Nicole Seltzer inspires curiosity, advocates for learning and creates community for the people of Colorado through great water education.  She is the Executive Director of the Colorado Foundation for Water Education, a non-profit organization whose vision is that all Coloradans make more informed water resource decisions through exposure to accurate and balanced water information.  Nicole developed a passion for water issues while at the University of Kansas, and then expanded her knowledge with a Masters degree in Water Resources from the University of Vermont.  She previously performed community and media relations work for the U.S. EPA and the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, and volunteered on several non-profit Boards including the Colorado Watershed Assembly.  She has led the Foundation through a period of growth by doubling staffing levels, diversifying programs, and increasing the budget by over 60% during her tenure.  Nicole’s work interests spill over into her personal life: most of her vacation time is spent guiding various inflatable boats down Western rivers.

 

Kristin Maharg, Director of Programs

Kristin cares deeply about the stewardship of healthy water as the mechanism for for personal well-being and active communities. She is the director of programs at the Colorado Foundation for Water Education, a statewide non-profit offering high-quality educational tools and experiences to produce balanced and informed water resource decisions. With a diverse team of staff and volunteers, she develops and delivers publications such as Headwaters magazine plus river basin tours, teacher workshops, conferences, leadership development courses and stakeholder engagement activities. Kristin received a BS in Wildlife Ecology and Spanish and an MS in Water Resources from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In her shenanigan time, she plays outdoors and grows food with youth and peers alike.

Jennie Geurts, Director of Operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Jennie’s work at the Foundation combines her passion for organization and love of the natural world.  Water has been the basis of several of her past jobs:  she guided students in assessing the water quality of the Shenandoah River in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, gave tours of the floating USS Cassin Young at Boston National Historical Park, and described the formative powers of water at Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Oregon Caves National Monument.  Jennie earned her BA in history and art history from Kent State University and her MS in museum studies from the University of Colorado.  In her spare time, she enjoys reading, visiting museums, traveling, and spoiling her cat.

Jayla Ryan Poppleton, Headwaters Senior Editor and Content Program Manager

Jayla has been the editor for Headwaters magazine, CFWE’s cornerstone publication, since 2009. Originally hailing from the outskirts of Chicago, her enthusiasm for outdoor adventure and the natural world led her to the field of natural resources—and to Colorado. She earned her degree in technical journalism with a specialization in natural resources management from Colorado State University, intent on the role of communicating important science- and policy-based issues from a human interest angle. She fell in love with Colorado’s rivers while guiding commercial rafts down the Cache la Poudre River. A public information role at the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District later added to her understanding of Colorado water issues, and she has since written extensively on the subject.  In addition to reading and traveling, she enjoys running, hiking, mountain biking and any other opportunity to be outside in the Colorado sunshine. She lives in Denver with her husband and three sons.

Caitlin Coleman, Headwaters Associate Editor, Content and Communications Specialist

Caitlin's interest in storytelling and focus on important Western issues brought her to the Foundation as an AmeriCorps VISTA in 2011. She has been a permanent member of the CFWE team ever since. Today, her work focuses on writing and editing for Headwaters magazine, working on new and updated Citizen's Guide books, managing CFWE's Your Water Colorado blog and website, Headwaters Pulse e-newsletter, Connecting the Drops radio series, and various other forms of information, outreach and communication. Prior to her work at the Foundation, Caitlin served as the Outreach Coordinator for the Appalachian Coal Country Watershed Team, worked at a newspaper and radio station in Boulder, CO, and created newsletters for the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. Caitlin received a BA in Environmental Studies and French from the University of Vermont, an MA in Journalism from the University of Colorado and a Graduate Certificate in Environment, Society and Policy from the University of Colorado. Outside of the office, Caitlin enjoys teaching yoga, gardening, hiking, camping, traveling and exploring.

Sarah Johnson, Water Educator Network Coordinator

Sarah has a passion and energy to work with other educators inspiring innovative education techniques and practices while building strong relationships across the field. With CFWE's Water Educator Network, Sarah develops and delivers professional development workshops while building a robust network of water educators across Colorado. Sarah holds a BS in Biology from Missouri State University and will complete her MAEd: Natural Science and Environmental Education from Hamline University in June 2016. Her graduate research involves case studies of science teacher professional development programs at biological field stations across the county. Sarah's background includes watershed education, event planning, outreach, environmental education, wilderness trip leading, and interpretation at Roaring For Conservancy, Aspen Center for Environmental Studies, Wilderness Workshop, North Cascades Institute, National Park Service, and Hulbert Outdoor Center. She serves as vice president of the board of directors for the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education. She is a Certified Interpretive Guide, Certified Interpretive Trainer, Colorado Certified Master Environmental Educator, Land Ethic Leader, Wilderness First Responder, Leave No Trace Master Educator, and NAU Grand Canyon Semester Alumni. Sarah is based on Colorado's Western Slope in Carbondale where she enjoys playing outside during all seasons, gardening, and making music.

Meagan Webber, Communications and Operations Intern

A passion for artful storytelling combined with her interest in the management of Colorado’s natural resources lead Meagan to intern with the Colorado Foundation for Water Education. Her work at the foundation combines those two things as she focuses on writing for the Your Water Colorado Blog, executing a social media campaign to promote CFWE, and assisting with Headwaters magazine archives. Prior to her work with the foundation, Meagan earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies along with a Certificate in the Study and Practice of Leadership from the University of Colorado Boulder. There she learned about the science, politics, and ethics behind managing natural resources and facilitating multi-stakeholder collaboration. Through her work with the CU Environmental Center’s SCORE program, she learned about the importance of clear communication and that everyone can be involved in responsible management of our water and energy resources. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, running, traveling, and cooking.

Board of Trustees

Officers

President

Eric Hecox

South Metro Water Supply Authority, Greenwood Village

Vice President
Gregory Hobbs, Jr.

Colorado Courts and University of Denver, Denver

Secretary

Scott Lorenz

Colorado Springs Utilities, Colorado Springs

Treasurer

Alan Matlosz

George K. Baum & Company, Denver

Past President

Gregg Ten Eyck

Leonard Rice Engineers, Denver

Members

Nick Colglazier

Colorado Competitive Council, Denver

 

Lisa Darling

Aurora Water, Aurora

 

James Eklund

Colorado Water Conservation Board, Denver

 

Steve Fearn

Colorado Water Congress, Silverton

 

Greg Johnson

Wilson Water Group, Lakewood

 

Dan Luecke

Consultant, Boulder

 

Kevin McBride

Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District, Steamboat Springs

 

Trina McGuire-Collier

Denver Water, Denver

 

Reed Morris

Mallon Lonnquist Morris & Watrous, Denver

 

Lauren Ris

Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Denver

 

Senator Jerry Sonnenberg

Colorado Senate, Sterling

 

Andrew Todd

United States Geologic Survey, Denver

 

Representative Ed Vigil

Colorado House of Representatives, San Luis

 

Chris Treese

Colorado River District, Glenwood Springs

 

Reagan Waskom
Colorado Water Institute, Fort Collins

Committee Members

CFWE relies on both Board members and generous volunteers to do our work.  The following individuals volunteer on CFWE's Program Development committee alongside the Board.

Diane Johnson, Eagle River Water and Sanitation District

Tom Cech, One World One Water Center, Metropolitan State University of Denver

Kate McIntire, Jefferson County

Laura Spann, Southwestern Water Conservation District

Dana Strongin, Denver Water

Jim Pokrandt, Colorado River District

Perry Cabot, Colorado Water Institute and CSU Extension-- Western Region