FOLBR - Friends Of the Lower Blue River

About FOLBR

Friends Of The Lower Blue River

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.

Afterwards, he started internal medicine practice in the Army at Fort Carson, Colorado Springs, where he stayed in Colorado Springs after discharge from the Army to start private practice, 1974. John practiced internal medicine practice 25 years in Colorado Springs, and then did part-time hospital medicine at Vail Valley Medical Center and St. Anthony Summit Medical Center for 16 years before retiring in 2013.

John lived in Frisco part-time from 1982-1997 and now has a home in Acorn Creek, 10 miles north of Silverthorne. He and his wife Maggie have lived there full-time since 1997.

John’s community interests include improving Fire Safety in the Lower Blue and specifically Acorn Creek, and establishing cell service in the Lower Blue, in the interest of public safety.

His hobbies are long distance bicycle touring, speaking the French language, hiking, skiing, cutting firewood, and spending time with his grandkids and dogs.

Board Members

Kurt Dallow - President

Kurt Dallow - 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.

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Jonathan Knopf

Jonathan Knopf

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.

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Nick Zomer - Treasurer

Nick Zomer - Treasurer

Nick is a seasoned Consultant, a passionate sailor, and somehow still finds time to support outdoor-focused nonprofits. For nearly a decade, his engaged, hands on demeanor has helped grow non profits—and now he’s bringing that energy to FOLBR!

In Nick’s own words:

"I am an avid fly fisherman, often exploring the eddies and riffles of Colorado’s rivers—especially the Blue River and its tributaries—not just in search of trout, but for the solitude, clarity, and reverence these waters inspire. I am particularly inspired by FOLBR’s collaborative work with local stakeholders, ranchers, and policymakers, and welcome the opportunity to support and expand those partnerships."

🎣 Translation: Nick likes trout, peace and quiet, and teamwork that actually gets stuff done

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Nancy Lippe- Vice President

Nancy Lippe- Vice President

 She has served on numerous nonprofit boards, and has been a site evaluator for the National Endowment for the Humanities. Nancy 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.

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.

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Doug Childs

Doug Childs

Doug arrived in Summit County in 1974. As a college student he worked on the initial phase of the Henderson Mill site. The Dercum’s allowed Doug to live on Cataract Creek Ranch in exchange for work on the cabin. That work turned into a 35-year project as Doug and his wife acquired the ranch via 8 different parcels. In 2020 Doug was instrumental in assembling a public-private partnership with Summit County and Flanigan Land and Cattle to preserve the adjacent 1100 acres of the Knorr property along the west side of Green Mountain Reservoir.  This was the third conservation easement that Doug and his family signed with Colorado Cattleman’s Agricultural Land Trust to preserve the Cataract Creek Valley, just as Doug first experienced it over 50 years ago. Doug is a petroleum geologist and spent his career developing both international and domestic oil and gas projects. He was featured in Fortune magazine after selling his first company, Leed Petroleum, in 1987 and continues to own several oil and gas companies.  He is the past President of the Board of Graland County Day School and Past President of the Titanium Homeowners Association.

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Our Sponsors

  • Alpine Earth Gardens
  • Copper Mountain
  • Home Breckenridge Grand Vacations Gives
  • E-J LLC
  • Alpine Bank
  • Arapahoe Basin
  • Summit County Logo
  • Town Of Silverthorne
  • Buffalo Mountain Animal Hospital
  • California Wine Club
  • Zeal Optics
  • The Summit Foundation