FOUNDING MEMBER & EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Susan D. Daggett is a natural resources, environmental, and land use attorney who serves as the Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute and as a Professor of the Practice, teaching in the area of land use and sustainability. She previously served as Managing Attorney in the Rocky Mountain office of Earthjustice, a national non-profit public interest law firm (formerly the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund) and also worked as an independent consultant to non-profit organizations engaged in energy-related advocacy. She serves on the Boards of Smart Growth America and Transportation Solutions, and she previously served as Trustee for the Colorado Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, as Commissioner of Denver Water and as a founding Board member of Greenprint Denver. She graduated from Mount Holyoke College and received her law degree from Yale University.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE & STRATEGIC PROJECTS

Erica Elvove is a collaborative leader and conservation advocate with a strong commitment to equity and community. She brings over 20 years of experience advancing people–nature connections across Colorado and around the globe, including prior service as a Peace Corps volunteer in Nepal, leading student groups in Kenya, and helping a zoo emerge as a conservation organization.

Erica helped develop the Institute for Human-Animal Connection at the University of Denver and has led many strategic processes and programs focused on nature and equity.

In addition to her conservation work, Erica is a licensed Colorado realtor with a focus on rooted living. She lives on the Front Range with her partner, two kids, a dog, a cat, and three backyard hens.

FOUNDING MEMBER & EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Chris Hawkins leads the Colorado Chapter of The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) Cities program where he spends his time focusing on improving regional habitat connectivity and access to nature; creating a more equitable and climate resilient urban forest; and ensuring there is funding and support for helping the region achieve more sustainable outcomes at the intersection of people and nature. Prior to this role, he was a member of TNC’s Chief Conservation Office and Global Cities team since May 2014. Before joining TNC, Chris spent six years in New York City Government, including time with the New York City Department of Education Office of Charter Schools, Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability, and four years at the Department of Environmental Protection, the city’s drinking water and wastewater utility. He and his wife, two kids, and dog love to travel, play outside, and find inspiration for the critical work of The Nature Conservancy in their Colorado home.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Kate Kramer is one of the founding members and Manager of the Generation Wild Northeast Metro Coalition. She was the Executive Director of the Sand Creek Regional Greenway Partnership and was instrumental in funding the construction of the final sections of the greenway. Prior experience includes working at the New Denver Airport Office, the Colorado Governor’s Office, and the Colorado Department of Health and Environment as Pollution Prevention Manager. Kate graduated with a Bachelor’s from Grinnell College and a Master’s degree from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Kate enjoys volunteering, hiking, traveling, and cooking with her family and friends.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Kim Lopez is an environmental advocate seeking to bridge the gap between disenfranchised communities and their natural resources through collaboration. Her passion is connecting seemingly disparate ideas. Raised in South Denver, she currently is the Volunteer Coordinator at Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, where she seeks new ways to connect Denver communities to their outdoors as stewards with bilingual programs. She served as the team lead for MetroDNA’s equity working team and is on the Board of Directors for Bluff Lake Nature Center. A first-generation college graduate, she attended Colorado State University and received her Bachelor of Science in Biological Science and Minors in Ethnic Studies and Conservation Biology, and a Graduate Certificate in Wildlife Conservation Actions. Kim enjoys spending time with her cat Frida, visiting Mexico, and going to Denver’s farmers markets.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Sarah Olson serves as the Associate Director of Education at Denver Botanic Gardens, bringing over a decade of experience to her role. With a Masters in Landscape Architecture from the University of Arizona, she has spent the past 13 years dedicated to the advancement of the Denver Botanic Gardens' educational initiatives. Her focal point lies in enhancing the diversity and expansion of educational offerings, prioritizing inclusivity and community engagement. Beyond her work, Sarah is a Certified Community Master Gardener and enjoys gardening with her two young daughters in their cottage vegetable garden. Her dedication to education and love for gardening shines through both in her professional endeavors and personal life.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Andrea Torres (she/her) is a Peruvian New Yorker passionate about people and nature. She is a recent graduate from the University of Colorado, Boulder where she studied Ecology and Ethnic Studies. Throughout her undergraduate career, she dedicated her time to various campus organizations with the goal of improving belonging for BIPOC students. She led diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that served women of color in outdoor recreation and created a space for ecology students with marginalized identities. Growing up without exposure to nature made it challenging to find her place in both the field of conservation and ecology. She is currently a Colorado Conservation Fellow with The Nature Conservancy where she is committed to contributing to a world where everyone can cultivate a relationship with nature.