Goldfarb
Board Member
