About FOLBR

Friends Of The Lower Blue River

Karn Steigelmeier

Karn grew up in Colorado skiing and camping, graduated from CU, Boulder with a degree in Environmental Conservation. She left Colorado in 1976 thinking it had been ruined by John Denver’s songs creating awareness of Colorado’s glories, and too many people moving here. She worked in Mt. Hood National Forest, OR as a firefighter, Naturalist, and Wilderness Ranger, then in California teaching environmental education with Yosemite Institute. She taught science and outdoor education at two Bay Area schools, and worked summers as a ranger/naturalist for Crater Lake, Everglades and Grand Teton National Parks.

Finally, she returned to Colorado in 1995 after meeting her husband, Frank, living here in Silverthorne. She served as Chair of the Blue River Group, Sierra Club and Exec Director of Friends of the Lower Blue River, when it first started. She served as Summit County Commissioner for 12 years ending in January 2021. Throughout that time, she worked on Wilderness legislation, wildfire mitigation projects, climate change action, recycling, early childhood education, affordable housing, mental health services and good master planning for Summit County.

There are millions more people in Colorado today, but it is still a glorious place. Summit County has grown faster than most places in Colorado, and we need to continue efforts to protect the values of the Lower Blue that we all love.

Board Members

John Marshall - President

John Marshall - President

John Marshall has been a resident of Colorado since 1994 after leaving Memphis, Tennessee to attend graduate school at the University of Colorado. He has been employed in the pharmaceutical, and now biotechnology industry. John is interest in both science and helping patients in time of need. His current responsibilities involve consulting with patients and physicians in hope of patient’s receiving medications to treat ultra-rare genetic disorders. Additionally, he is now getting involved in both stem cell and solid organ transplant therapeutic areas.  

Kurt Dallow - Vice President

Kurt Dallow - Vice President

Kurt is a retired family physician living in Silverthorne CO. He’s been in Summit County off and on since the 1970s when his family built a house in Breckenridge. Kurt’s family has a keen interest in the Blue River Valley. They own 10+ acres that border the Blue River near the Heeney Road turnoff. Kurt enjoys hiking, biking, and trail running with his wife Cindy.

Laura Fox - Secretary/Treasurer

Laura Fox - Secretary/Treasurer

Laura Fox came to Colorado in 1971 to attend the University of Colorado at Boulder where she majored in Geology. She fell in love with the mountains, and began camping and climbing throughout Colorado. After working as a geologist in Colorado and Montana, she pursued a second career in accounting. Laura worked as a CPA for 26 years for a small public accounting firm in Denver until her retirement. She and her husband Jack moved to Dillon in 2015. They are avid skiers in the winter, and hikers in the summer. Laura loves the outdoors and being active with the senior community in Summit County. And since retirement, she has time to read books! She spends time with her grandson whenever possible. She's excited to have the opportunity to be a board member of FOLBR.

Jonathan Knopf - Executive Director

Jonathan Knopf - Executive Director

Jonathan moved to Summit County full-time in 2013. But he’s been coming to the County since the 1970’s. After a 40-year career in broadcasting, he and his wife Susan have settled in Silverthorne. Jonathan is an avid outdoorsman enjoying hunting, fishing, hiking, camping and snow skiing. He is committed to preserving the beauty and wonder of the Blue River Valley for future generations.

Bob Girvin

Bob Girvin

Bob Girvin was born in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, in 1936. After graduating high school from the Haverford School in 1953, he attended Amherst College. He then manufactured military aircraft landing gear in Chicago from 1961-1972. After moving to Breckenridge in 1972, Bob developed the Beaver Run Resort and was a board member for the resort from 1984-2015.

Johnny LeCoq

Johnny LeCoq

John Le Coq is the founder and CEO of Fishpond, a Colorado-based fly fishing/outdoor recreation company that builds premium products and uses its profits and customers to support water, fish, and habitat conservation efforts. John is also the founding partner of Case Logic and has been an active advertising and commercial photographer for 35 years. John lives on a working ranch on the western slope of Colorado, where he works to shape the future of Fishpond and protect the habitat and species with whom we share this planet.

John Hillman

John Hillman

John D. Hillman, MD, is the President of ACRE (Acorn Creek Ranch Estates) Property Owners Association and has been a Board Member FOLBR since its beginning. John was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, but moved to Denver in 1958 to attend the University of Colorado Boulder and then Medical School in Denver. After Med School, John did an internship at Cincinnati General Hospital; his Residency at University of Colorado, Denver; then, worked at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center.

Tom Koehler - Director of Climate Action

Tom Koehler - Director of Climate Action

Tom's appreciation for our region's natural resources was enhanced over the years by his dedicated volunteer work with Summit Huts and Friends of the Dillon Ranger District. The time spent with High Country Conservation Center also instilled a growing environmental ethos along with an appreciation for our land and water health through waste diversion, lowering pollution and GHG emissions. A healthy forest is difficult to attain. That's why he provides monthly legislative updates to the Forest Health Task Force.

Brien Rose

Brien Rose

Brien Rose moved to Summit County in 2014 and works as the Natural Resource Manager for Blue Valley Ranch in Kremmling Co. He grew up in Michigan and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Natural Resources and Fisheries Biology from Central Michigan University. Prior to employment at Blue Valley Ranch, he worked for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and as a biologist for the U.S. Geological Service. He is passionate about conservation and an avid outdoorsman. His hobbies include skiing, hiking, hunting, and fishing.

Karn Steigelmeier

Karn Steigelmeier

Karn grew up in Colorado skiing and camping, graduated from CU, Boulder with a degree in Environmental Conservation. She left Colorado in 1976 thinking it had been ruined by John Denver’s songs creating awareness of Colorado’s glories, and too many people moving here. She worked in Mt. Hood National Forest, OR as a firefighter, Naturalist, and Wilderness Ranger, then in California teaching environmental education with Yosemite Institute. She taught science and outdoor education at two Bay Area schools, and worked summers as a ranger/naturalist for Crater Lake, Everglades and Grand Teton National Parks.

Jackson Beck

Jackson Beck

Jackson Beck grew up in Golden, Colorado and is an avid outdoorsman. He loves spending time with his girlfriend, Maren, and working with his hands at the Pebble Creek Ranch. His dedication to the preservation of Colorado’s natural resources and pristine wilderness led him to pursue a career in water law. He is currently finishing up his JD at the University of Colorado Law School and looks forward to supporting the Blue River Valley’s community and environment.

Barry Rubenstein

Barry Rubenstein

Barry and his wife, Amy, moved to Summit County in October, 2010. While the move was made for Amy's job, it was a dream come true for Barry, an avid skier, hiker, and outdoor enthusiast. After spending five years in the Breckenridge area, Barry, Amy and daughter, Lily, moved to the Lower Blue River Valley, settling in Silverthorne in 2015. He fell in love with the valley right away and immediately felt the importance of sustaining, protecting and maintaining the environmental integrity of the place he calls home. Raised in the suburbs of Washington, DC, Barry has worked in the marketing, public relations and film/video production fields for over 20 years and is excited to bring this passion to the FOLBR.

Jason McCanless

Jason McCanless

Jason McCanless earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the University of Florida near where he grew up. Jason has worked many areas of clinical pharmacy practice through his 25+ year career. He is currently employed within medical affairs at a pharmaceutical company where he educates and informs other healthcare professionals about clinical information on vaccines. He moved to Colorado in 2002 because of his love for the mountains. Jason settled in Summit County in 2015. In his spare time, he has several interests and hobbies including hiking, biking, fishing, boating, playing musical instruments, and nature photography.

Adele Morano

Adele Morano

Adele has lived and worked as a physician in Summit County for more than two decades now. She’s originally from Muncie, Indiana. Adele loves mountaineering, camping, traveling, and spending time with her family.

She’s a graduate of Miami of Ohio University with Master’s degree from Purdue University. She completed her Medical School at Indiana University along with a Family Medicine residency at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Denver. While continuing an active Family Medical practice, she is no longer delivering babies. Adele can devote more time helping care for the Lower Blue River Valley, where she now currently lives.

Scott Hummer

Scott Hummer

Scott is a Colorado native, having made his first visit to Summit County and the Blue River Valley in 1968 when he was nine years old. He skied Breckenridge when there was only Peak 8 in the 1970's and explored the local mountain ranges and 14ers during the 1980's. In 1990, Scott was fortunate to be assigned to a job he was passionate about, in a place that was heaven on earth. He served as the first full-time Water Commissioner in the Blue River Basin for over 20 years.

During his tenure, Scott developed and maintained a positive/respectful working relationships with ranchers and landowners within the Lower Blue River Valley. He also became engaged and involved in Summit County community service on several "local" boards of directors over the years. They include the Summit County Open Space Advisory Council, Blue River Watershed Group, and Continental Divide Land Trust.

Scott is honored to serve on the FOLBR Board of Directors. His passion, knowledge, and expertise preserving and protecting land and water in the Lower Blue River Valley, will serve FOLBR and the community well.

Nancy Lippe

Nancy Lippe

Nancy has dedicated her career to learning, teaching, leading, and innovating in the education and community sectors. As a philanthropy advisor with PhilanthropyConnect, she understands the challenges and opportunities not only of being a grant seeker, but also a grant maker. Nancy has run numerous community based programs and initiatives, and taught philanthropy to youth, teens, families, college students, and adults. She has served on numerous nonprofit boards, and has been a site evaluator for the National Endowment for the Humanities. She has been a member of the Summit Foundation's Executive Volunteers Corps and the Summit County Arts Forum. She and her family own Columbine Ranch on Harrigan Creek in Silverthorne, growing mountain horse hay for local horse owners. Nancy graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Human Biology, and earned her Ed.D. from Fielding Graduate University. She is an avid outdoorswoman and enjoys reading, puzzling, creating and traveling.

Mrya Isenhart–Emeritus

Mrya Isenhart–Emeritus

Frank Isenhart–Emeritus

Frank Isenhart–Emeritus

Pam Beardsly–Emeritus

Pam Beardsly–Emeritus

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