Staff & Board

Suzanne is a former practicing lawyer and consultant to professional services firms. She received her law degree at University of Texas School of Law and master degree in Environmental Policy and Management from University of Denver. Suzanne is an avid wildlife photographer and also enjoys fishing, her sheep and llamas, and gardening.

Madison is a marketing professional turned biologist, she is passionate about the outdoors and protecting Colorado’s wildlife. You can find her hiking, paddleboarding, camping, and more along the Front Range with her two daughters.

Lew Carpenter, National Wildlife Federation (NWF) Director of Conservation Partnerships in the Rocky Mountain region works directly with NWF affiliates in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Nebraska. He also maintains a moderate role working with NWF’s Austin office on restoring Louisiana wetlands. Carpenter was born and raised in Greeley, Colorado, and prior to NWF worked as wire service reporter, Editor for Western Outdoors Magazine and Hunting TV producer.

Jeremy Vesbach has long loved the outdoors. He grew up hunting, fishing, hiking, and more and he intimately understood how much better his life was a result of his time spent in nature. This love of the outdoors cemented his desire to preserve these lands so that they could be passed on to future generations. With a focus on state-level policy, Vesbach works with coalitions, community groups, and conservation organizations to protect lands through three key drivers: shielding wild lands from development, restoring and safeguarding the health of vital wildlife habitats, and guaranteeing equitable access to public lands for outdoor recreation opportunities. He was elected (by all 52 state and territory affiliates) to the NWF Board of directors representing Region 10 (CO, NM, AZ, UT).

Tim Emery is a passionate fly fishing and bass fishing enthusiast and Colorado Native. He was actively involved with organizations such as Denver Trout Unlimited and helped create The South Platte Pro-Am Carp Slam. Tim also served on the Colorado Wildlife Council from 2012-2020 as the East Slope Fishing Representative helping to educate the general public about the benefits of hunting and fishing in Colorado. Tim loves to fish with his teenage son, daughter and yellow lab Moose!

Georgina joined the CWF board in 2022 to lend her marketing expertise to the organization. She is an independent marketing consultant with her own business, Crabapple Communications, which helps businesses reach their next level of growth through strategic marketing. A transplant from the UK, Georgina moved to Colorado because she wanted to spend more time in the mountains. An avid hiker, biker, cross-country skier, runner, she spends as much of her free time as possible outdoors exploring. Since arriving in Colorado in 2015, she has spent time living at 10,000 feet in Leadville and in Colorado’s Front Range, giving her a new understanding of just how many kinds of snow there are. This love of the outdoors makes her value the wildlife that makes up such an important part of Colorado’s ecosystem.

Upon arrival in Colorado in 1994, Matt immediately began enjoying the outdoor adventures Colorado has to offer. From fishing to hunting, skiing to mountain biking, camping to hiking, Matt enjoys them all. He is accompanied by his wife and two adult children whenever they are available.

In his downtime, Matt serves privately held companies in a Fractional CFO capacity utilizing his 30+ years of experience as an accounting and finance professional. Matt earned his accounting degree at the University of Texas at Austin and his MBA from Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern. He is also an active Colorado CPA.

Robin Knox, a Colorado resident for 35 years, recently retired after 42 years of work in the fisheries and aquatic resource management arena. He was the Coordinator for the Western Native Trout Initiative, a National Fish Habitat Partnership, for 8 years after 27 years as a fishery biologist and the assistant chief of fisheries for the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Robin was actively involved with the sport-fishing industry for over 15 years, serving on the government affairs committee of both the American Sport-fishing Association and the American Fly Fishing Trades Association which are the fishing tackle manufacturers trade associations.

He has a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology from the University of Illinois, and a Master’s degree in Fishery Science from the University of Missouri. He lives in the beautiful foothills of Colorado west of Denver with his wife Laurel, and loves to fish from his Hobie kayak.

Michael Hora is a native of Illinois who enjoys living in Colorado. A long time business executive, he now spends much of his time honoring the land and learning about all things wild in Colorado.

Michael seeks a responsible balance between the interests of those who own land and those for whom outdoor pursuits in the future depend upon good decisions today.

Jon Holst is a lifelong sportsman who grew up trapping and hunting in rural Colorado. When trapping muskrats could no longer pay the bills, he enrolled at Colorado State University where he earned a B.S. in biology and a M.S. in wildlife biology researching mule deer and elk migration patterns and behavior at road crossings. He also earned a J.D. at the University of Colorado School of Law where he interned at the Natural Resources Law Center for the National Wildlife Federation.

He has spent 30 years working for a variety of industry, government, and non-governmental organizations on the interface between wildlife conservation and energy, transportation, and recreation development. He currently works as a Senior Policy Advisor for Western Resource Advocates and lives in Durango, Colorado.

John is a seasoned executive and director with 36 years of experience working with global organizations. He is a US and UK dual citizen with work experience throughout North America and Europe in technology, real estate, manufacturing, media, energy, and government. Governor Hickenlooper appointed John to the Colorado Parks & Wildlife Commission where he served as Chair for two terms. He is a past board member of the University of Colorado’s School of Law, Washington & Lee University’s Williams School of Commerce, Economics, & Politics, and the Student Conservation Association.

Originally from Texas, Henry moved with his family to the San Luis Valley in 2001 to continue his career in Healthcare Administration, where he continues to work and live in Garfield County. He has a bachelor’s degree in finance and a double master’s degree in business and healthcare administration.

Henry is an avid hunter and outdoor enthusiast.  He is passionate about preserving our public lands and access to them, championing Colorado’s natural ecology based on valid scientific information and supporting the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.

Vanessa came to Colorado from Florida in 2002, with a B.S. in Biology and significant wildlife research experience. Her passion for water and the environment led her to work in the outdoor industry as a rafting, climbing, and mountain bike guide as well as in game bird management and fisheries. Her career has been continually centered around balancing outdoor recreation with the conservation of the spaces and resources we all enjoy.

Her professional background in the environmental non-profit sector reflects her deep commitment to the our wildlands, support of scientific research, and dedication to our natural resources. Vanessa currently resides in Golden, Colorado and her free time is spent kayaking, mountain biking, or exploring trails throughout Colorado.

Originally from Upstate New York, Ryan moved to Colorado in 2014 to enjoy an active outdoor lifestyle. He has been an avid hunter for over twenty years and enjoys helping to mentor newcomers. He belongs to and supports a number of conservation groups. In his free time, he enjoys traveling to new places, exploring restaurants, and spending time with friends and family.

Vicki works at Denver Parks and Recreation as an Education and Wildlife Management Program Manager. She enjoys hiking, birding, spending time at her cabin in the mountains, and canning various foods.

Chay joined the Colorado Wildlife Federation through the Becoming An Outdoors Woman program. She oversees our Bridges to BOW scholarship program.